Alcoa Commission honors city workers who saved life, bids farewell to Williams
By Robert Norrisof The Daily Times Staff
Originally published: November 19. 2008 3:01AM
Last modified: November 19. 2008 1:06AM
It was a night of honors, thanks, introductions and farewells Tuesday at the Alcoa City Commission Room. City business was conducted, too.
The honors were reserved for two city employees who saved a life.
Alcoa Police Officer Nicole Gray and Richard Carnes, an assistant engineer with the Alcoa Electric Department and former firefighter, received plaques for their actions on the morning of Oct. 15 when a Dillard Smith Construction Co. employee was working on a power transformer on Grant Street. The man was working in a bucket truck when electrocuted by a high-voltage distribution line.
Carnes and Gray were commended by Mayor Don Mull for their actions in rescuing the injured man and administering first aid before emergency personnel arrived.
The thanks came from City Manager Mark Johnson, who expressed his appreciation to Assistant City Manager Bill Hammon and city department heads for taking care of business while Johnson was on medical leave of absence.
The introduction was by city attorney Doug Overbey, who was accompanied by a new member of the law firm of Robertson, Overbey, Wilson & Beeler. John Owings brings government experience to the firm. Until recently, Owings was Knox County's law director.
The good-bye was for Commissioner George Williams who, after serving on the commission for eight years, was not re-elected to his seat in a close race on Nov. 4.
In city business, the commission:
— Authorized a change order with Blaine Construction Corp. for construction of the Alcoa Service Center that decreases the contract by $280,332, bringing the contract price to about $13.4 million.
— Authorized a 2009 custodial contract for the Alcoa Police Department Safety Building to low-bidder White Janitorial Commercial Cleaning Solutions for a total cost of $16,740.
— Passed on first reading changes to the City Employee Retirement Plan and the City Employee Thrift Plan. The changes to both plans are required to maintain tax-qualified status and have to be made by Jan. 31, 2009, to stay compliant with the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. The change being made to the Thrift Plan gives city employees the option of making changes to their plan monthly rather than quarterly.
— Appointed Ibby Davis to a one-year term on the Civic Arts Center Advisory Board and Terry Wilson to a three-year term.
— Reappointed Robin Haynes to a three-year term on the Blount County Hospital Board.