The City of Plainview has a form of government known as Mayor-Alderman. The City Council is composed of one mayor and four aldermen. The mayor (Gary Chandler) and all aldermen (Vice-Mayor Richard Phillips, Josh Collins, Gordon Bright, and Marilyn Toppins) are elected for a term of four years by the registered voters of the City of Plainview. The Plainview Board of Alderman (City Council) meets on the second Tuesday of each month at the Plainview Community Building at 7:00pm.

The Planning Commission is composed of five members who are named by state law or appointed by the mayor: chairman (Peggy Bates), the mayor (Mayor Gary Chandler), an alderman (Josh Collins), and two members of the community (Shirley Keaton-secretary), and Walter Stone. The Planning Commission meets at 6:30pm prior to the City Council.
On Tuesday, June 11th, the Plainview Planning Commission spent the majority of the meeting in training to refresh on laws and state requirements for planning commissions. Stewart Skeen reported no new building permit requests and stated that several people are inquiring about Plainview’s building requirements. Mr. Skeen also commented that the Dollar Store would be opening soon.

Mayor Gary Chandler called the City Council to order and welcomed the new mayor-elect of Luttrell, Jerry Lawson. Kimberly Smith, Census Partnership specialist, explained the procedure for the 2020 Census. Ms. Smith related that currently the Census was interviewing prospective employees. Pay will be $13.50 per hour plus 58 cents per mile. These employees will verify addresses and begin enumeration in January. March 12 begins the notification of online participation. Citizens will receive a unique code to submit their information online through April. After April, paper surveys will be sent to those who did not complete the online census. Census workers will knock on doors to complete the count through July of 2020. But the hope is that most people will complete the short online census of about 10 questions, in 10 minutes. Of particular concern to Plainview is the use of zip codes to locate individuals for grant purposes. With no unique zip code, Plainview Council members asked Ms. Smith to determine if the citizens could fill in the county and the city. Ms. Smith indicated that she would find out that information. Census information is used to determine representation for the Congress and the State legislature. In addition, federal highway money and some state and county street funds are allotted by population as well as road miles. The awarding of most federal and state grants is affected by the Census.

After the minutes were approved, Chief of Police Eddie Muncey reminded everyone that effective July 1, a new law will require hands free cell phone use while driving a vehicle. A first offense violation will cost $50 while a second offense is $100 and all violations in a school zone would be a fine of $200. Chief Muncey also reported on the Sobriety and Seat Belt Check held in cooperation with Maynardville Police Department and the Union County Sheriff Department on the evening of May 24 from 7:52pm-9:48pm at Tazewell Pike and Ailor Gap Road. Of the 683 vehicles counted, a total of thirteen drivers were cited for: seat belt violation (4), lack of registration (5), incorrect lighting (3), and no insurance (1). In addition, Chief Muncey indicated that diligent citing of speeders especially in the subdivisions has resulted in much safer driving. Finally, the grant to secure new custom bullet proof vests has been submitted and may be available in about three months.

The zoning report had no new permits.

Vice Mayor Richard Phillips reported that the maintenance staff took care of a tree that fell on the fence after the close of the Plainview Spring Fest hosted by LVFD in May. However, another tree is too large for the staff to handle and the fence needs to be fixed. Motions to fix the fence and accept the recommended tree cutting quote were approved. Mr. Phillips also noted that the tile on Sallings Road had been replaced and completed for the allotted $6000 by KCB Excavating, Inc. The Council approved a motion by Alderman Gordon Bright and seconded by Richard Phillips to accept Ordinance # 145 Budget Amendment to purchase a tractor for approximately $14,000. Vice Mayor Phillips also reported that the proper forms to ensure that sales tax from the Dollar Store would be credited to Plainview had been filed. The soft opening of the Dollar Store was on June 27th with a Grand Opening on Saturday, July 13th.

The next Plainview Planning Commission and City Council meetings will be 6:30pm and 7:00pm respectively on July 9.