By Karen Hall

Editor

Councilmen unanimously approved the choice of local resident Randall Dunn as the city's new manager.

Steve Thomas made the motion to appoint Dunn at a salary of $75,000 per year, authorizing Mayor Jim Bingham to make the job offer, and determine Dunn's start date, which should be as soon as possible.

After the meeting, Thomas said councilmen entertained Dunn and his rival for the job, Charlie Beal, at a reception in Rock Creek Park followed by dinner, one last Friday, and the other on Monday. Members of the community were also invited, and Thomas said councilmen had ample opportunity to see both candidates interacting with people.

Clearly Dunn made a good impression, because councilmen had no hesitation about voting in his favor.

At a work session the previous week, Police Chief Chuck Forbis reported he had done background checks on both men, and they were exactly as they had presented themselves in their resumes, with no red flags anywhere. Forbis said he didn't just call the references the men had given, but also used his contacts to find other people who could comment on their personalities and abilities.

Dunn is taking over management of a city moving hopefully forward.

Carol Hoch, commercial sales specialist for Marvin's, was at the council meeting to thank the city for welcoming Marvin's Building Materials and Home Center to Lewisburg and making it easy for them to move into the former Food Lion location on North Ellington Parkway.

"I'm so glad you're here" is what people are saying, reported Hoch. She said the people of Marshall County have been gracious, kind, and fun to get to know.

"We love your sales tax," said Bingham.

Economic Development Director Greg Lowe reported a TVA group was coming to visit to decide which designation Lewisburg would earn in the TVA Certified Sustainable Community program.

"We'll probably get a silver designation," Lowe said. "This will be a marketing asset for us."

He also applied to the TVA investment preparation program, and has been approved to continue to Phase II. This may result in funding for a new "spec" building.

Other industrial and retail projects are moving forward, Lowe said, without going into details.

He reported the Tennessee Department of Transportation should be on schedule to complete Veterans Drive, in the I-65 Commerce Park, by April 2014, in time to serve the access needs of Meiwa and Imperial Foods.

"It's 100 percent state funded," exclaimed Bingham. "It's a wonderful program. We are envied by many communities for getting that quality of industry."

"It's good news on the employment front, really," agreed Lowe. "Teledyne has hired 54 to date."

In more good news at the end of the meeting, Fire Chief Larry Williams said the Fill the Boot campaign for the Muscular Dystrophy Association raised $3,200, and the MDA has been helping local families. The fire department has also raised $6,000 for materials from the Fire Safety Council that will be used for fire prevention and public education, especially in the schools.