At the September 11th Murfreesboro City Council Meeting, city schools requested approval of an amendment that would result in more state funding. City Manager Rob Lyons explained...

The actual procedure is complicated. City Schools Director Linda Gilbert explained, "We were not requesting more money (from the city), but simply asking the council to approve an amendment to our own budget."

Dr. Gilbert noted, "By state law we have to stay within certain pupil/teacher ratios. In other words, when the students show up we have to serve them. And they have shown up."

This allowed more than $1-million in additional state funds to be received by Murfreesboro City Schools. However, no additional funds from the City of Murfreesboro were requested through the passage of the resolution.

Councilman Smotherman expressed surprise that the population increase had not previously been accounted for...



Among other issues discussed at the meeting, the Assistant Fire Chief took bids for new uniforms, the Water & Sewer Board purchased a 4-wheel drive extended cab truck, the Chief of Police approved a one year extension of the lease agreement with Bob Parks Realty for property located at 1734 South Rutherford Boulevard for the Criminal Investigations Division, and also purchased printers for the vice, administration, and communications department, as well as mobile data computers for the uniformed division.

Additionally, the Planning Commission scheduled public hearings for October 16th to consider a PRD Amendment along Middle Tennessee Boulevard at Vine Street, a PRD Amendment south of Salem Highway & west of Cason Lane, and a PUD Amendment along Fortress Boulevard at Puckett Creek Crossing. And speaking of the Planning Commission, councilman Eddie Smotherman was nominated by the council to fill departed councilman Toby Gilley's seat on that group, a nomination which he gladly accepted.

And of course, marking the 13th anniversary of the 9-11-01 attacks, vice-mayor Young led the council in a memorial prayer...