10/26/2005

AWARD FOR SHARON - The Tennessee Chapter of the American Public Works Association held its annual conference last week in Chattanooga. And. . . Sharon received the "Frank Kirk Meritorious Service Award". Established in Frank Kirk's honor, the Meritorious Service Award acknowledges the important role that APWA members in private enterprise and academic institutions play in providing public works facilities and services. The award is based on a pattern of professional activities that have resulted in the enhancement of the quality, efficiency, or cost effectiveness of services provided by public agencies. This award is given annually.

It's particularly fitting that Sharon should win an award named for Frank, first because of her devotion to improving public works for cities and second, because Frank was an MTAS public works consultant and served as executive director of the TCAPWA for years.

Comings and Goings - Dedra Isom who has been working on the front desk and with the training team for the last 5 months has left MTAS.

Shara Galloway, our new business manager, started Monday, October 24. Laura will work with us and Shara to help with the transition for the next couple of weeks.

Who knew we needed two? - I often tell new consultants that there will be a lag - sometimes a couple of months and sometimes six months - before their full time work load kicks in. I'm glad I didn't tell Gary West that. He's been busy since he got here and last week stepped in to coordinate an assessment center for the Columbia FD and the slightly injured, but rapidly recovering, Ray.

LGLP - IPS offers the Local Government Leadership Program each fall. Class size is about thirty with half coming from cities. For the last two years, we've used LGLP as the capstone event for graduates of the Elected Officials Academy. That means Kurt, Jennifer, and Yana spend each EOA class recruiting attendees and then Kurt makes phone calls to follow-up on the IPS written invitations. This year we successfully, and almost painlessly, filled the class.

Here's our distinguished group: LINDA WARD BENNETT, Councilwoman, City of Chattanooga; TERESA A. BEST, Director of Human Resources, City of Maryville; ROGER D. CAMPBELL, Assistant City Manager, City of Maryville; LINDA CARROLL, Director of Finance, City of Franklin; VINCE DEAN, Vice Mayor, City of East Ridge; DAVID W. GORDON, Mayor, City of Covington; SHERRY GREEN, Mayor, City of LaVergne; VICKI HENLEY, Alderman, City of Monterey; MICHELLE HORTON, City Recorder, Town of Graysville; GREG JOHNSON, Mayor, City of Pikeville; JERRY D. KIRKMAN, Alderman, City of Westmoreland; ROBERT KRIEBEL, Alderman, City of Franklin; MARY DOROTHY LaMARCHE, Alderman, Town of Farragut; SENNA MOSLEY, Alderman, City of LaVergne; RONNIE NEILL, Management Consultant, UT MTAS; MARILYN L. TOPPINS, Alderman, City of Plainview.

Recruiting - We are getting ready to start recruiting for two positions: Computer Information Specialist (Debby Howell's position) and Administrative Specialist II (a new position with the Codes Team). We still need various approvals from IPS and HR, but we should be underway soon.

We are also in the middle of recruiting for a Communications Coordinator position that we recently created to work in the TML office in Nashville to provide day-to-day support for Tennessee Town & City. I say in the middle because so far we have received 65 resumes and letters of interest. The interview committee for this position is Margaret Mahery and Carole Graves, TML; and me and Margaret Norris.