Police seek permit change, plan to apply for THSO grant; animal shelter crowded, transfers planned

The police department updated the board on several operational matters at the March 5 work session, asking the board to move ordinance changes and a grant application forward and reporting increased animal-shelter demand.

On permits, the department proposed a narrow change to the event-permit ordinance so applicants would be directed to the police department (rather than the city office) for filing and initial review. The board asked staff to move the language change forward since it affects administrative routing.

Police asked for a resolution to apply for the 2027 Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) grant, a competitive $10,000 award (police reported that the program had shortfalls in the prior cycle and that the 2027 grant remains $10,000); staff will bring a resolution on the Tuesday agenda to authorize application.

Animal control reports show pressure on capacity: staff said the shelter population rose from 25 dogs in late February to 51 dogs at the time of the meeting. The department is arranging transports to partner agencies out of region to reduce shelter population and will open two veterinary clinic accounts with $1,000 each to help cover spay/neuter costs for volunteer-run transports. The department also reported recent hiring activity, with one certified officer proposed for hire and two recruits graduating March 26.

The department provided an update on seven purchased license-plate cameras (four installed so far) and said the system is subscription-based; staff will return with a detailed status report when cameras go fully online.

Why it matters: The permit routing change affects how event applications are processed; the THSO grant would fund safety work if awarded; animal-shelter crowding affects operational costs and humane outcomes and requires active transport partnerships.