Clean bill of health
Norris leaders receive good news from financial audit
Norris got a clean bill of financial health for the last fiscal year from its outside auditor at Monday night’s City Council meeting, during which councilmembers were also told that the city government has no debt outside that of its Water Commission.
The only governmental debt in the city is about $100,000 owed on capital projects by the Norris Water Commission, the auditor’s report noted. The Water Commission, which provides the water and sewer services in the city, essentially operates separately from the city government.
There were no “adverse” findings in the audit, according to the report, which is typical of the city of Norris.
Councilmembers were also told that the city issued a total of 32 building permits during 2020, for a total value of $1.456 million worth of construction projects.
Also Monday night, the council approved a resolution to apply for a state of Tennessee Community Development Block Grant of up to $625,000 for water and sewer improvements. The city would have to make a partial matching payment of $132,195 to go with the grant, making the proposed project cost $762,195.
The matching amount would come from the Water Commission’s General Account, rather than from the city budget, the resolution stated.
The exact purpose of the grant was not listed, but the block grant money, if the city is approved for it, can be used for water and sewer line extensions, other sewer and water system upgrades, and “community livability projects,” according to the resolution.
City Manager Scott Hackler told councilmembers that work is continuing a nine-hole disc golf course near City Hall, and also detailed work underway on a city playground, which includes installation of new mulch.
Norris also has received a 2017 Ford Explorer police vehicle purchased from the Missouri State Police’s surplus vehicle stock to replace the 2016 Explorer that was totaled in an accident with a pickup truck last summer.
The vehicle still must be marked and have emergency equipment and radio installed before going into service. In the meantime, the city has been using a Ford Crown Victoria police car donated to Norris by the Anderson County Sheriff’s department.
A second Crown Victoria donated by the Sheriff’s Department has now been marked and striped for use by the Norris Fire Department for various functions, including taking volunteer firefighters to fire scenes, Hackler said.
The council was reminded that Brad Hodge had been approved to continue for the next two years as City Court judge. He is a lawyer and Norris resident who has held the position for several years, Hackler said.
The city judge position comes up for renewal after each council election.
