The following Warren Mayor Gregg Reep’s 2023 Annual Report as presented to the Warren City Council and the People of Warren Monday evening, February 12, 2024:
It is my pleasure to provide a report on Warren Municipal Government for the year 2023. I believe our city made progress in 2023 and laid the foundation for more progress in 2024.
First, it is my privilege to have been elected Mayor of Warren for the term that began January 1, 2023. It has been an honor to work with the day-to-day operations of Warren Municipal Government and to work on issues and policies to improve our community. The city council, elected officials, all department heads, employees, and those serving on boards and commissions have been cooperative to work with and consult with.
THE FOLLOWING IS A DEPARTMENT-BY-DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR 2023:
ADMINISTRATION: Some minor reorganization was implemented in 2023. City Clerk Janice Nelson and City Treasurer Robert Milton have an assistant who works for the City Clerk but provides services for both officials. This person also maintains the city’s website and manages our Economic Development information by computer.
The mayor has an Executive Administrative Assistant (long-time position) and an assistant who helps the mayor manage personnel issues and works special projects such as grants. Reporting directly to the mayor i are the Police Chief, Fire Chief, Building Official/Sanitation Manager, Street Foreman, and Parks & Recreation Director. Economic Development is managed by the mayor and his office.
POLICE DEPARTMENT: Chief Shaun Hildreth reported a 10% drop in crime for 2023 from 2022 with a total of 911 calls for the year.
The Animal Control Division of the department reported 155 dogs picked up, with 51 returned to owners. There were 301 calls answered and 39 dogs adopted out. Another 6 dogs went to an Animal Rescue Facilitv.
FIRE DEPARTMENT: The Warren Fire Department responded to 170 emergency calls in 2023. This included 20 toned out structure fires and 7 extrication calls. The department made 150 inspections and began repainting fire hydrants
A grant of $230,505.00 was provided by FEMA to purchase new MSA Air Pak’s, 34 face pieces, 52 air bottles and replaced the 1983 model air compressor and filling system. The department consists of 4 full-time firemen and 33 volunteers. The department trains monthly.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT: During 2023, the department issued 53 building permits and collected $47,083.58 in fees based on construction valued at $7,435,844.43. There were 5 new Commercial Construction permits issued for $675,605.00 in value. Fees collected were $6,044.01 of which $337.81 was paid to the state.
One property was rezoned, 66 electrical permits issued, and 70 plumbing permits issued. All were inspected.
Two mobile home permits were approved in 2023.
SANITATION DEPARTMENT: (garbage collection) – The City collected 3,300 tons of garbage and paid $250,000.00 to dispose of it in a private landfill.
Garbage collected included household garbage, limbs, leaves, and junk. The Class IV material was disposed of in the County Landfill. The City paid dumping fees.
Two Longtime and valued employees retired in 2023. Agary Hill served 35 years, and P.J. Byes served 25 years. We are grateful for their service and wish them the best in retirement.
PARKS & RECREATION:
BASEBALL/SOFTBALL COMPLEX – An extraordinary amount of repairs and improvements were made on our recreation facilities during the year. The baseball/softball complex needed considerable work. This included new fencing, painting concession building and dugout, and major repairs to the lighting system. New major repairs to the nets were installed and repairs to the grounds and entrance were made.
The baseball/softball complex is owned by the city but serves as the home field for the Warren Lumberjack Baseball team and the Warren Lady Jack Softball team. The complex serves the Donald W. Reynold YMCA as well and is rented for tournaments and private events. It is heavily utilized in the spring and summer. The Warren School Districts assists with maintenance.
WARREN CITY PARK (Martin Street) – We have worked to maintain the playground and equipment and the old locomotive engine.
WARREN TRAIN DEPOT – The depot is being regularly used for events such as reunions, birthdays, and other events. Maintenance and repairs were conducted during 2023.
WARREN CITY POOL – Major upgrades were made to the restrooms and dressing rooms. Plumbing repairs were made for both girls and boys.
OLD ARMORY (Martin Street) – The Old Armory houses several offices for individuals and organizations. The offices are rented, 4-H Archery practice is conducted in the large room and the facility is rented for various activities.
WARREN PISTOL/RIFLE RANGE (South of Warren) – This range is heavily used for skeet and trap shooting and has a rifle and pistol ranges. Our youth clubs use it and organizations rent it.
Upkeep of the range was conducted during the year.
JOHN SCOBY DRIVE/TENNIS COURTS – The park and tennis courts belong to the city and are used by the public and the Lumberjack Tennis teams. Maintenance was carried out in 2023 and more is underway.
WARREN CULTURAL CENTER – The building is stable but in need of major repairs. It was shut down in 2023- for safety and general conditions. The city is working on repairs in an attempt to reopen.
STREET DEPARTMENT: In 2023 the Street Department vacated the Old Street Shop near Church Street and moved into new facilities behind the Old National Guard Armory. It is bigger and more suitable for storing equipment.
During the year the department conducted extensive ditch cleaning and chemical treatment for weed control throughout the city.
The department oversaw periodic work by State Prison Inmates in cleaning streets and ditches, picking up litter and cleaning out portions of the Town Branch. The department is working tis way to each street in the city limits.
WARREN WATER & SEWER: The Warren Water & Sewer Utility pumped 376,810.000 gallons of water in 2023. The peak month was August when 30,390 gallons were pumped. The daily average pumped in 2023 was 1,032,356 gallons.
Pipe infrastructure was repaired in serval locations to reduce leakage and a new well was drilled.
Work continued to add sewer line to the Southeast section of the bypass and upgrades were made to the city’s sewage treatment plant.
Maintenance and improvement were made to sewage lines and pump stations.
WARREN HOUSING AUTHORITY: During 2023 work was completed re-roofing buildings of the Twin Rivers Housing on the corner of Rock and George Streets. Other repairs were made to other housing units and the Warren Housing Authority was awarded a high-performance rating by HUD.
The section 8 program, which provides rental assistance to low-income residents of private rental property, provides 70 vouchers.
The Warren Housing Authority manages 171 apartments in addition to Twin Rivers and the Section 8 Program.
OTHER:
A major undertaking of the city in 2023 consisted of effort to clean up dilapidated structures and require owners to repair, cleanup or remove junk for both residential and commercial establishments, according to law. Many old vehicles that were not licensed or insured were removed. In some cases, the property owner cooperated, but in many cases the city had to take legal action.
Under action taken by the City Building Official and the Warren City Council, the city tore down 1 house, cleaned up 27 properties and removed 55 vehicles.
Also, during the year, 4 commercial buildings were removed on Cedar just across the street from the courthouse. All were in dangerous condition, and all were in danger of collapsing. The city condemned 3 of the larger structures, Bradley County purchased all the properties and razed the structures. The area is now safe and will hopefully be utilized in the future.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: The city is currently working with several industrial-type businesses to have them locate in Warren. We are hopeful to see more prògress in 2024.