The Portland 5:
I see 5 major areas of focus to help keep our community strong and viable for today and tomorrow.
Public Infrastructure: We have made great strides in restructuring wastewater operations and received one of the States largest sewer tap releases. The City was also recognized for its innovative approach to inflow/infiltration (I&I) repairs; but for decades development was not forced to install wastewater systems that would help eliminate or prevent overflows. The City has remained under consent orders to fix these expensive legacy issues; and in recent years we have utilized new development to help offset some of the cost to the system. Correcting sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) is a massive undertaking that cannot be fixed overnight. The newly upgraded wastewater treatment plant is part of the long-range solution; but these Federally mandated corrections will be expensive.
On the water side, we continue to struggle with our limited raw water supply from West Fork Drakes Creek; and instead of focusing on one solution, we have been pursuing a multiprong approach as I identified in my Capstone Research paper https://ourcityportlandtn.com/reclaiming-our-resources/capstone-project-2021-finished-pdf-12-11-21/
As we continue with an aggressive leak detection and repair program, water purchase contracts, provide upgrades to the water treatment plant, work with the State to implement a reclaimed water program, and consider bringing in WHUD to manage the system, we will stay focused on this capacity & conservation approach as agreed upon with the State. The City is working hard on a regional water supply project and we look forward to its completion in 2026 to help with capacity and drought protection. This regional water transmission project seemed impossible just a few years ago, and as we see the installation of this 20 plus mile long water line knowing that we secured $40million in Federal and State funding to make this a reality, we are very thankful for the blessings.
Public Safety: We made the move in 2018 to go to a full-time fire department, but we are still short of all the firefighters we need. We currently need another 15 full-time firefighters along with a new station located by the new bypass for better response times. The fiscal impact of both would add about $1.8million in reoccurring cost to today’s budget.
The new Hwy 109 Bypass is underway, and the increased flow of traffic through our area necessitates growth in the Police Department. Adding at least 5 more patrol officers would help fill gaps for officers off shift, keep flex units staffed, and help implement the traffic enforcement unit.
The newly remodeled Police Station has been a long-awaited project for our community, and one that is greatly appreciated by our officers.
Ensuring our Public Safety departments are fully staffed, equipped, and have the resources they need to keep our community safe has to be a priority. Portland has seen a dramatic increase in thru-traffic, due to our proximity to 5 state roads, and two interstate exits; and unless we are proactive in our public safety staffing, we will struggle to adequately serve our community.
Planning: We have launched the City’s first ever comprehensive land use plan, updated the parks master plan, approved the first Planned Unit Development (PUD) ordinance, and are updating subdivision regulations. These documents will help guide our community into the future and show us where our investments need to be. The land use plan used community input through online polls and public meetings, allowing the community to decide where growth should be, and what kind of growth is desired.
Ongoing and targeted planning is a must for each area of local government to ensure that we stay on task and prepare for the future. To save time for both staff and investors, we implemented Business Partner Thursday whereby new concepts and projects can be brought to City staff in one meeting so that a clear path and understanding is had as new projects come forth.
Another critical area for planning is the budget process. That is why we begin discussions with department heads and Council members months before budget adoption. The City is required to adopt a balanced budget by June 30th; and each year we conduct an audit utilizing a third-party firm. Both the yearly budget and the audit is submitted to the Tennessee Comptroller for review and approval; and the documents are posted on the City’s site under the Finance department.
Staff is also working hard to put more and more information online in order to provide a 24/7 approach for everyone to find answers on alerts, regulations, and policy. Allowing public access for learning, awareness, and research is vital as we engage one another about the priorities we each desire for our city; and providing more opportunities to conduct business online and outside of normal business hours helps bring flexibility so you can stay focused on what matters most in your busy schedule.
Parks: We have worked hard to begin addressing deficiencies within our parks system, and some of the proposed projects will transform the amenities that we have. Richland gym received air conditioning that allows for year-round use, along with paint, windows, a new floor, and design is underway on renovating the bathrooms and providing public meeting space. The splash pad is under construction and is expected to open Memorial Day weekend 2026. Discussions are underway for new paving and lights at both parks, along with outdoor tennis/pickle ball courts.
While the expansion and upkeep of park facilities are expensive, these amenities are invaluable to the strength of our community. We are in need of more playground space and expanded activities for our youth, and we hope to soon launch a “friends of the park” non-profit group that will provide a path for greater partnerships in our parks.
Partnerships: I believe partnerships are important as we undertake the “big things” that benefit Portland. Being able to work with other communities and agencies for the betterment of our city has paid great dividends. These partnerships have led to significant contributions to our budgets, along with fully funded projects. Whether it is the State or County, building relationships is of the utmost importance since we cannot go it alone as we navigate these big issues.
Collaboration and involvement across our region is directly beneficial to us; and I hope we are able to grow our influence and build a network of partners that opens the door to many wonderful opportunities in the future.
Being involved and having a “seat at the table”, is an important aspect for our community if we want to be prepared for an ever-changing future; but doing so requires the building of strong relationships, where trust and respect are at the core of the partnership.
