Mayor Tom Rowland became the 2014-2015 president of the Tennessee Municipal League. It is his second time to hold the office. He was TML president in 2002.
City Manager Janice Casteel became the 2014 president of the Tennessee City Managers Association. Both Mayor Rowland and Ms. Casteel began their terms at the conclusion of the 75th annual conference of the TML, held this year in Chattanooga. City officials and staff members from across the state attended workshops and presentations through last weekend on many current issues.
Mayor Rowland addressed some of those issues in brief remarks Tuesday. New restrictions on annexation will become effective in 2015, the mayor reminded hundreds attending an awards breakfast at the conclusion of the convention. The change will hurt cities' economic development, he said. "Cities provide the economic engines for the state of Tennessee."
Other issues before cities include a need for increased federal highway funding for local streets and questions about the sharing of liquor-by-the-drink local tax revenue between cities and counties.The TML is a voluntary organization created by Tennessee cities and towns. Its main function is to work with the Tennessee General Assembly concerning legislation impacting cities.TML city services also include a Risk Management Pool and the Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund.