CITY COUNCIL MAY USE DRUG FUND MONEY TO HELP DRUG COURT

Maryville City Council is considering using drug fund money to help the
county drug court, despite objections by police Chief Terry Nichols.

Circuit Judge Kelly Thomas came before the council Tuesday night to request
$37,625 for the coming year to keep the drug court going.

The first year the program was federally funded, but the grant ran out in
December. Under the program, nonviolent offenders who are substance abusers
get treatment instead of time in jail.

"They are monitored very closely and are in the program from 11/2 to 2
years. Hopefully, in another year it will be done on a statewide level,"
Thomas said.

Nichols asked where the money would come from and was told it would be from
the city's drug fund, which comes from fines and other money from drug
offenders.

Police chief opposed

"To vote to do this would be against state law," Nichols said. He said drug
funds can only be used after approval by the city's chief law enforcement
officer.

"I agree with the idea and conflict when the Police Department is not told
where the drug fund monies are used. There is a disconnect, and we were
completely out of the loop on this," he said.

Nichols said the city has a sizable drug fund and that there were some
other things the Police Department wanted to use the funds for to fight crime.

"Talk about a disconnect. I didn't hear about this," said Hensley.

"One of your assistant city managers knew about it yesterday (Monday),"
Nichols said. "I was told by you to work through one of your city managers."

"Oh, really," Hensley replied.

Seeking broad support

Thomas said the Alcoa City Commission approved $15,000 to $16,000 for the
program, which will fund 10 percent of the drug court's budget. The city
based its contribution on the population.

The request from Maryville was for about 25 percent of the court's budget.

"I've been getting mixed messages (from Blount County officials), but I
feel certain if the cities participate then the county would," Thomas said.

"We're in a holding pattern and losing ground. Blount Memorial Hospital has
been treating participants free, but there are no new members."

Thomas said group interaction is important and if the program doesn't get
new members soon, "We'll be starting over."

City Attorney David Black said that while the chief law enforcement
official could make the decision on how the funds are used, the ultimate
authority would rest with the fiscal agent of the city, which is City Council.

A straw poll was taken and the council unanimously agreed to approve the
allocation, if the money is available.

Mayor Steve West is to work with Nichols on the issue.

Maryville's drug fund currently totals $154,0000.

Other matters

In other action, the council:

* Reported builder Ed Shore has been contacted to no avail about the
scheduled entrance to Allenbrook Subdivision that has not been constructed.
The city attorney is to send Shore a letter advising him if the work is not
done he will be sued in Chancery Court.

* Awarded the contract on a new traffic signal on Cusick Street at the
entrance to the new Blount County Public Library to low-bidder Progression
Electric at $43,086, money which will be reimbursed to the city.

* Amended the school budget on final reading by $364,456 for new funds
received.

* Set a public hearing on a request by J. Franklin Law to have Law's Market
and Deli No. 2 annexed into the city.

People were on hand to protest the annexation, saying the request is only
so beer can be sold at the mini-market, but they were told the time to
voice their opinion is at the hearing. It was set for 6:59 p.m. June 4 in
Maryville Municipal Building.

* Authorized electric utility director Bryan Swafford to sign all future
customer applications for TVA and city of Maryville power contracts. These
are mostly programs set primarily by TVA and involve no rate changes,
Hensley said.

* Awarded the contract for water system improvements in Partnership Park
South to Morgan Contracting Inc. at $650,952.

* Approved on second and final reading wastewater rules and regulations.

* Amended on first reading the regulations to require all infrastructure be
in place, as well as all site improvements be complete, before final
approval is granted to developments.

* Exempted publicly owned industrial parks from the above regulation
because they are often developed in phases and all the infrastructure is
not put in at once.

* Amended the regulations on freestanding signs along Lamar Alexander
Parkway to delete the requirement for 15 acres to have two freestanding
signs and to require two businesses be established on site to get two signs.

* Set fees for site-plan reviews. The fee is based on acreage, and $100 is
the starting fee, which will make up nine of 10 of the plans the city
reviews, said city planner Scott Poland.

* Appointed Kathy White to the Historical Commission board.

* Authorized the mayor to sign a contract with Charter Communications for
pole attachments. The old agreement had run out.

* Changed the accounting process for the landfill at the request of the state.