[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6185515,"mediaKeyId","5081716-80c46cc6b0b7766410746eadba1f3887","parentId",5081716,"title","Bluff City adopts ordinance amending water fund to buy 100 M25 disc meters","audioSeconds",93,"startMs",465000,"endMs",558000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5081716-80c46cc6b0b7766410746eadba1f3887&start=465&end=558","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5081716-80c46cc6b0b7766410746eadba1f3887/thumbnail_465000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6185515/Bluff-City/Sullivan-County/Tennessee/Bluff-City-adopts-ordinance-amending-water-fund-to-buy-100-M25-disc-meters","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6185515-8104fbfab2d671ca1dd493b89748be8e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773610490&Signature=CblhXtrFrWoYhX1MBnhVc8vp4mgKi2tFhOeKLcADZ5fRPcoQXgo70fFhyUtw2k8aBRGIiB42Y2uEjM1lTUJ9V-nfIGUq3BZii4FZL-fuF5Jz5C4rrixJ~Czgbeo5dEetPL6KMP5~gkq8~wXAelo6vtZvr8WMtydzRxY9C7Q0jqaKekOIemM8wuWJ0GC3ZZQD6Gg2CDB-OiBeJ7y~gNxMC89IiS2yr5AbpQ9bHX7jDcV8~JoW7nZxnM1INCx1KRjfPvGgTWcnau72qb24vc0zcR1kSMujq6NSf-5-HBSdCoPZKHIj~q5nLUwiOiQiA5Zt5-ioWcjP-GOyVvTtgQsvXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-26T21:02:56.153Z","article","The Board of Mayor and Aldermen adopted Ordinance 2025-007 on second reading, amending the town's appropriation ordinance to authorize $30,500 for the purchase of 100 M25 disc meters for the water and sewer line item.

The ordinance text presented to the board specified that $30,500 would be added to the water/sewer line item (line item 413) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. The presiding officer opened a public hearing on the ordinance; no members of the public spoke and the board closed the hearing before taking a motion.

Vice Mayor Adams moved to approve Ordinance 2025-007; Alderman Johnson seconded. The recorder called roll: Alderwoman Payne voted yes, Alderwoman Malone voted yes, Alderman Keith voted yes, Vice Mayor Adams voted yes and Alderman Johnson voted yes. The presiding officer declared Ordinance 2025-007 passed.

The ordinance amends Ordinance 2024-003 to reflect a revised water/sewer appropriation of $1,155,325 after the change. No further amendments were discussed on the record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special Called Meeting June 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved Ordinance 2025-007, amending the appropriation ordinance to authorize $30,500 for purchase of 100 M25 disc meters for the water/sewer fund.","taxTitle","Bluff City , Sullivan County, Tennessee","taxId",76661,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6185520,"Bluff City approves contract for defensive driving classes with Terry Butcher",376,568000,944000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5081716-80c46cc6b0b7766410746eadba1f3887&start=568&end=944","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5081716-80c46cc6b0b7766410746eadba1f3887/thumbnail_568000.jpg","/articles/6185520/Bluff-City/Sullivan-County/Tennessee/Bluff-City-approves-contract-for-defensive-driving-classes-with-Terry-Butcher","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6185520-cb992c8d0755c3c7892aa8dbac3fae2c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773610490&Signature=fDvTf1kKjwS3oYa8RXV~6bKrvtiqBymfCPuk-u4PKsFg-6kE5MZOnN8fVhnWQaZYWm4GEMLLVBBzSOnAsh0gKWsodKXfERSOJpItARxBUMwCLbyRCldVm6AG~ratfzXti9fxbW0H--0YlSgf2rNNPLUOfAD-3av3ygGdlVpKvhexxd~NH1I13WJL4yo8VplKKdR1IWqi04hUWyh70CEj95HvwAtoN1P8yTuvfHhw9tSlAueON-mFhMv0lkatMY9A5PIOl-G6stFZfjbjPY~oy2Lye86TuBbX1vLXucNeeBOEhPyYCuKA5qR13SStmqE5DU52KBAEXNVaLdIq0RN37A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to approve a contract with Terry Butcher to administer defensive driving classes for Bluff City. The motion to approve was made and seconded during the meeting and passed by roll call.

Officials discussed how often classes run and how many students each class can serve. Butcher and meeting participants said the program ran about one class per month last year and two per month this year except for June, with capacity of about 25 students per class. \"Last year was just 1 a month. This year is 2 a month for every month except for June,\" an instructor said.

The board asked where payment would be sourced; staff confirmed the class program costs would come from the general fund and that driving school is a police-related expense. The class fee for attendees was stated to be $100 per person; meeting remarks described the fee as paid by individuals who qualify for driving school through the court process. One presenter summarized typical ticket reductions and class fees: \"The class is a $100,\" and described how a speeding ticket and class together change the fine and disposition under local court practice.

A motion to approve Terry Butcher's contract was made by Alderwoman Payne and seconded by Alderman Keith. The recorder took a roll call and recorded yes votes; the chair declared the contract approved.

Board members discussed expanding frequency if demand grows; one official encouraged adding a third monthly class if volume supports it. Staff said not every citation qualifies for driving school (examples: holders of commercial driver's licenses and those who took driving school within the previous 12 months are not eligible, per the judge's order noted in discussion).","The Bluff City board approved a contract with Terry Butcher to run defensive driving school for the police department; the board discussed class frequency, capacity and budget source and approved funding from the general fund.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6185525,"Public commenter criticizes Bluff City board for response to police investigation and employee treatment",122,130000,252000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5081716-80c46cc6b0b7766410746eadba1f3887&start=130&end=252","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5081716-80c46cc6b0b7766410746eadba1f3887/thumbnail_130000.jpg","/articles/6185525/Bluff-City/Sullivan-County/Tennessee/Public-commenter-criticizes-Bluff-City-board-for-response-to-police-investigation-and-employee-treatment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6185525-f561e254ec4367b94dccfb57c684045a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773610490&Signature=TGvL3YIe9hKcPyg2sg6u4SC4G8Kada1d9Q3xuywFtjB54lmc5FNjYE2Tr2UOCPww5K2tnGVxveCApDxCLzIrjUYwiXL4kz5NFvM9YbnkImV2WGTu3f3axlx4TiPpoJ55140EiQUqrqf2E8iRHp3HC5dPsiBUVgq7KihX0nSL4yo-1w8WyjFsH6o3D0kcjrZJrQ1yLrHDnXbm6hMd-uKsLOKqyykMwXPvyLluOK~thU6wmrdSAJ6LQR0WjiimSanPmt2HjkTgHSi-NuhlqAAqIc1cTGKeJntpoN5DXoUTRajfHrDfCwfhVfCyA13QB7isbyaHUWqqqHNqJ2J9KfACFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Bluff City resident used the public comment period to criticize the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for its response to a police investigation and for what he described as board interference with town staff.

James Roberts told the board that at a June 18 special-called meeting Captain Shane Watson reported that Lieutenant Bays led an investigation that recovered about $20,000 of a senior resident's savings after a scam. Roberts said the board did not acknowledge Lieutenant Bays' work or call for a press release and instead focused on \"contractual obligations of our officers.\" \"As a citizen, I was viscerally incensed at how Lieutenant Bays' above and beyond duty and action could be so callously overlooked,\" Roberts said.

Roberts also criticized board members for delving into daily operations and for behavior he said created a hostile work environment for the town manager. He urged the board to respect the town manager charter and allow the appointed manager to perform duties without intimidation. \"Our charter calls for a town manager,\" Roberts said.

The board did not take formal action during the public comment period. Chief de Pue and Captain Watson were present at the meeting; the transcript records the public comment but does not include a formal board response in the hearing record.

Roberts' remarks were followed by the meeting's regular agenda items; later in the meeting the board engaged in a lengthy discussion about the town manager appointment.","A Bluff City resident told the board it failed to acknowledge a police lieutenant's role in recovering a senior resident's stolen funds and criticized board members for micromanaging staff and creating a hostile work environment for the town manager.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6185530,"Bluff City board votes to end interim town manager arrangement; mayor to assume interim manager duties",2632,1010000,3642000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5081716-80c46cc6b0b7766410746eadba1f3887&start=1010&end=3642","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5081716-80c46cc6b0b7766410746eadba1f3887/thumbnail_1010000.jpg","/articles/6185530/Bluff-City/Sullivan-County/Tennessee/Bluff-City-board-votes-to-end-interim-town-manager-arrangement-mayor-to-assume-interim-manager-duties","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6185530-6a6109f850b9ae7fa06543bc7fcbf43c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773610490&Signature=CLPnf6CaPrCM9IobglgWyc8oKZYpQ6UQcVt5AB1ewrZ9ldBBkjPqh-H1PE0~YDLK9hlh8cLm8h1b3~ZpRvBfEKiQyKs0C51IDH2l~Ic5Zrhq4RJWCU2rBWsdkVfdE~T7tNZGb9OwCTl7QtGD5hDjDXtFQ2YUiYCj1yoBGzyMJK4jxEOYb4PYA60whp7EZ07fPNHOsYh0VVsfTyZ~PvQYTxKfEBw-qUfKoyAeV1tOKXvD6etQt5mKP~x0l4pWpGXVBGN4IyePBRXn1oOPug2QdxD22LJ28bo0ywb0E0VGxw0ovlItswCyr7-MX3ojtUgomDF97IWtPSIaTHByo4GaxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Mayor and Aldermen of Bluff City voted at its June meeting to end the current interim town manager arrangement on June 30 and have Mayor Lori Staton assume interim town manager duties until a permanent city manager is hired.

The vote came after more than two hours of discussion about staffing, continuity and budget pressures. A board member moved that Michelle's temporary assignment end on June 30 and that Mayor Lori Staton take over interim manager duties; a second was recorded by a board member identified as Jerry. The motion passed with three yes votes and two no votes.

Supporters of the motion said the date was a previously agreed endpoint and noted a projected short-term savings to the town. \"The new projection now is 3 months,\" a board member said while arguing the town should finish the hiring process quickly. A board member who voted yes said the move would \"save us money\" in the current budget cycle; the board later stated the savings over the proposed three months would be roughly $12,000.

Opponents urged the board to keep the interim manager in place until a permanent hire was in hand, arguing that removing the town's primary administrator during budget work would disrupt operations. \"I don't think that's a good plan for our town,\" one alderman said, citing continuity concerns and ongoing infrastructure work.

Interim town manager Michelle spoke directly to the board before the vote: \"I would come in. I would help. I would do the best that I can, and I would stay here as long as the board would have me until the position could be filled and do a proper turnover.\" She also said she had been working evenings and on some vacation days to address town business.

After the vote, the recorder announced roll-call results: Alderwoman Payne voted yes; Alderwoman Malone voted yes; Alderwoman Keith voted no; Vice Mayor Adams voted no; Alderman Johnson voted yes. The motion passed 3-2.

The board discussed the hiring process: the position was posted through MTAS (the Municipal Technical Advisory Service), which will screen applicants and submit candidates to the board. Michelle told the board she will not apply for the permanent city manager job, citing compensation as a factor. Mayor Staton said she would serve in the interim role but said she did not wish to conflate the mayor's office with the city manager's duties long-term.

The board left direction that the search will continue and that the mayor will assume the transition duties until a hire is completed.","The Bluff City Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted 3-2 to end the town's interim town manager arrangement on June 30 and for Mayor Lori Staton to assume interim town manager duties until a permanent hire is made.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bluff City adopts ordinance amending water fund to buy 100 M25 disc meters

Bluff City approves contract for defensive driving classes with Terry Butcher

Public commenter criticizes Bluff City board for response to police investigation and employee treatment

Bluff City board votes to end interim town manager arrangement; mayor to assume interim manager duties