Joe Dunn

The agenda for the City Commission meeting includes a public hearing concerning two resolutions related to the Abbott Property: adopting a plan of services (Resolution No. 2026-968) and annexing the property into the City of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (Resolution No. 2026-969). Old Business involves the second reading of an ordinance adopting portions of a revised employee handbook. New Business items include authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds up to $45,000,000.00, approving the guaranteed maximum price for the LeConte Center expansion, awarding a contract for 2026 Traffic Signal Upgrades, purchasing networking equipment for the new Police Department building, applying for a Wildland Fire Slip on Tanker Grant, and purchasing vehicle lighting.

The City of Pigeon Forge Mass Transit's Title VI Plan aims to ensure compliance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, preventing discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in its federally-funded programs. Key components include detailed Title VI complaint procedures in multiple languages, a public participation plan with specific outreach strategies for minority and Limited English Proficient (LEP) populations, and a comprehensive language assistance plan developed from a Four Factor Analysis. The plan also establishes specific service standards covering vehicle load, headway, on-time performance, service availability, vehicle assignment, and transit amenities, all designed to ensure equitable access and nondiscrimination in public transportation services.

The City Commission meeting agenda included a first reading of Ordinance No. 2026-1191 to adopt portions of a revised employee handbook, effective April 1, 2026. Key discussions and considerations involved the purchase of traffic poles and mast arms for four intersections, approval for a Service and Maintenance agreement with Connexionz for transit service equipment, and a letter of intent to purchase a 2025 Peterbilt frontloader truck. The Commission also considered approving an application for a USDOT BUILD Grant for the Pigeon Forge Parkway Transit Project to fund new transit shelters and upgrades. Further items included the approval to purchase 16 Panasonic Toughbook MDTs for the Fire Department, awarding the Middle Creek Lift Station Force Main Repairs project to Precision Construction Solutions, LLC, and approval for related bypass pump and piping installation payments. Finally, the Commission discussed the sole source purchase of the AT&T Vesta Product for the new Police Department's 911 services.

The meeting included discussions and approvals for various city projects and services. An agreement with American Municipal Services Corporation (AMS) was approved for collection services of uncollected citations. A proposal from Astro Turf for turf replacement at the Ripken Experience was approved. Bidding phase services from CDM Smith for the Dollywood Lane phase 1 roadway widening were approved. A bid from Dugan & Meyers for a membrane thickener for the wastewater treatment plant was approved. Sponsorship for the WVLT weather camera for the department of tourism was approved. The 2026 patriot festival entertainment was approved. A bid for dumpsters for the sanitation department was rejected for rebidding. A 5311 grant for fiscal year 2025-2026 to replace a trolley and extend a maintenance agreement and a UROP grant for fiscal year 2025-2026 to use for operating expenses for the mass transit department were approved. An agreement with Ross/Fowler for architectural and engineering services for Patriot Park was approved. Change order # 2 from George W Reagan for the community center locker room renovation was approved. A bid from Kings Development Group for the fencing of the new landing pad was approved. Kathy Gwinn was appointed to the library advisory board. A contract with Evertech for temporary information technology staffing services and google business plus annual renewal were approved. Volunteer Primary Care, LLC was selected to conduct the fire department annual physicals. An assistance to firefighters grant for training for the fire department was approved. Surplus medical bags were donated to the Seymour Volunteer Fire Department. The manager's report included updates on the new city hall, planning commission meeting, Halloween Spooktacular event, and Winterfest kickoff.

The meeting addressed defining short term rentals, establishing operational permits with the Fire Department, and a bid for the collection system manhole rehabilitation project. Also discussed was a change order for fiber runs in the new fire station, a bid for the Community Center locker room renovation, and paving for City Park Drive and the area around the new storage building. The council addressed the final payment for the traffic signal project, the annual maintenance agreement with TDOT for parkway rights of way, and the right of way purchase for tracts related to the Westside Connector Project. The council also acknowledged the success of a recent career quest event.