Town Operating

This Month At

A $1.5M Deficit,

Warner Reports

By AMY ROSE

Staff Writer

Greeneville police veteran Craig Fillers was promoted Tuesday to the position of assistant police chief by the Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

GPD Chief Terry Cannon recommended the promotion of Fillers, a 23-year GPD veteran who has served as patrol captain for the past four years.

Following the unanimous vote, Fillers thanked the board for the opportunity to serve in the position.

(For video of Cannon's recommendation and Fillers' remarks, go to www.greenevillesun.com.)

The meeting was attended by a standing-room-only crowd of mostly town employees.

Mayor Laraine King explained the process of ranking the four finalists, noting that two of them tied, which left the final selection to Chief Cannon.

Fillers was selected from a field of nine applicants that was narrowed to four finalists by Chief Cannon, Mayor King, Recorder Jim Warner and payroll clerk Danelle Sells. They graded the nine resumes, based on experience, education background and specialized training.

The nine resumes were approved by the Civil Service Board in a workshop on Sept. 3.

The four finalists went through an assessment center conducted by the Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS).

They were given an exam that included three parts: an interview with 41 questions, group exercises to determine their ability to work in groups and solve problems, and a press conference to show how they respond in difficult situations while informing the public and answering questions from the media, King said.

Chief Cannon noted that prior to working as a patrol captain, Fillers worked for nine years as a desk sergeant.

Fillers also has served as commander of the SWAT team, Cannon noted.

Fillers is a 1978 graduate of South Greene High School and a 1983 graduate of East Tennessee State University.

He is the son of John and Jeraldine Fillers.

He has two children, Kalyn Fillers, a sophomore at ETSU, and Ryan Fillers, a senior at Greeneville High School.

Recorder Warner Reports

In other business during the one-hour meeting, Recorder Jim Warner reported that the town might have to borrow money in the form of "tax anticipation notes" if property tax payments are not made at a pace to cover payroll expenses.

He said the town is operating this month at a deficit of $1,503,049, and the town's fund balance is down to $2,713,097.

"It is a very difficult year that we're having," Warner said.

He noted that the board would be asked to approve the borrowing of funds, if necessary.

At the Oct. 7 meeting, Mayor King reported that the town's expenditures in the first quarter of the 2008-09 fiscal year had exceeded revenues by a little over $1.1 million and the fund balance was down to just over $3 million.

Annexation Hearings

The board scheduled public hearings for two proposed annexation areas on Whirlwind Road and West Andrew Johnson Highway.

The public hearings will be held during the board's Nov. 11 meeting, at which time the board also will consider the two annexations on first reading.

The annexations will have to be approved on second reading before they can become official.

The Greeneville Regional Planning Commission approved the two proposed annexations on Friday, recommending the West Andrew Johnson Highway annexation in three phases.

The estimated 407 acres along West Andrew Johnson Highway includes 60 properties.

The first phase would involve properties along both sides of the highway between Hal Henard Road and West Summer Street.

The second phase would involve properties on the north side of the highway, between Pruitt Road and the Homestead Restaurant. The restaurant was annexed earlier this year by request.

The third phase would involve properties along both sides of the highway to the Mosheim corporate limits and the Mt. Pleasant Industrial Park, which already has been annexed by the city.

The Whirlwind Road annexation area includes 56 properties along Lincoln Drive, Sunrise Drive, Whirlwind Road and Allens Bridge Road.

Historic Walkway Grant

The board voted to apply for grant funds of approximately $500,000 for the second phase of the Greeneville Historic Walkway.

Debbie Smith, town environmentalist, said the transportation enhancement grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), if approved, would require a 20 percent match of local funding. She noted that it could be several years before the local funding would have to be available.

The second phase of the historic walkway would connect the first phase to Hardin Park.

The first phase of the walkway runs primarily along brick sidewalks from the Big Spring down College Street to Park Street.

The second phase would run from Park Street to Lake, McKee, South Main and Crescent streets, Smith said.

Identity Theft Policy

The board also voted to adopt a new policy on identity theft protection.

The policy is being required by the federal government by Nov. 1, because of the growing threat of identity theft, according to Carol Susong, town accountant.

The policy defines sensitive information and tells how to make sure that information is secure, Susong said.

The policy also tells how to identify red flags for fraudulent acts and what to do if a town employee suspects fraud by another employee, a customer or other persons, Susong said.

She noted that the policy also requires the town to stay aware of the latest developments related to identity theft and provide updated training for its employees.

She said she, Sells and Warner previously received training on identity theft.

While the town does not accept credit-card or debit-card payments, it does maintain sensitive records, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll and employees' Social Security numbers and driver license numbers, Susong said.

"I think that we do a great job of taking care of our employees' information, taking care of our customers' information," Susong said.

The adopted policy is based on a policy that was recommended by MTAS.

The board also voted to appoint Jeremy Hall and Tim Wright as GPD auxiliary policemen.

Jack Abee was appointed to the Greeneville Parking Authority.

The board scheduled a meeting at 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, to consider a new contract for providing health care insurance for city employees.

The meeting will be held after presentations from the top two health insurance companies picked from a field of 18 proposals, King said.

Camp Coyote Presentation

The board heard a presentation on Camp Coyote, a new program that offers camping experiences for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses.

Brooke Sadler and Diane Nellessen, Camp Coyote board members, showed a video of children who had enjoyed experiences at a similar camp.

Sadler said Camp Coyote hopes to offer two camping experiences next summer at The Oaks Retreat in the Camp Creek community.

He said the first two camps will focus on children with asthma and obesity.

He noted that Greeneville actress Park Overall has agreed to be the spokesman for Camp Coyote.

For more information, visit www.campcoyote.net.