The City of Fairview requested technical assistance from MTAS for the preparation of a Request for Qualifications to seek statements of qualification from qualified professionals for the preparation of a new zoning ordinance. The current zoning ordinance is complex and difficult to administer and in need of streamlining to improve user-friendliness both for city staff and the general public. Extensive research was performed to identify similar solicitations from cities in Tennessee and around the U.S. The draft RFQ was organized to include the following sections:

• Project Background – Narrative containing background information about the municipality including growth trends and the importance of development standards
• Project Objective – Narrative describing the purpose and intent of the solicitation for a consultant to prepare a new updated zoning ordinance
• Anticipated Scope of Services – Narrative describing the desired services to be provided by the consultant including review and analysis of existing documents, public engagement, preparation of zoning ordinance, and training assistance following adoption
• Project Budget – Narrative outlining the project budget
• Methodology – Narrative describing the consultant selection process
• Submission Requirements – Narrative describing the submittal requirements for the statement of qualifications
• Evaluation Criteria and Selection – Narrative describing the consultant selection scoring criteria
• Instructions for Submitting Response – Narrative providing specific instructions for submittal of statement of qualifications including deadline date/time.
• Questions – Narrative providing instructions to consultants on where to direct questions regarding the RFQ including instruction for consultant not to discuss the RFQ with municipal staff or elected/appointed officials

The TN Legislature passed a number of bills of interest to HR professionals. MTAS extracted and compiled a listing of those 2015 Public Acts that cover all areas of HR and all sectors (municipal, county, state, and schools).

This document has been included in the Elected Officials Academy section on City Council at Work.

MTAS Fire Consultant Steve Cross worked with the Johnson City Fire Department on a strategic plan to cover 2020-2025. This process involved a community group to provide feedback on the services provided. Through this process the department found that they have customers that only reside in the city, customers that reside and work in their city, customers that only work in their city and customers that commute into the city for leisure.

The purpose of this manual is to provide cities with a better understanding of funding water and sewer utility operations. Water and sewer operations are often very costly, but they provide a public health service. Also, water and sewer services are necessary if communities are to grow and attract new investment. This manual is to be viewed as a tool in helping cities make sound financial decisions. Each utility operation is different, and not everything discussed is applicable in every city’s situation.

Topics Covered by the Utility Manual:

• Enterprise Funds
• Funding Sources
• Depreciation
• Capital Budgets
• Operations and Cost-Control Measures
• Management Issues

MTAS was asked about the authority of local governments to provide supplemental medical insurance for retired officials/employees.

MTAS was asked whether a town could require a nearby state park to hook onto the town's sewer line if the park territory was annexed into the town.

Firefighters understand the concept of hot, warm, and cold zones in fire stations when it comes to keeping turnouts and fire contaminated gear out of the living areas of the station. But what about viruses and other pathogens? The practices used for fire contaminated gear do not work with pathogens. Therefore, firefighters need to practice more extensive contamination control to reduce the chance of spreading the coronavirus while at the fire station.

Eight cities responded to an MTAS survey about their fleet management, including number and types of vehicles, work bays, and lifts, plus information on staffing, work orders, calls for service, and routine maintenance.

A resolution allowing a city to adopt the NIMS concept of emergency planning and incident command.