I tried to keep my nose out of this issue, I really did. But after reading the fluff piece this morning in the Williamson AM, I am compelled to set the record strait...
Homes for seniors in Spring Hill gets OK
34 duplexes to be build on Depot Street
A 70-year-old Spring Hill native is one step closer to seeing her longtime dream come true. When Spring Hill's growth began to take off, Effie Heiss envisioned developing her property into a community of duplex homes specifically for senior citizens. Now, after two years of trying to have her Depot Road property rezoned, aldermen gave their nod of approval to the plan last week.
Ok, besides the thought of R-4 (defined in our zoning ordinance as High Density Residential) in the middle of 'Old Spring Hill' R-1 (Low Density Residential), does anything regarding this rezoning request pass the sniff test?
Let me get this straight:
A long time resident of Spring Hill wants to leave a legacy - a long time dream of hers - in the form of a Senior Citizens Community in Old Spring Hill, and the only way that she can do it is to convince the Board of Aldermen that her property needs to be rezoned to the highest density zoning in our city?
Here's the problem...
In April 2005, her long-time dream for this property in old Spring Hill was townhomes.
I'll say it again - townhomes - 150 of them to be exact.
From the April 11, 2005 Planning Commission meeting minutes:
Item 3:
Consider re-zoning the Effie Dalton Heiss property located at 2460 Depot Street. The owner is requesting two tract be re-zoned; A 4.9 acre tract and an 8 acre tract. She is requesting these tracts be re-zoned from R-1 Residential District (Low Density) to R-4 Residential District (High Density) for the purpose of a gated Town home community.
Later in the meeting she addressed the Planning Commission and here's what she said:
"Effie Heiss came forward to address the Planning Commission. She stated that she was born in Spring Hill 69 years ago and for 50 of those years has lived on Depot Street. She has always tried to be a good neighbor, good friend and concerned citizen of Spring Hill. Mrs. Heiss stated that she has paid her taxes, and voted in City elections. Five years ago the death of her husband caused her fixed income to become half of what it once was. Her home is now 90 years old. It is hard heat in the winter, hard to cool in the summer and hard to keep clean. She stated that she has never come before the Planning Commission to ask for anything. She now has a chance to sell her property and is asking for the help of the Planning Commission in rezoning it. She had no intention of causing her friends neighbors and family any problems on Depot Street or problems with this particular development. She simply thought a Town home community would be something nice for the community on Depot Street."
Nothing about her vision for a Senior Citizen Community and certainly nothing about duplexes designed specifically for Senior Citizens.
Congratulations BOMA, you just got Bamboozled!
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Bamboozled
Posted by Gorilla in the Corner at 9:05 AM
Labels: Board of Mayor and Aldermen
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IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is a series of personal opinions and is not meant to reflect an official position by the City of Spring Hill.
19 comments:
I agree. If everything was completely built out and her property was the only thing left, maybe. But to put 34 units (17 buildings?) on 4.9 acres is just plain silly. How can anyone argue that it is a good idea for Spring Hill. This is not California or New York City. There is plenty of land around that could be purchased to build more townhomes.
If her goal is really to provide affordable homes for elderly people, then I have no problem with that. As long as they keep it so only elderly can move in and it has a nice appearance it is not the worst thing that could be there. we need affordable homes for retired people in this area. That is the reason my parents went to East Tennessee. IF that is not what is going to go there then boooo to the whole idea.
be safe all
ole fire fighter
hey gorilla
where you been? There is a persistant rumor going around fire and ems circles. I have heard it from more than one person, so it got me to wondering. Maybe you can confirm some numbers.
The rumor goes something like this. Rural Matro will not be able to meet its Oct start date. They are not paying what they originaly offered. The rumor is closer to Nov before they could start. THe numbers that I am wondering abot are the # of applicants. THe rumor is they had 8 apply and 4 did not make it to be hired. The rumor is that Spring Hill is trying to find paramedics and are offering pretty big money to get them.
If this is true then R/M will have a hard time getting the 12 they need just to open. That does not allow for time off or sick time. IF SPring Hill is now looking to hire medics as a back up to R/M not getting off the ground then they are going to burn up the 1 million gift fast. Of course they could always lower the standards to get more to pass the background.
Just some interesting stuff I have heard lately. Take care.
be safe all
ole fire fighter
Sorry if you have been expecting much more talk. It will come back again very soon...we all just needed an extended bread to recharge after the hospital fight.
On to Rural Metro:
There have been well more than 30 confirmed (probably closer to 40) applicants for employment by Rural Metro. After their background checks and interviews around half were cut. For whatever reason, the City of Spring Hill cut that list down to around 4.
I am all for strict background checks, but some of the things being run through seem to be EXTREMELY excessive (ie very strict credit reports).
Ken York stated during the process a couple of months ago that the city would subject the applicants to strict credit checks in addition to the rest of stuff. That is the area that is kicking out most of the applicants, and I am not entirely sure why it is so important to have employees with perfect credit.
If the city would lighten up, I think that you would be surprised to see an awful lot of Williamson EMS moving south to Spring Hill.
I have followed these posts for some time, seen the growth of Spring Hill, and I do have a few opinions of the current EMS issue. What gorilla posted is correct. Quite a few people have applied and a lot have been weeded out. Frankly, some needed to be. Like any EMS agency you always have bad apples apply. That is the reason for interviews and background checks. However, the city is being incredibly overbearing with its credit checks. I personally know some of the applicants. Actually, many of them are well known in the EMS circles. They are experienced, skilled, and in some instances already providing services to Spring Hill. These people are familiar, local people that are HIGHLY qualified for the job and would provide the best service.
Spring Hill’s checks have put many good people out. What do you want in your city, someone who has a 15 year history in EMS with so many letters behind their name they look like the alphabet, or some one who is still in their EMS diapers? Someone who can't stop the shaking in their hands when they go to start and IV on your grandmother who is pale, sweating, and crashing fast, or someone who, because of their experiences, can think fast, make the RIGHT decisions, and provide your loved ones the care they deserve?
What is going to happen is the city will approve people with no experience but great credit because they have paid their stereo payment on time. Maybe the city needs to look at the bigger picture and take experience into consideration as well. Let’s be realistic. Many EMS systems have never paid high wages. Most can’t. Many in EMS work extra jobs to live a decent life, provide for their family, and put a little back for when their back gives way. There are not many in any EMS, fire, or law enforcement agencies that have not had some type of credit ding be it from a slow payment or a bad marriage. Does this make them bad people? When it really comes down to it, when there is a serious threat to life, what do you want, someone with a credit score of 800 that just figured out which end of the IV line to spike, or someone that has made a few financial mistakes but can quickly recognize, treat, and provide the experienced emergency medical service the citizens of Spring Hill deserve?
anon above
You sound like you work in ems of some form, I wonder where? Did you apply? You also sound like you know alot of the people who applied, I wonder how that is? I am just not hearing that many medics from the williamson side that are interested in working for R/M. The last four I know that left, three went to fire depts, 1 to franklin, 1 to brentwood, 1 to hendersonville and 1 is changing his career. Of course there might be some that will not say they are wanting to leave.
just a thought
be safe all
ole fire fighter
ole fire fighter,
You don't have to leave your current employer to apply for a new job
just a thought
It is true you do not have to leave your current employer to get a new job. SO then Spring Hill will have a patch work of part timers and people working 48 hour shifts. When a conflict comes up between jobs where will the priority be? I have worked in a system like that and it does not work. THat does not sound like the ems service Spring Hill needs.
be safe all
ole fire fighter
Just stumbled upon this page and am wondering why all of this news isn't hitting the newspapers? I hadn't thought about it until reading this, but the last article I read said Rural Metro would be up and running by October. I guess they have another 24 hours.
To anon 10/30/14:42
R/M said they would be up and running mid Oct. Now I am hearing sometime in Nov. My understanding is they are having trouble getting people. This is not in the papers because no one wants to admit that R/M can't deliever what they promised. The excuse I keep getting is that the city is being too hard by doing credit checks on applicants. I have always believed that a persons credit is a reflection of how they manage their personal and professional lives. Could it be that the best paramedics are not applying because of lower pay, fewer benifits, and less job security than the county services. Especialy after the mayor said they will be gone in three years.
be safe all
ole fire fighter
From a press release from the city
Mayor Danny Leverette of the City of Spring Hill is pleased to announce that the City-wide ambulance service will begin operations on Wednesday, November 1, 2006 at 7:00 AM. The two ambulances will be housed at the Beechcroft Fire Station and the Campbell Station Fire Station. The service starts with a full complement of trained personnel and will be dispatched by the Spring Hill 911 Center. This is a major milestone for the City in being able to provide emergency medical care and transportation to all of our citizens from our own system thanks to Tri-Star Health Systems.
Let me ask all of you something. Why would you want to work at any department at Spring Hill. Ken will fire you at the drop of a hat, they are tring to do away with retirement and for all of you who do not know- the fire dept. is letting the fire marshall go. I will tell all of you that Fire Marshall Periut has done more for the city than anyone. He has given more of him time to the city than anyone will ever know. Trust me I know I saw it first hand. He spent countless hours working for no pay to get the FD where it is. Ken and Chief you should be a shame. That is a slap in the face to him.
anon 11/14 20:01
I have been out of pocket for a little while so I have not kept on with things like I want to. IS the city relly letting Jose go?
I hope not. I have known and worked with Jose for most of my career in the fire service. I could not agree with your comments more. He has done more to make the fire dept what it is than almost anyone. Spring hill will not find many with his talent and dedication. THis is just one more example of peoples safety being put at risk on the whims of Ken York, just like the ems issue(but that is another issue that no one cares about.)
be safe all
ole fire fighter
ole fire fighter,
The rumor is correct that Jose is on the outs. I think that something stinks, but I am not quite to the bottom of it yet.
As far as your ambulance service comments...I very much respect your opinion and appreciated your input, but we are going to be just fine with Rural Metro. In fact I have heard rumblings that Franklin might be looking to do something very similar. I do still believe that the city was a little too stict in the background checks in regard to the extent at which we looked at personal finances, but that is all water under the bridge at this point. Spring Hill (while I do not agree with every move) is by far one of the most proactive communities in the area. Neither county really wants to take care of us, so we must take care of ourselves.
Now if we could only take that proactive attitude with our roads...coming soon hopefully.
gorilla you are right something does stink. Jose is an asset to the city.
As far as the other you are also right it is all water under the bridge. What I find funny is that few people I know would allow a private buisness they deal with to be almost a month late on delivering a product. Then when they do deliver it is only 1/2 what was promised. According the last thing in the paper R/M only has one unit in service. With my contacts in this field I will continue to hear honest examples of the level of care provided. I can tell you that there has already been at least one incident that causes me great concern from a clinical point of view. It was life threating and directly related to the care provided. It is a shame that the public will never hear these stories.
As far as Franklin is concerned R/M will have a much tougher fight. There are parties involved that were not involved with Spring Hill.
Good to see you back. I am curious to see what is next around here.
be safe all
ole fire fighter
Michael,
Missed you at the BOMA meeting tonight. Really, I wanted to get a take from Ole Fire Fighter about Jose's let go / resignation / firing... Nobody seems to know what happened. I spoke to more than a few aldermen who were pretty surprised as well. Anywho, I signed three petitions tonight. I think the alderman race is going to be a dandy - especially in Ward 3. When's your petition going to be ready?
anon 11/20 @ 23:23
Most people were suprised by this whole thing. I spoke with Jose it was not a resignation. He was let go. When I talked to him he was very diplomatic and professional about everything. I clearly got the impression that it stinks of politics. He was one of the people that built ths dept and I wonder if there were not some questions about the rank and file loyalties. I cannot see it being a performance issue. The sugar coated city version is that they are going to hire someone full time. The question that I asked is why? Jose was doing the job very well and for less money than they will now spend. Does not make sense to me.
On a more personal note. Jose is one of the best I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I am glad we still have him at Franklin. The city and the fire dept were better off with him than without him. That is just my take.
be safe all
have a safe and happy Thankgiving
ole fire fighter
ole firefighter,
I just do not know what the city is thinking- hiring a full time fire marshall. TRUST me I know that Jose made the fire dept what it is today. I am glad that we have such a good mentor at Franklin (that being Jose). Ole firefighter what do you want to bet that Jose's replacement will be someone from Columbia, since that is Swindles old dept. I have heard to many rumors that it is going that way.
I would not doubt that you will see more people from the Columbia area hired in Spring hill. You know how the game is played. New chiefs want to break the power of the old crews and bring in their own people. It is just sad that good people get caught in the mess.
be safe all
ole fire fighter
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