CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Clarksville City Councilwoman Wanda Smith hosted a Community Meeting for residents in Ward 6 at 5:30 p.m. on the evening of April 28 at the Lettie M. Parker-Kendall Community Center located at 206 Oak Street.

Officials present included Building and Codes Director Mike Baker, Chief of Police Al Ansley, City Traffic Engineer Chris Cowan, City Forester, Katherine Stevenson, City Mayor Kim McMillan and District 13 County Commissioner Audrey Tooley.

Representatives from each city department each gave a brief overview of their individual services and duties, followed by a closing statement from Mayor McMillan and a question and answer session for residents of Ward 6 to voice their concerns. Questions asked included topics such as salvage yards and junk yards, parking issues and railroad crossings as well as traffic, speeding motorists and neighborhood safety.

Chief Al Ansley explained the structure of the Police Department which has over 300 employees who work within Clarksville’s three districts.

Building and Codes Director Mike Baker talked about the responsibilities of that department, which include plumbing permits, renovations, 12 different wards for code enforcement and a construction division. Bake also said that department is attempting to focus “more concentrated effort” in the New Providence area of Ward 6 in redeveloping some properties, and that Building and Codes welcomes citizen complaints about city code violations.

Traffic Engineer Chris Cowan listed the duties of the Street Department, which including working on drainage systems, roadway improvement projects such as widening local roadways, and maintaining existing roads with services like debris pickup, pothole repair, snow and ice removal, and even mosquito control. “We try to respond to everything as quickly as we can,” Cowan said.

City Forester Katherine Stevenson described her job working with city tree planting, maintenance, and city ordinances relating to tree planting, as well as forestry programs, landscape management and tree preservation. Stevenston said that she also does come to residences and help homeowners with tree problems that they may have.

RELATED CONTENT
Police Chief Al Ansley addresses gang speculation