City Council Scorecard: Anatomy of a Do-Over
The City Council Scorecard peels back the layers on the council’s April 6 vote on a $520,000 contract that put the issue of MLGW leaving TVA back on track after six months in limbo.
Bill Dries
Reporter
Bill Dries covers city and county government and politics. He is a native Memphian and has been a reporter for more than 40 years.
There are 3663 articles by Bill Dries :
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April 2021
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City of Memphis -
City of Memphis City ends Waste Pro contract
The contract cancellation comes at the end of a 20-day period to fix problems with waste pickup in Area E — Cordova, Hickory Hill and East Memphis. Residents in the area complained last month that Waste Pro not only missed scheduled trash pickup days but left trash by the curb for weeks.
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Shelby County County Commission considers more frequent property reappraisals
Monday’s commission agenda includes prep for the budget season that begins later this month in county government.
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City of MemphisTeam Waste tackles waste backlog in Cordova, East Memphis, Hickory Hill
The new private contractor serving 35,000 households transitioned Monday from dealing with a backup from the past month to making daily trash pickups in Cordova, Hickory Hill and East Memphis.
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Shelby County County Commission delays vote again on more frequent property reappraisals
Some commissioners have doubts about the move to every other year reappraisals. Assessor Melvin Burgess Jr. says the results will be less sticker shock from increases in values after four years.
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Shelby County Medical contract for county prisoners, detainees extended again
Short-term extensions to the Wellpath contract have been a constant for the current commission since the group began their current term in September of 2018.
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Shelby County Health Department gets $11.5 million in federal pandemic funding
The funding is to maintain 171 Health Department positions specifically for the pandemic.
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Shelby County County and Army Corps study Loosahatchie Basin flood areas
A $450,000 joint county-federal grant would study 10 areas of land in northern Shelby County for flood control projects that could double as public recreation areas when they are not underwater. One project is already underway near Big Creek in Millington.
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Elections Taylor is new chairman of changing Election Commission
Shelby County election commissioners chose Brent Taylor Tuesday, April 13, as the new chairman of the five-member body.
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City of MemphisTop cops: The 12 Memphis Police directors
Since the position was created in 1972, the department has had a dozen directors. A new era is set to begin with the April 14 retirement of Michael Rallings.
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City of Memphis Tom Lee Park renovation will need Army Corps permit
The permit is a critical juncture in the $60 million project. In an update for donors and potential donors Wednesday, April 14, park planners said the Tom Lee statue in the park will not be moved and will be a focal point of the park.
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City of Memphis City, county to discuss making tax incentives contingent on higher wages
The second joint meeting of the County Commission and City Council includes several proposed changes to economic development incentives used locally to grow the Memphis economy.
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City of Memphis City, county leaders debate linking $17/hour minimum wage to PILOTs
Proposals by Memphis City Council members and Shelby County commissioners emerged during a second joint meeting Thursday of the two bodies. But other elected officials expressed concern that just talking about changes in economic development incentives could put the city and county at a disadvantage.
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City of Memphis Adkins says violent crime makes new police director decision urgent
On The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast, Greater Imani Pastor Rev. Bill Adkins says the case can be made for a new director from MPD ranks or for someone from the outside. Adkins also said he sees a new indifference to violent crime that calls for new solutions as well as new ways of policing the city.
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Update
Public SafetyMemphis names first female police chief
Cerelyn ‘C.J.’ Davis, chief of police in Durham, North Carolina, has been named to head the Memphis Police Department, becoming the first woman to lead the agency in its 194-year history.
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City of Memphis Strickland takes budget proposal to council
The mayor has offered no clues on the specifics of the budget, but he is not expected to propose a property tax hike. However, setting the property tax rate will be more complicated this year.
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Update
City of MemphisStrickland says budget would stabilize city from pandemic’s reach
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland is proposing a $716 million operating budget and an $89 million capital budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. It also includes 2% pay raises for firefighters and police.
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City of Memphis Council members split over blight priorities
Meanwhile, the council delayed for two weeks a first reading vote on historic overlay district status for the Crosstown area.
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City of Memphis New police chief pick faces tough audience on violent crime
In a recent interview, Memphis’ nominee for police chief talked about officer training, violence intervention, and why she initially pulled her application from the city’s search for a new head of police.
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Shelby County Harris presents $1.4B consolidated county budget
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris cited the ongoing impact of the pandemic in saying there would be no attempt to raise the tax rate after recertification. Harris also outlined a six-year, $32 million plan to beef up the county fire department.
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Shelby County County Commission Scorecard: Reappraisal test vote and Wellpath deja vu
The Daily Memphian Scorecard on important commission votes reveals the votes are close for now when it comes to the idea of a property reappraisal for taxation purposes every other year. And it shows commissioners willing to give one more chance to resolve a long-running contract controversy.
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Elections Talks start over new voting system compromise
On The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast, Election Commission Chairman Brent Taylor talks about new discussions with county commissioners two months after the Election Commission voted to go to court in the simmering dispute.
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City of Memphis How your solid waste fee ballooned to $30 a month
Here is the history behind the city’s solid waste fee and how it compares to what the city’s new private contractor for Area E is being paid and what the previous contractor was being paid.
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City faces critical decision on one of its most basic services
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City of Memphis A short history of Area E
The solid waste route system covering Cordova, Hickory Hill and East Memphis began as a first step toward privatizing all city solid waste collections during the tenure of a different mayor.
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City faces critical decision on one of its most basic services
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City of Memphis City faces critical decision on one of its most basic services
Memphis has an emergency contract with Team Waste in Area E, probably until the end of 2021. In the interim, officials are considering whether to keep using a private waste company to manage the area or expand city services to cover it.
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