Plainview welcomed a new recorder in its regular March meeting. Pam Holbert resigned effective March 31. She, along with well known financial consultant Ann Dyer, trained Emily to take over on April 1. Emily is the current business owner of Butterblume Bakery (formerly Buttercup Bakery) in Maynardville. Ann Dyer, who is Emily's great aunt, taught Emily to bake. Ann’s mother , who was an amazing baker of German delights, was also a mentor to Emily. So changing the bakery to a German name for buttercup pays homage to them both. Emily brings her business knowledge along with her public relations to Plainview. Of course, everyone is hoping she may share some of those baked treats, too.

After voting down ordinance 165 in February, the Plainview Board of Aldermen worked through their differences in a couple of workshops as well as the March meeting. The result was Ordinance 166 from the Planning Commission for AR-1 that limits the number of single wide mobile homes to one and allows a maximum of two dwellings at a density of one dwelling per two acres on a minimum four acre parcel with at least 100 feet of road frontage. The site layout must be presented to the Plainview Planning Commission for each new dwelling. Alderman Josh Collins, who authored the change, explained that the road frontage requirement would ensure that when circumstances changed, each dwelling could have its own driveway in the event the land was to be subdivided. The ordinance passed unanimously on first reading and will have a public hearing and a second reading in April.

Zoning Official Stewart Skeen contacted the Plainview Building Inspector regarding fees for single wide mobile homes and manufactured homes. As a result Skeen noted that the current permit fees were costing Plainview more money than was being collected. He recommended new fees that would be $250 for a detached garage with no plumbing and $350 for a detached garage with plumbing. The permit for a single wide mobile home would be $250. All other residences would be charged 50 cents per square foot with a minimum charge of $600 and a maximum of $1500. The new permit fees were unanimously approved.

The Board of Aldermen also approved other new business items. Aldermen approved the FY 26 Budget on first reading. A public hearing and the second reading will be in April. Aldermen approved Budget Amendment 88 to transfer some funds from one department to another for training and in preparation for the end of the fiscal year.

In reports, Police Chief Crider noted 47 calls, eight citations, ten traffic violations and one DUI in February. He also stated that he was again applying for the Safety officer grant for $10,000. Fire Chief Brad Woods reported 22 calls to date for 2025 including several brushfires. He said that one new firefighter had been certified. He noted that the LVFD FEMA Grant was still on hold.

City planner Jordan Rockwell invited everyone to attend a training on City Planning at the Jefferson County Library on March 20. The Planning Commission and several Aldermen accepted the invitation.

Marilyn Toppins, UCBPA Golf Committee Member, announced that the Scholarship Golf Tournament will be June 21 at Three Ridges with a 1 p.m. start. She thanked Plainview for the many years of sponsoring a team.

The next regular meetings for Plainview will be on Tuesday, April 8, with Planning at 6:30 p.m. The public hearing will be at 7 p.m. for the FY 26 Budget and Ordinance 166. The Board of Aldermen will follow the hearing.