City Judges Russell Bean and Sherry Paty were among those appearing at city budget hearings
The customer service manager for the city's 311 Call Center said the average response time is currently 91 seconds.
However, City Councilman Russell Gilbert, at city budget hearings on Tuesday, said residents complain to him they have to hang on for 20 or 30 minutes. He said he had a 20-minute wait time.
Derek Frizzell said there is a longer wait on Mondays, when there is the highest call volume.
He said Thursdays are the least busy day.
Mr. Frizzell said 311 will be adding two new call specialists who will help handle an influx of new calls related to the city's sewer program. The center also handles such calls as those for Public Works and other departments.
Council members were surprised to know that it also gets the calls for City Court and routes them on to the court.
During the purchasing department presentation by director Bonnie Woodward, Councilman Chip Henderson said he hears many complaints about the department.
He said, "On the issue of efficiency, I don't think you're there yet."
Councilman Henderson said he was told that the Moccasin Bend Sewage Treatment "would be able to run more efficiently if they could get what they need from purchasing."
He said there were some lights out at a ball park in Lookout Valley. He said the city had a "blanket contract" with a vendor, who could have supplied them that day. However, he said purchasing required "three quotes" and that caused a three-week delay.
Councilman Russell Gilbert said he does not believe there is follow up on whether the vendors are performing as they promised. He said there were a number of complaints about a pest control company approved by purchasing.
Tony Sammons, deputy administrator for city economic and community development, said each time there was a complaint the pest control company dealt with the issue.
He said he and other top staffers are meeting each month with the purchasing department - rather than quarterly - to try to deal with issues.
Brent Messer, city chief information officer, said five years ago city devices were an average 15 years old. He said the average is now five years, and the goal is to get it to three years.