Tennessee Town & City - Tennessee Municipal League

Knoxville named most accessible, affordable city for disability community

As officials reflect on 35 years since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the city of Knoxville was recently named the nation's most accessible and affordable community for...

Deadlines approaching for new ADA standards for municipal websites, apps, and social media

A new update to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is requiring governments and government-affiliated websites, mobile apps, and social media posts be accessible to all.

TML Board of Directors holds November meeting in Nashville

Members of the TML Board of Directors held their fall board meeting in Nashville on Nov. 6, 2025.

Fall elections held in four cities

Fall elections were held in four municipalities, including Franklin, Humboldt, Knoxville, and Selmer.

A sales tax referendum was also on the ballot in Knoxville, which was rejected by voters.

News Across Tennessee

Oak Ridge's Clinch River Site receives $400M DOE grant

The Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) was selected for a $400 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to advance the development of a small modular reactor (SMR) at the Clinch River Site in Oak Ridge. Tennessee’s Clinch River Site is one of the only federally approved, undeveloped...

Collierville mayor signs proclamation for Great American Cleanup as part of American 250

In preparation for America’s 250th birthday, Collierville Mayor Maureen Fraser has signed an official pledge to participate in Keep America Beautiful’s (KAB) Greatest American Cleanup. Mayor Fraser was joined by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and the Town Beautiful Board to celebrate the signing...

Kingsport cuts ribbon on Fox Den Playground at Bays Mountain

Kingsport officials cut the ribbon on the Fox Den Playground, a new playground for children with all abilities at Bays Mountain Parks. More than 100 city officials, park supporters, children, and family members attended the event. Located next to the Herpetarium, the Fox Den Playground is...

One Table Milan brings community together

Community members gathered in downtown Milan for One Table Milan, an annual event the Saturday before Thanksgiving that brings members of the community together for a free meal. Local volunteers as well as sponsors from the business community make the event possible.

Park plaza to honor Franklin rodeo

A 1.4-acre triangular piece of Franklin’s Jim Warren Park is being dedicated as Franklin Rodeo Plaza. The area will include a bronze statue of a cowboy riding a bucking horse, benches, lighting, landscaping, historical markers, and a walking trail with signage that tells the 75-year history of the...

Ripley receives DRA grant

The city of Ripley has been awarded $850,000 from the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) through the DRA’s Supplemental Disaster Recovery Funding (SDRF) program. The funds will be used to replace two lift stations damaged by the flooding of Beaty Creek in March 2023. The project will also make...

People

Jon Holmes

Jon Holmes has been selected as the new city manager for Collegedale. Holmes has more than 17 years of high-level municipal leadership experience, most recently serving for seven years as city manager of Aurora, Mo. He also served as county administrator for Franklin County, Kan.; city administrator...

James Gafford

James Gafford, former chief of the La Vergne Rescue Department, died Nov. 23, 2025 at the age of 86. A native of Ashland City, Gafford had a 63-year career in the fire service in both South Nashville and La Verge. He served as La Vergne’s fire chief for more than 40 years and worked with the...

Nick Geis

Nick Geis has been named the newest assistant manager for Johnson City. Geis comes to Johnson City from Lexington, N.C., where he served as assistant manager overseeing daily operations for water and wastewater, electric utilities, customer service, recycling and waste, stormwater, fleet services...

Danielle Dixon

Danielle Dixon has been selected as the new city recorder for the city of Trenton following the retirement of Recorder Leigh Ann Reynolds. Dixon comes to Trenton from Dyersburg Electric where she has served as a general accountant for the past eight years. Dixon holds a degree in accounting and...

Haywood selected to succeed retiring PD Chief Alsup in Columbia

After 29 years of service, Columbia Police Chief Jeremy Alsup announced his intention to retire.

Alsup began his public service career in 1997 and has spent the last six years as the chief of police.

Assistant Chief Jeremy Haywood was named the new chief of police for Columbia. With a 27-year...

Sydney Boggs

Sydney Boggs has been selected as the new communications and marketing manager for the city of Cookeville. A native of South Pittsburg, she graduated from Tennessee Technological University in December with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, concentrating in marketing. Boggs brings...

State Briefs

Tennessee October revenues $48.7M above estimates

Tennessee revenues exceeded budgeted estimates for the month of October.

Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson reported total October tax revenues were $1.6 billion, $48.7 million more than the budgeted estimate and $112.5 million more than October 2024. The total tax...

Tennessee State Parks unveils new signage

New signage has been installed across the Tennessee State Parks system allowing visitors to access more information about trails, including t grade of a trail, the degree of the slope on the width of a trail, and the type of surface the trail provides. The signs are aimed at improving accessibility...

CDBG funds awarded to 30 municipalities

Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) have been awarded to 30 municipalities across Tennessee.

Tourism grants awarded to 19 municipalities

Tourism Enhancement Grants have been awarded to 19 municipalities across the state by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.

TWRA aquires nearly 4,700 acres of Hatchie Bottom

A 7,457-acre tract of ecologically rich bottomland hardwood forest along the Hatchie River has been acquired by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), in partnership with The Nature Conservancy of Tennessee (TNC) and The Conservation Fund (TCF). The Hatchie Bottom acquisition represents a...

Three cities receive historic preservation grants

Three municipalities have received federal historic preservation grants through the Tennessee Historical Commission.

The office recently awarded 26 matching grants totaling more than $1.1 million to non-profits, local governments, universities, and civic organizations across the state to support...

TML Updates

Tennessee Historical Commission announces merit grants

Second Round of Tennessee American 250 grants opens

Granting writing workshop to be held in Murfreesboro Jan. 8-9

Public meetings to be held on State Revolving Fund Draft Intended Use Plans

Restore Return Relief Advocacy