Atoka board approves ClearGov dashboard, multiple zoning ordinances and authorizes short‑term loan; IDB funds left in savings

The Atoka Board of Mayor and Aldermen met Tuesday evening and approved a series of measures the town says aim to improve fiscal transparency and move forward on infrastructure while maintaining careful stewardship of budgeted funds.

The board voted to contract with ClearGov, a budget‑transparency and dashboard vendor, after a staff presentation describing a public dashboard that will let residents view department‑level breakdowns of how property‑tax dollars are used. Town staff told the board the implementation will include an initial December payment of $1,544.69 (to be allocated across departments) and that the contract carries a 3% scheduled annual increase; staff said the company is used by other municipalities and that the desktop dashboard will also help the town compete for a Government Finance Officers Association award. "A big part of this is gonna be for citizens and transparency," the mayor said during discussion, and town staff said the dashboard "will show all the percentages that we're at" so residents can see how a typical $500 of property taxes is distributed across departments. The board approved the ClearGov agreement (exhibit L) by voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (Exhibits A–H): approved by voice vote. - Design‑standards ordinance (Amend Article 7 of the Atoka Municipal Zoning Ordinance): approved on final reading by roll call (recorded as unanimous). - Commercial accessory structures ordinance (clarifying requirements for commercial accessory buildings): approved on final reading by roll call (recorded as unanimous). - Rezoning of property on Highway 51 (approx. 1,000 feet south of Kimbrough Avenue) from suburban neighborhood residential to Highway Corridor commercial: approved on final reading by roll call (recorded as unanimous). - ClearGov transparency dashboard agreement (Exhibit L): approved by voice vote; initial December payment $1,544.69; contract terms include typical 3% annual increase and provisions discussed during the meeting. - Release of FY26 funds to the Industrial Development Board (IDB): motion to keep the funds budgeted (leave in savings) carried by voice vote; the board asked the public to attend the IDB meeting for further details. - Cedar Ridge subdivision dedication (accept public improvements): approved by voice vote. - Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund draw (authorize indebtedness not to exceed $3,000,000 at ~4.38%): approved by voice vote to provide short‑term cash flow for roughly $10,000,000 in wastewater projects funded by ARPA on a reimbursement basis. - Mediated settlement in Hacker v. Town of Atoka (property water‑seepage claim): approved by roll call; essential terms presented by the town attorney included a $15,000 payment covered by the town’s insurance and an agreement to test/inspect municipal water facilities within 90 days; if a town leak is found and repaired, an additional $30,000 payment to plaintiffs would be triggered. - Adjournment: approved.

What the votes mean

ClearGov: Staff described the software as a public "transparency dashboard" that will present department line summaries and capital‑project tracking on the town website. The board discussed funding the purchase across departmental budgets and whether recurring costs were budgeted; staff said departments will identify line items to pay ongoing costs. One alderman stressed the need to hold the vendor to implementation timelines and to get a demonstration for the board.

Wastewater financing: Town staff explained that several capital projects (Veil Street lift station, force main and pump station improvements, and partner‑city treatment work) total roughly $10 million and are funded primarily by ARPA grants that operate on a reimbursement basis. To avoid cash‑flow problems while the town waits for reimbursement, staff requested authorization to draw on a short‑term municipal borrowing facility not to exceed $3 million. Staff said the proposed arrangement locks an interest rate at 4.38% and would be used only as needed; the board approved the authorization.

Settlement: Town attorney Will presented terms of a mediated settlement in long‑running litigation brought by Christopher and Jennifer Hacker alleging property damage. Will said, "We agreed to pay some of $15,000 that would be paid on behalf of the town," and stressed there is no admission of liability. The town indicated the $15,000 payment will be covered by its insurance; the agreement also requires testing of a hydrant or supply line with an expert observer, and an additional $30,000 would be payable if a town leak is found and repaired.

Other business and next steps

The board approved three zoning items on final passage: updated design standards, clarified rules for commercial accessory structures, and a rezoning on Highway 51 to Highway Corridor commercial. The board kept FY26 funds assigned to the Industrial Development Board in savings and encouraged citizens with questions to attend the IDB meeting. Staff also confirmed a SAFER grant award for the fire department (staff said the total award is $683,000 for three positions with a town share of roughly $241,000 and flagged a one‑month federal timing risk equal to about $41,000).

The board scheduled outreach with county commissioners in the first quarter and agreed to move the December regular meeting date (staff will advertise the new date). Staff will proceed with ClearGov implementation steps, bring contract‑extension options to the December meeting, and execute the mediated settlement documents after the board's authorization.

Reporting notes: where transcript wording was garbled in places, the article uses corrected, standard names (for example, "Atoka Municipal Zoning Ordinance" and vendor name "ClearGov") that match official uses discussed at the meeting.