Campbell promoted

The Holly Springs Board of Aldermen, by a vote of 3 to 1, hired Ernest Campbell to the position of assistant superintendent of the Electric Department and as Substation Supervisor at the April 2 meeting.

Campbell had been recommended by Mayor Sharon Gipson for the position of general manager at the Holly Springs Utility Department but failed repeatly to get approval by the Board of Aldermen, who have said they want an experienced general manager to take over the top position.

Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather cast the single vote against Campbell’s promotion which will pay Campbell at an hourly rate of $37 an hour.

Campbell, who has already begun addressing substation problems cited in an assessment of the Holly Springs Electric Department prepared by the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association, will continue in that vital role. He will also serve as liaison with the right-of-way crew and as supervisor of ROW employees.

Campbell recently received additional certification in substation maintenance through the TVPPA substation maintenance program receiving certification in August of 2023.

Substation maintenance covers basic operations and maintenance of electrical substation equipment.

The course Campbell took included study of power transmission system theory, power system standards, distribution transformers, instrument transformers and installation and acceptance and maintenance of electrical substation equipment. A laboratory accompanying this course provided training in electrical safety, AC and DC instruments, inspection, testing and maintenance of various substation equipment, cable testing, fault finding and low resistance measurement.

Campbell’s former position title was as line foreman.

George Humphreys is superintendent of the Electric Department and Michael Howell is assistant superintendent.

The board approved travel for Pam Lewis to attend Preservation Boot Camp in Jackson in April. Djuan Wells and Michael Allen were approved for apprentice lineman training Lab 1 in Murphreesboro in May.

The salary of police officer Alexis Turnage was raised to $20.50 an hour after she graduated from the police academy. Officer Jason Sims was approved for a salary of $25.33 an hour.

Mayor Sharon Gipson was approved for travel to the African American Mayor’s meeting in Atlanta in April.

The board discussed a request from the Mayor to purchase up to $150,000 in new playground equipment using Tourism tax proceeds. The board asked for more specific information before taking up a motion for purchase of playground equipment for city parks.

The board approved the consent agenda consisting of the reappointment of Gemma Beckley to the Holly Springs School District Board of Trustees. The City police and fire departments were authorized to assist in parade activities associated with Lessye Lee Davis Memorial Day Parade, May 4.

A request from Saint Gobain to adopt a portion of Highway 7 North and Highway 311 by the former KP Building Products was approved.