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Sweetwater council approves February distributions, reviews contract and training items
Summary
City council approved the city's February distributions including payroll-related payments, school appropriations and grant-funded purchases and discussed the waste contract renewal and CDL training for street employees.
The Sweetwater City Council approved the city's February distributions and heard staff questions about solid waste services and employee training.
City Recorder Jessica reported the key payments on the February distributions: Blue Cross (dental and vision) $4,995.57; Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System contributions $34,767.07; Axon Enterprise charges for body cameras, tasers, cloud storage and licensing (contracted replacement every three years); Boys & Girls Club of the Ocoee Region appropriation $5,000; health insurance (CHLIC) employee and employer portion $58,849.19; Monroe County Emergency Communications $20,675 (noted as a quarterly payment that includes a $9,011 installment); a 50% deposit on the fireworks vendor Pyro Shows $7,087.50; Sweetwater Board of Education annual appropriation $250,000; Tennessee Fire Equipment charges $43,519 tied to a FEMA grant (staff said there is a 5% local match); Westview Cemetery appropriation $5,000; gas billing/fuel purchases $11,334.57 (staff said that amount includes a school reimbursement); Judy's ELDT CDL training $4,000 for two street department employees; Star Mountain Outfitters boots $3,960 for police; a property tax refund to Tommy Reynolds $1,074; suite utilities $37,087.09; Canon & Canon engineering fees $18,900 and $5,906.25 for TAP and multimodal projects; and the solid-waste monthly contract payment $25,641.08.
Council members asked for clarifications on several line items. Jessica confirmed the FEMA-funded purchases carry a roughly 5% local match. She also said the gas billing figure included the school's share, and that the $7,087.50 payment was a 50% deposit on the city's fireworks show.
Councilors discussed the solid-waste contract. Staff reported the contract with WCI renewed April 1 and that a 190-day notice would have been required to terminate; the city decided to remain with WCI because a competitor would have needed to hire staff and buy equipment to start fresh. Staff said the current manager has improved service but that missed pickups still sometimes occur when a new driver is assigned. The council did not record a separate formal vote on changing providers during this discussion; staff described the decision to stay with WCI and noted the contract term is five years.
Council members also questioned the CDL training: Jessica said the state changed legislation last year and that much of the course cost is driven by that change; the city paid for the class and retest fees for the employees. Staff clarified a commercial driver's license is not required for the particular street positions but the city wants multiple employees with CDLs.
A motion to approve the distributions was made and seconded; the council voted by voice and the motion carried.
