City of Martin holds informal meeting

By Bethany Collins, Staff Reporter

The City of Martin must arrange a water and sewer rate study before the end of December following a state determination that the city’s utility fund has experienced financial distress for the past two years.

Interim City Manager Brittany Newton discussed the requirement during the Martin Board of Mayor and Aldermen’s informal meeting Tuesday, Nov. 3, alongside updates on the potential sale of City Hall, the city’s search for a permanent city manager and proposed regulations for data centers.

Newton said the Tennessee Board of Utility Regulation has ordered Martin to enter into a contract for a utility rate study by the end of December.

The study will examine the city’s water and sewer finances as officials work to address the fund’s financial condition.

Newton said city officials recently met with a financial consultant from the Municipal Technical Advisory Service to review the state’s orders and determine the next steps.

The city initially considered using MTAS or the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts to complete the study, but neither organization could accommodate Martin before the deadline.

MTAS subsequently provided contact information for three certified public accounting firms that could potentially complete the work.

Two firms have responded, and the city is awaiting proposals outlining the cost of the study.

Newton said the matter will come before the board in December.

The discussion did not include a proposed increase in water or sewer rates, and no rate changes were approved during the informal meeting.

Newton also provided an update on the city’s discussions with two banks that previously expressed interest in purchasing the current City Hall building. Carroll Bank & Trust is no longer interested after securing another location.

However, First Community Bank of the Heartland remains interested in the property and has indicated that it would be willing to pay for an appraisal of the building.

The potential sale remains under consideration, with no agreement announced.

The city is also preparing to reopen its search for a permanent city manager. Newton said she contacted Dana Deem with MTAS, and the position is expected to be advertised again within the next several days.

In other business, board members reviewed proposed Ordinance 2026-13, which would establish zoning regulations governing data centers within Martin.

The ordinance follows several months of discussion by the Martin Municipal Regional Planning Commission, which recommended the proposal after considering noise, utility demands and potential effects on nearby residential properties.

Under the proposed ordinance, data centers would be permitted only in M-2 Heavy Industrial districts.

The regulations would establish a minimum 500-foot separation between standard data centers and residential uses, with a 1,000-foot requirement for hyperscale facilities.

Additional requirements would include landscaping, screening, building setbacks, noise studies, utility impact analyses and plans for decommissioning facilities that cease operations.

Planning officials said the proposed regulations are intended to address concerns associated with data centers before any development is proposed within Martin.

Currently, the city’s zoning ordinance does not specifically define data centers, meaning such facilities could potentially be classified under existing industrial uses.

The proposed ordinance would create a separate classification and establish additional requirements that developers would have to satisfy.

Officials said utility impact studies would require approval from the appropriate utility providers before a project could move forward.

The ordinance is expected to return for formal consideration during the board’s upcoming regular meeting.

The board also discussed a grant awarded to the city for demolition of the old Tennessee Soybean water tank.

Newton said the city received funding covering 100% of the demolition costs. She expressed hope that the project could begin soon.

During departmental reports, the Building Inspection Department announced that Martin has received an exemption letter from the state allowing the city to issue residential building permits and conduct residential inspections locally.

Officials said the authorization will help the city manage permitting and inspections directly rather than relying on the state.

Martin Police Chief Phillip Fuqua also reported several developments within the Police Department.

The department’s new narcotics detection dog, Hokie, has completed state certification and is now on active duty. Hokie is a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois trained specifically for narcotics detection. The dog is not used for patrol or tracking duties.

Fuqua said the purchase, training, care and ongoing expenses associated with the K-9 program are paid through the department’s drug fund rather than the city’s general operating budget.

The department also reported receiving a 2018 Ford F-150 and a 2015 Mahindra tractor through a government surplus equipment program.

The tractor will be transferred to Public Works for use by that department.

Fuqua said the program allows Martin to obtain equipment while reducing the need for new purchases.

He also recognized Capt. Craveon for completing the Southeastern Command and Leadership Academy and Investigator Grant Davis for being accepted into the National Forensics Academy in January.

Grant funding will cover approximately $3,800 in expenses for the leadership academy and $13,000 for the forensics training.

The Martin Public Library reported more than 7,000 visitors during October, along with substantial participation in community outreach activities.

Library officials also introduced Sarah Owens, who began work Nov. 2 as the new children’s librarian.

Owens, a UT Martin graduate, previously worked in public libraries in Homer, Alaska.

The library is also interviewing applicants for its vacant information technology coordinator position.

In Public Works, officials reported that a replacement motor has been ordered for the city’s leaf collection machine, which has been out of service because of mechanical problems.

The equipment has been the subject of several recent meetings as the city works to restore its leaf collection service.

Public Works also announced that warehouse manager Kirkman plans to retire effective Jan. 4, 2027. The city intends to advertise the position internally before considering outside applicants.

The Parks and Recreation Department reported that soccer activities are wrapping up, basketball registration is underway and preparations will soon begin for the city’s annual Santa’s Village event.

During the finance report, officials said Martin had received $471,435.19 in sales tax revenue through the end of October, representing 32.19% of the fiscal year’s budgeted amount.

Officials also reported that audit fieldwork concluded the previous week, with final reports expected between January and March 2027.

The board discussed adding a report on the city’s previous transition from Verizon to T-Mobile to the upcoming formal meeting agenda.

The report is expected to provide information about the cost of the transition and projected savings following a public records request.

Board members also discussed using tourism funds to address damaged lighting poles at the city’s athletic fields.

Another agenda item involved proposed changes to the city’s water tank maintenance contract with American Tank Maintenance. City officials plan to meet with a company representative to review the changes before the board considers final approval.

The Martin Board of Mayor and Aldermen is scheduled to hold its next formal meeting Monday, Nov. 9.