WCMES, GEMC vie for SF customers

Following a presentation Nov. 21, by two representatives of Weakley County Municipal Electric System, and a number of administrative representatives from Gibson Electric Membership Corporation, South Fulton City officials are now left to make a decision regarding which provider will service the city’s residents.

Currently WCMES provides electricity to South Fulton’s citizens, with a South Fulton delegation first approaching WCMES in 1958, for service. Then, in August of 1994, a 25 year franchise was awarded to the system.

WCMES Chief Executive Officer Faron L. Collins first addressed South Fulton Mayor David Lamb, Commissioners Billy Williams, Tommy Pruitt, Beatrice Wilcox and Terry Taylor, presenting to them the reasons why he believed his company should continue to be the city of South Fulton’s power supplier.

He first provided rate comparisons with Gibson Electric Membership Cooperative, noting overall, residential customers would see their bills increase from $18-$20 per month should a change be made to GEMC.

He did state commercial usage rates were determined differently between the two providers, with GEMC able to offer cheaper rates for some types of businesses, as rates are determined according to peak usage times. Collins said at the present time, 1221 customers are served in South Fulton by WCMES, 992 of those residential, which could equate to over $238,000 annually in savings, if the commission chose to remain with the WCEMS franchise.

He shared with those present for the regular commission session that two breakers provide power to the city, with redundant feed to Fulton Electric System and GCEMC.

He offered to negotiate the term of the franchise, should the officials be concerned about the 25 year longevity as it now stands, and reminded the commission of WCMES payments in lieu of taxes, PILOT, which are deposited into the city’s general fund.

When asked by the commission, Collins explained WCEMS currently does not provide broadband service, and that additional placement of security light poles may be secured by the officials contacting the company.

Gibson Electric Membership Cooperative President and CEO Dan Rodamaker thanked the Mayor and Commissioners for allowing him and other representatives of GEMC the opportunity to seek the city’s business for a power supplier, with Rita Alexander, Vice President of Human Resources and Member Services, Richard Beden, Chief Financial Officer, Charles Phillips, Vice President of Technical Services, Barry Smith, Vice President of Engineering and Operations, and Emily Sullivan, Vice President of Economic Development and Community Relations also in attendance.

Rodamaker explained eight Tennessee counties and four Kentucky counties were serviced by GCEMC, with four dispatchers accessible 24/7 to the system to monitor and control outages in the system.

He reported there were five district offices within the system, with 43 workers covering Hickman, Tiptonville, Trenton and Troy, with South Fulton area residents serviced at the present through the Pierce Substation, rated 99.97% reliable.

He said he understood that 25 years ago, in order to streamline the provision of service by three separate companies, the officials had chosen WCMES for service.

Rodamaker agreed in regard to actual residential rates WCMES would cost less to residential customers than GCEMC would cost, however the system was also able to be competitive in rates for the “job creators” as in commercial enterprises, schools and churches, while offering a number of options for bill pay, and also in the process, the provision of broadband high speed internet service, to offer South Fulton residents higher quality broadband internet, at a rate less than what providers such as ATT and Spectrum are able to provide.

He reminded the Mayor and Commissioners GCEMC is a cooperative, with customers as owners and GCEMC could offer ad valorem taxes to the city’s funds and offer the city the opportuntiy to become a ‘gig city.’ Ad Valorem taxes are paid in proportion to the estimated value of the goods or transaction concerned. The addition of broadband would add value.

Both Collins and Rodamaker agreed the two would continue to work together, regardless of which supplier was chosen by the city.

City Manager Johnny Bacon provided the commission with information he gathered from three local banks, Simmons, Security Trust and The Citizens Bank.

He stated he city would be able to retrieve savings immediately from any of the options offered, and also gain an additional income source through the higher interest offered.

Commissioner Wilcox expressed her concern in consideration of the city switching from Simmons Bank, where funds are currently held, stating “we don’t have that many businesses in South Fulton now.”

Bacon said he was aware that previously, other banking options had been explored by the commission, in addition to Simmons.

When asked, City Recorder Jackie Potter stated she had no complaints about Simmons and that the South Fulton staff was always helpful.

Commissioner Taylor said he did not “owe Simmons Bank anything” but he did like to see business done locally when possible.

Commissioner Billy Williams, Beatrice Wilcox and Terry Taylor voted in favor of keeping the city’s accounts at Simmons Bank, with Mayor David Lamb and Commissioner Tommy Pruitt voting no on the motion.

Mayor Lamb asked the Commissioners their ideas as to a city employee Christmas party, with a decision made to schedule a catered lunch Dec. 23, with all employees invited, as well as the commission.

During the portion of the night’s agenda, designated for Questions, Comments, Suggestions from Citizens, city hall clerk Autenee Purcell first provided the Mayor and Commissioners with an informational packet she had prepared which included a timeline narrative of the process by which she filed a complaint against South Fulton Police Chief Andy Crocker, during the tenure of former city manager Jeff Gabbert. Purcell said she had also discussed the matter with James Gray, Gabbert’s successor, but he was only on the job for a brief period of time.

She stated she had spoken to City Manager Johnny Bacon about the complaint, as she had made attempts to inquire about the status of the complaint but had no success, and further, she did not feel confident that a proper investigation had been conducted.

Purcell referenced incidents during Gabbert’s term as City Manager, when according to Purcell, Gabbert had directed Chief Crocker to attend Leadership Classes. Subsequently Purcell said she was demoted according to the employee manual, from fulltime clerk in the police department to a utility clerk. She also referenced another former employee, Kelly Caksackkar, who had similar experiences with Chief Crocker, according to Purcell, and she further contended a former female South Fulton Police Department officer had filed a complaint.

She said Chief Crocker often viewed security camera footage taken at various locations around the municipal complex, and would then question who was talking to an employee and what was being said in the videoed footage.

“Can we put this on the agenda?” Purcell asked.

“Yes,” said Mayor Lamb, adding, directed to City Manager Bacon, “Johnny, let’s do it.”

Commissioner Billy Williams suggested the possibility of a special called meeting devoted to the matter instead of including it on the regular session’s agenda.

“Johnny, get with Autenee,” Mayor Lamb said, with Bacon affirming the request.