Metro, EarthSavers contract allows for expansion into GSD neighborhoods

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 29, 2008) -Metro’s first effort to expand curbside recycling to residents in the General Services District will begin in Bellevue in early 2009, Mayor Karl Dean announced today.

A contract with EarthSavers, LLC has been signed to implement a pilot curbside collection program to single family homes in the 37221 zip code. EarthSavers, a Nashville-based company, already serves about 400 residential and business recycling customers in Metro.

“Recycling is one of the single most important things that we as individual citizens can do for Nashville’s environment, as well as our city’s economy. As more and more people begin to recognize the value of recycling, Metro Government is committed to making it available in more neighborhoods,” Dean said.

In exchange for a low monthly rate of $10, Bellevue residents will receive monthly curbside pickup of paper, cardboard, all plastics Nos. 1-7, aluminum and metal cans, and glass. Residents must also purchase a recycling cart for about $40, but EarthSavers is seeking corporate sponsors to help offset that fee for the first 1,000 subscribers.

District 35 Councilmember Bo Mitchell said: “The Bellevue community is an exciting place to be right now. It is growing and families are becoming more environmentally conscious all the time. Curbside recycling will be a great convenience and even more people will be able to participate, just because it’s easier.”

Names new directors of 911 Call Center and Office of Emergency Management

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (September 10, 2008) -Mayor Karl Dean today announced he has appointed two highly qualified public safety officials to lead the Emergency Communications Center and the Office of Emergency Management.

Duane Phillips, director of ECC. Phillips, a 36-year veteran and lieutenant of the Metro Police Department, has been serving as interim director of the communications center since May, when he was appointed to the position by Dean.

Prior to the consolidation of emergency communications in Metro, Phillips supervised Metro police communications for nearly three years, from January 2000 through August 2002.

As a Metro police lieutenant, Phillips most recently oversaw investigative operations for the North Precinct. He has also served as a Murder Squad detective, a Homicide Unit supervisor, a Patrol Division supervisor, and the head of the police department’s Records Division.

“Having served as a public safety official in our city for more than three decades, Lieutenant Phillips knows the Nashville community and the critical role 9-1-1 plays as the public’s direct link to emergency responders. He has done an outstanding job as interim director the last three months and has shown he is clearly the best person to serve in this role going forward.”

Laura Hokenstad, director of OEM. Hokenstad is currently senior associate vice president at the Olson Group, an emergency management contracting firm based in Alexandria, Va., where she has worked with the Washington D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency and the State of Utah Department of Public Safety, among other agencies.