Set to serve

Holly Springs Mayor and Board of Aldermen heard department reports at the June 16 meeting.

Fire Chief Rodney Crane was approved to purchase new fire gear from Sunbelt Fire Equipment to the tune of $20,627. State insurance rebate money will pay for new firefighter outfits for about 20 employees. Crane said outfits have to be replaced after a set lifespan. No city funds will be used. The board also approved hiring two part-time firemen. Tracy Jeffries Jr. and Lakell Royce Pegues come on board as part-time firemen while Kevin White moves to part-time.

City Clerk Jerrica Jones provided monthly receivables and disbursements for May 2026.

The city ad valorem tax collected was $51,229. Monthly tourism tax receipts totaled $37,671.

The city collected $138,560 in state sales tax and the ABC privilege tax brought in $225.

The monthly tourism tax payment to the Holly Springs Tourism Bureau was $18,835. The Holly Springs School District collected $121,888 in ad valorem tax for May.

Kendric Brown is a new facilities and maintenance employee at the Holly Springs Utility Department. Stella Bell, Jakayla Brown, Ferrell Barksdale and Alyssia Hampton were hired to work at the central office.

HSUD department report

The Board of Aldermen approved a revised customer deposit policy and reviewed the contract for repairing and replacing instrument rated metering insulations.

The line extension policy was updated to recover costs of installation of new service when a line has to be extended to a new structure.

Michael Watson said the new extension policy will charge new customers where service is extended at the end of an existing line to recover Holly Springs Utility Department (HSUD) costs, including poles and other equipment.

He gave as an example pole tap costs of $11,000 to recover actual costs to HSUD for people who want to build where there is no existing service.

He said a new tap to a structure 925 feet from the last existing pole would require setting four poles to get the service to the point of delivery.

“We are building taps all the time and usually one or two poles at most are required,” Watson said.

HSUD has to recover the cost. If a pole is already there, the utility provides the transformer and the customer has to pay for the pole tap prior to installation.

Ward 4 Alderman Patricia Merriweather asked if this is a new charge for customer requests in the country.

Watson said the former charge was $50 per pole.

“Our rates are not set to recover construction costs,” he said. “Existing rates are not designed to cover these costs, which are uniform across Local Power Companies in the Tennessee Valley.”

Merriweather was surprised that the new customer’s tap fee would be $2,000 per pole plus labor and wire - $9,000.

Watson said the HSUD policy is out of date.

“They need to pay the actual pole cost,” said Mayor Charles Terry.

Wire is $10 a foot, he said.

“It’s just making us whole,” Watson said.

Harris provided additional information saying HSUD currently owes TVA $20 million. The Fiscal Year annual report to TVA was approved and the current 2026 annual report is being built.

The HSUD Department Report will be continued in another article.

Holly Springs Fire Department

Chief Rodney Crane said the city’s water lines are currently being flushed which is stirring up some sediment that is visible in households. The flushing will continue until September when all lines have been flushed.

Meanwhile householders should let the tap water run in their faucets until it runs clear.

“I suppose you will start at City Hall,” Terry quipped.

Recent flushing has taken place at Valley Street and from Memphis Street to Boundary.

Parks and Recreation

Parks director Darrel

Thomas said the timer on the splash pad has not been working for several years and when repaired has gone back out. Consequently, the splash pad will be turned on at noon and turned off at 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

A transfer has to be installed on the MultiPurpose Center by an electrician so the power generator can back up the facility when the electricity goes out. The backup system will allow the facility to be energized at all times.

Three utility poles in the Ida B. Wells Park are not in service. Thomas said HSUD has to repair those poles so the park will be lighted.

City board and mayor report

There was a snag in the installation of playground equipment at Sam Coopwood Park. The company installed the rubber nuggets without laying a liner of plastic or felt. Thomas said the company laid the equipment without giving him sufficient notice to be on site to monitor the installation. Therefore grass is growing up through the rubber nuggets.

Henley Park playground equipment is expected to be installed soon.

In the board report the City has not built a Facebook page, the microphones in the board room are not working and there is no streaming of board meetings.

Hodges expressed excitement and welcomed new employees to the team.

“I’m so excited for you guys and I wish you success on your journey,” she said.

Vice Mayor Dexter Shipp asked about maintenance of the yard at the Yellow Fever House.

Alderman Jim Moore said the new property owner, who lives in Middle Tennessee, is coming soon to renovate the property.

The two aldermen applauded a group of young men who have been picking up paper in downtown and helping clean up.

Alderman Andre Jones congratulated John Barksdale for conducting summer gardening camp on short notice.

Shipp noticed that Felicia Jeffries helped conduct a 2026 beauty camp, teaching young men how to dress and tie their ties.

“It’s an awesome experience for kids,” he said.

Mayor Terry said he had nothing new to report.

“We are moving about doing the best we can with the revenue we have,” he said. “We don’t have finances in place. The streets, buildings and grounds have so many things to do.”

The utility department is especially challenged. He recognized Bonnie Nunnery for organizing the appreciation lunches for the HSUD employees.

“We have to continue to pull together for future generations,” he said.