Plainview Planning Commission welcomed Jordan Rockwell, East Tennessee Development district Regional Planner, at its November meeting. Stewart Skeen, Codes Enforcement Officer, introduced Rockwell and noted that he is also the planner for Maynardville City.
Skeen reported that he did not write any building permits for October, but fielded numerous phone calls and questions regarding new construction and zoning. He recommended changes to a couple of properties.

Plainview City will not allow tiny homes to be built inside the city limits due to the passage of Ordinance #157 on its second reading at the September 12 meeting.
The ordinance does allow homes of at least 401 square feet, which is only one square foot more than the definition of a tiny home at 400 square feet.

The Plainview Board of Aldermen passed Ordinance 157 to establish a minimum dwelling size and prohibit recreational vehicles as permanent dwellings on first reading at its August meeting.

During the summer meetings of the City of Plainview, Mayor Gary Chandler and the Plainview Board of Alderman honored the Union County High School Patriots baseball team and two members of the track team for their state titles.
In June, Mayor Chandler presented a proclamation to recognize the historic performance of the baseball team for winning the Division 1 Class 2A Tennessee State Championship. Team members William Peck, Hunter Holloway, Ty Edds, Tanner Jones, Brandon Reed, and Max Richardson proudly accepted the proclamation for the whole team.

Recently, the City of Plainview approved a bid for $150,000 to renovate the Plainview Fire Station by expanding one bay and adding an additional bay. The renovation is being done to accommodate the bigger engines that new standards have dictated.
The new addition will also include a restroom and office space. Kyle Beeler won the bid and will be performing the renovation. The work is expected to be finished in about two months.

Vice Mayor Richard Phillips reported to the Plainview Board of Alderman that he awarded a $500 scholarship to Delaney Weaver at the senior awards for having the highest GPA for a graduating senior who resides within the City of Plainview.
In the same meeting last month, the board learned that Margie Presley was hired as the building inspector as recommended.
The Police Report included 37 calls with three vehicle accidents, one pursuit, one runaway and 11 citations.

Plainview Planning Commission and City of Plainview paid tribute to David Williams, the city planner, who died about a week before the meeting. Stewart Skeen, Plainview City Codes Zoning Officer, praised Williams for his depth of knowledge, his professionalism, but most of all for his ability to adapt complex issues to simple rules and explanations that a small city like Plainview could enforce.
Williams remarked many times how thoroughly he enjoyed working with his “friends in Plainview.” Jordan Rockwell will be the new planner.

The Plainview City Board of Aldermen set March 20 as a workshop to discuss road improvements, building additions, police equipment upgrades, grants, and other budget concerns. To accommodate future building expansions, the board approved a resolution to set up a dedicated Capital Funds Account.
Chief Brandon Ford reported 41 calls, 7 speeding tickets, 2 citations for no insurance, 1 move-over violation, and 1 arrest so far in 2023. In February, the police answered 8 calls that included 3 wrecks.

Gordon Bright, Plainview Alderman, and John Sexton, firefighter, raised the flags on the new flag pole for the first time in February at the Plainview Fire Station.
Representative Dennis Powers donated the American flag, and Vice Mayor Richard Phillips contributed the Tennessee flag.

Plainview is one step away from approval for a Family Dollar/Dollar Tree at Corryton Road and Tazewell Pike.
In January, Stewart Skeen, who oversees city codes enforcement, and Josh Collins, of the planning commission, met with the developer to ensure that all requirements were understood and being met. After that meeting, the developer submitted a detailed plat.

At the December meeting of the Plainview Board of Aldermen, Mayor Gary Chandler presented a plaque to be hung on the community building wall that honors the founders of the City of Plainview. The plaque pays tribute to Albert Thomas, Billy Sexton, Janie Frazier, Jeff Collins, John Seltzer, Judy Brantley, Ruth Collins, Terry Hill, Thomas Keaton, Walter (Junior) Wolfe, Sr., and Wayne Roach for their leadership given to the founding of Plainview. Plainview became a city on September 11, 1992.

After the Plainview Planning Commission and the Plainview Board of Aldermen adjourned their respective meetings, attendees celebrated Betty Satterfield's birthday. Betty was the city recorder for many years from the founding of Plainview until her retirement. Betty is 89 years young.

Mayor Gary Chandler administered the oath of office and seated two aldermen at the Plainview Board of Aldermen meeting in July. Josh Collins and Richard Phillips were re-elected to four-year terms. Collins is the owner of Collins Insurance and Phillips is retired and serves as the vice mayor of Plainview.
During the business session, the board approved the purchase of a new 90 hp John Deere Tractor with four wheel drive, an air conditioned cab, and a five-foot side mowing deck. The new tractor will make mowing the roadsides much easier according to Phillips.

At the June meeting, the City of Plainview honored its oldest veteran, Joe Roberts.
Jeff Collins did the honors of presenting Mr. Roberts with a plaque that noted his exemplary service in the Marine Corps during WWII.
Joe entered the war and saw action in the Pacific Theater, including Kwajalein and Guam, as a corporal in the 5th Amphibious Corps of the 3rd Marine Division. He was an MP when he was honorably discharged in 1945 at the end of the war.

The City of Plainview introduced its new utility truck at the May meeting of the Plainview Board of Aldermen. The new three-quarter ton truck is a 2022 Ford 250 with 4-wheel drive and the latest in electronic and safety enhancements. According to Vice Mayor Richard Phillips, the new one replaces a truck that is 22 years old and will be a welcome addition to the maintenance vehicles. The old truck was declared surplus and will be sold.

At the close of the public hearing on Resolution R-2022-01 to amend the subdivision regulations, the City of Plainview Municipal Planning Commission voted to reduce the asphalt binder from 2.5 inches to 2 inches and leave the topcoat at 1.5 inches at its regular meeting on April 12.

The Plainview Planning Commission and the Board of Aldermen considered several business items at their March meeting. The City of Plainview Planning Commission will change its subdivision regulations for roads to require a 2-inch asphalt binder instead of the stated 2.5 inch asphalt binder.
The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing before their meeting at 6:30 p.m. on April 12 to hear public comments regarding the proposal. The commission agreed to consider the change upon the recommendation of the codes enforcement officer and the city planner.

Plainview has plenty of curvy roads and has installed some rdar speed signs to remind everyone to slow down and avoid an accident. Chief Brandon Ford reported in the January meeting of the Board of Aldermen that the radar speed signs recently installed on two roads in the City of Plainview seem to be encouraging drivers to obey the posted speed limit, The sign located in Whispering Pines where the speed limit is 20 mph yielded data showing the average speed since December 14 to be 22.29 mph with only two of the 5,394 cars traveling over 40 mph.

The City of Plainview awarded its 2021 Academic Achievement Scholarship to Mason Weaver. The annual scholarship for $500 is given to the graduating senior with the highest grade point average who resides in Plainview. Mayor Chandler congratulated Mason for his outstanding academic achievement and and thanked his parents for all of their support for him.

One of Plainview Chief of Police Eddie Muncey’s favorite activities as a young boy was playing baseball and, like many young boys, he dreamed of being a professional baseball player.
Muncey also had a great admiration for police officers and was enthralled with the lights, the sirens, and the dignity of the uniform. Growing up in Union County Muncey played baseball until high school when his priorities changed and his new passion was to get a set of wheels. He got his first job at Hensley’s IGA and with his earnings bought his first pickup truck.