| AUGUST | ARCHIVES |
Mayor Kincannon thanks employees as she embarks on second term.
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City Builds on Investments in Affordable Housing
 We love groundbreakings and ribbon-cutting ceremonies -- especially when they celebrate the creation of affordable housing.
While the City doesn’t build housing, it plays a role in the creation of affordable housing – single-family homes and apartments—through the activities of the Housing and Neighborhood Development office, led by Director Kevin DuBose.
Not long ago, the phrase “affordable housing” was only uttered by community development staff entrenched in HUD terminology. In HUD’s glossary, “affordable” refers to housing costs not more than 30 percent of a household’s income. These days, when high demand and insufficient supply have driven market-rate housing costs to record heights – and the lack of housing at all price points is a concern to many residents – the term is used more frequently and more casually.
The City role in supporting the creation of affordable housing – through funding and partnerships with entities like KCDC, Elmington Group, Southeastern Capital, and non-profit developers like Homesource of East Tennessee – is ensuring that new units of affordable housing are coming online for low- to moderate-income families.
While the job of supporting the creation of affordable housing isn’t complete, it’s always a job well done by our HND staff.
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The City’s Vision Zero Action Plan Posted Online
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City Invests $6M to Create 3 New Sidewalk Corridors
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New Items Added to City’s Recyclable List
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CGI Celebrates Downtown Grand Opening
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 Have You Done Your Latest Cyber-Security Training?
More than 1300 City employees are required to take the training and less than 40% have completed it.
The deadline for completing this is now being extended. Chief Technology Officer Mark Parker has more on why this training is so important and some other key changes coming to your desktop—in this month’s Need to Know.
 Pension System Offices Have Moved
City employees, remember - the Pension System offices have moved from East Fifth Avenue and are now located at the new Public Safety Complex, 1650 Huron St.
The new digs are convenient and easy to find! Just park by the main entrance near City Court, or in the larger parking lot off Huron Street. The Pension System has its own private entrance - look for a glass door and sign, facing Huron Street.
The Pension System also has a new phone number: 865-215-7750.
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Neighborhood Resource Fair Reaches Hundreds
A lot of hard work paid off for the Office of Neighborhood Empowerment on Aug. 12, 2023, as they hosted the inaugural Neighborhood Resource Fair at the Jacob Building at Chilhowee Park.
“Just about everyone we spoke to loved it,” says Neighborhood Coordinator Debbie Sharp. “ We think it was a success.”
The event boasted 83 booths staffed by some of the most helpful people you could hope to ask questions like “How do you use the KUB app?” and “What kind of snake is that?”
Officially, attendance came in at 343, but the total was probably higher, as not everyone who attended registered in advance and not everyone who walked in the door came through registration.
It was a great day, with attendees picking up lots of fun giveaways and helpful information.
Click below to learn more about the event.
Federal ARP Funds Help City Fix Decades-Old Flooding Problems
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Record-setting rains in February 2019 swelled Lake Ottosee in Chilhowee Park out of its usual 3-acre bed and sent water across the park's lower parking lots.
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After a heavy rain, floodwater can stand on Northshore Drive for days. Flash floods can also close Baum Drive and Cherry Street.
At Mary Vestal and Holston River parks, and at Rock City Ballfield, sediment is steadily washed downstream, worsening water quality and making it tougher on aquatic life.
And at Chilhowee Park and surrounding low-lying areas, managing drainage and channeling standing water can be vexing.
What do these problem areas have in common?
All affect water quality, and all are being fast-tracked for relief by City Engineering – thanks to the financial support of the federal government.
The City is committing more than $2 million in mostly federal funding to redesign or repair stormwater infrastructure in the three flood-prone areas. The American Rescue Plan funding will also enable the City to correct erosion and run-off problems at the four City parks.
“These are all big projects – issues that need to be addressed,” said David McGinley, the City’s Stormwater Engineering Chief. “We’re thankful to ARP, because collectively, these are too big and too expensive to be funded by the City alone.
“These federal grants give us the opportunity to get these big things done in a very short amount of time.”
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 August’s mystery employee loves thrift-shopping adventures and a wide variety of music, from The Pixies to Brahms.
And chances are, when you see her, she’s just about to leave for – or just gotten back from – an exciting trip or vacation.
Why is this mystery employee?
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 Happy anniversary to employees hired in the month of August!
Congratulations to the individuals and departments that recently won awards and KUDOS.
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CITY COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT |