Alderman Keith Brantley and the rest of the Plainview Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA) approved the first reading of the FY 27 budget which is balanced with revenues equaling expenditures in the amount of $576,432 at the regular meeting in April. Mayor Lynn Beeler thanked the board for attending the workshop and approving a balanced budget and commented on the work that Recorder Emily Cooke did to gather all of the information to achieve a balanced budget.

Other new business included the approval of a $2,000 donation to Luttrell Volunteer Fire Department (LVFD) to fix the brakes on one of the trucks. In addition, the service contract with East Tennessee Development District that provides the planner Jordan Rockwell was approved. The BMA also took affirmative action on a budget amendment that moved money to CTRIS for training.

The BMA discussed the four-way stop that TDOT plans to implement at Ailor Gap, Tazewell Pike and Corryton Road. Mayor Beeler and Vice Mayor Richard Phillips encouraged the citizens to participate in the Victims Rights Walk sponsored by Attorney General Jared Effler on April 21 at Wilson Park.

Mayor Beeler welcomed Jessica Buck as the new Plainview Recorder. She will assume the position in June. In the meantime, the current recorder Emily Cooke will train Jessica and introduce her to the many tasks that the recorder performs.

The BMA heard reports from the police and fire departments, but the zoning report was postponed due to Zoning Officer Stewart Skeen having illness in his family. Police Chief Kenny Crider reported 49 calls, 5 citations,7 traffic stops and 4 arrests with three by Plainview officers and one by the Union County Sheriff’s Department. LVFD Chief Brad Woods reported 63 calls for the year so far, which is an increase from the same time last year. A burn ban is in effect until further notice due to the drought conditions.
LVFD has received a fire marshal grant for $101,175 but the grant only pays $68,770 and LVFD will do the match. Since the meeting, Chief Woods was notified that the cost of the intended extraction equipment may be covered by the grant with no match. LVFD plans to do a demonstration when the new equipment is received. He also noted the donations from Plainview, Luttrell and Union County and commented how thankful and blessed the department is to have these sources for revenue.

Minutes from the budget workshop and the regular meeting were approved. Neighborhood Watch meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.

The next regular meeting of the Plainview BMA is May 12 at 7 p.m. with the Planning Commission meeting at 6:30.