Metro invites anonymous tips on fraud

Efficiency suggestions also wanted By MICHAEL CASS • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • July 8, 2008 Metro Nashville wants your help exposing its ugliest warts. The city recently set up an Internet- and phone-based system to solicit anonymous tips about government fraud, waste and abuse from Metro employees and citizens. The system, called SilentWhistle, also accepts suggestions to make the government more efficient. Metro Auditor Mark Swann said his office decided to launch the program because of general concerns about fraud and waste — Metro is a large organization, and complaints may not always work their way up the ladder — but not because of any specific tips or suspicions. "There's always a certain amount of fraud that goes on," Swann said Monday. He said the city has received more than 30 tips and suggestions since employees started getting an e-mail about the program with an endorsement by Mayor Karl Dean on Wednesday. The suggestions have covered employee benefits, places for ID card readers and other issues. As for the waste and fraud tips, Swann said nothing has made his hair stand up yet. "It's all allegations, so it's hard to say," he said. But that doesn't mean the program won't pay off over time. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners reported in 2006, "Our data supports the use of confidential hotlines and other reporting mechanisms as a fraud detection tool.Occupational frauds are more likely to be detected by a tip than by other means such as internal audits, external audits or internal controls." Metro expects to pay $10,000 to $12,000 over the course of a year to Allegiance Inc., the Salt Lake City-based company that hosts SilentWhistle, Swann said. Metro will decide whether to renew the contract once it expires next spring. Clay Osborne, director of SilentWhistle, said Allegiance started the phone hotline in 1992; the Web-based reporting system got going in 2000. Osborne said the company has about 100 government clients, including the federal departments of homeland security and transportation, among 2,200 clients in "every industry you can imagine." To report a problem or make a suggestion, call 888-484-6976 or visit http://nashville.silentwhistle.com. The Web site says the reporting process takes five to 10 minutes.

Metro asking for anonymous tips about fraud, inefficiency

By MICHAEL CASS • Staff Writer (Tennessean)• July 7, 2008 Metro Nashville has started using an Internet- and phone-based system to solicit tips from employees and citizens about government fraud, waste and abuse, as well as ways to run the city more efficiently. The SilentWhistle program allows people to submit tips anonymously to a toll-free phone number or at http://nashville.silentwhistle.com. Metro Auditor Mark Swann said the program, run by a company called Allegiance Inc., has received about 30 tips since city employees started getting an e-mail with an endorsement from Mayor Karl Dean on Wednesday. OAS_AD('ArticleFlex_1'); Metro is paying Salt Lake City-based Allegiance $8,400 for a one-year pilot program, Swann said.

Davidson County firefighters vote no confidence in chief

Union firefighters announced a vote of no confidence in Nashville Fire Chief Stephen Halford. With more than half the members of the Nashville Firefighters and Fire Service Employees Association Local 140 voting Thursday, 88 percent said they've lost confidence in Halford. Members say that they're frustrated with how he has managed the budget and that he doesn't listen to their concerns. Doug Conquest, president of the local union, said a decision to cut some engine companies from four-man teams to three creates safety concerns. Although the vote is largely symbolic and Halford won't be fired, Mayor Karl Dean said the vote sends a message that can't be ignored. Still Dean said he has confidence in Halford's management, and all city departments have been asked to make do with budget cuts. ASSOCIATED PRESS

New truancy center addresses problems beyond academics

By NATALIA MIELCZAREK • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • July 5, 2008 Starting this school year, Metro students picked up by police for cutting classes will have an extra resource to help them stay in school. A new $500,000 attendance center will offer counselors on staff to assist them — and their families — in addressing problems that extend beyond academics, from poverty to addiction to neglect. The central goal of the program is to boost Metro's 70 percent graduation rate by catching kids before they leave the school system for good. "A lot of times we put the blame on schools, but students come to school already with a lot of problems," said Bob Ross, director of intake, parentage and family services at the Davidson County Juvenile Court. He has been involved in setting up the center. "We're trying to treat this in a more proactive, helping manner than in a punitive manner. Right now, when those (loitering) citations get sent to us, we set a court date, they pay $120 and go on. We'll try to establish more of a link among various agencies so we can work on a plan." The idea to create an attendance center came out of Mayor Karl Dean's dropout prevention initiative he launched last winter. The program will be housed in the former East Police Precinct off Trinity Lane in East Nashville. Students and their families will get on-site help from counselors and social workers from Metro police, the school district and juvenile court, and get referrals to agencies for further help. Loitering citations may be retired if families choose to get assistance, Ross said. Dean has faith in program Carol Nixon works with students who battle a variety of issues, from addictions to hunger. "School-based resources reach kids where they are," said Nixon, director of evaluation and grants for Students Taking A Right Stand, a program that helps students overcome obstacles to learning. "Of the kids who have substance abuse problems, nine out of 10 don't get the help they need. Having this centralized location, with people from different departments working together, you find out that it's not just one issue that contributes to the problem." The collaborative approach to addressing truancy is the strength of the program, Dean said. "I'm optimistic about the success of the program because when I first became mayor … one of the issues we were confronting is the way schools have been keeping or not keeping good records," he said. "Over the course of this past academic year, they really began to improve. We need to focus on truancy beginning in August and stick with it throughout the year. I think everybody's getting the message."

Davidson County crime log for June 26-29, 2008

These are the most serious calls handled by the Metro police, listed by time, crime reported and address. Some reports may be unfounded. Police calls are listed by police precinct or town. When police cannot immediately determine the location of a crime, the address given is that of the police station or hospital where the crime was reported. Antioch 1:54 p.m., residential burglary, 4500 block Hunters Green Circle 10:27 p.m., residential burglary, 500 block Piccadilly Row Hermitage 2:22 a.m., cutting/stabbing, 400 block Rockwood Drive 10:44 a.m., residential burglary, 200 block Bonnafield Drive 2:01 p.m., residential burglary, 4500 block Brooke Valley Drive 6:23 p.m., residential burglary, 400 block Scotts Creek Trail 7:57 p.m., residential burglary, 1000 block Tulip Grove Road Priest Lake 3:06 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 2900 block Murfreesboro Pike South 1:37 p.m., residential burglary, 13800 block Old Hickory Boulevard 7:21 p.m., residential burglary, 13800 block Old Hickory Boulevard 8:09 p.m., residential burglary, 1900 block Dabbs Avenue 11:46 p.m., holdup/robbery, 1000 block Patricia Drive Una 3:07 a.m., rape, Borowood Drive Downtown 12:50 a.m., holdup/robbery, 100 block Second Avenue North 2:28 p.m., holdup/robbery, 900 block Rosa L. Parks Boulevard Priest Lake 1:32 a.m., residential burglary, 700 block Holder Drive South 1:28 a.m., residential burglary, 1900 block Murfreesboro Pike 11:11 a.m., holdup/robbery, 1100 block Murfreesboro Pike 8:27 p.m., holdup/robbery, 5300 block Mt. View Road Antioch 11:20 a.m., residential burglary, 700 block Reeves Road 6:26 p.m., residential burglary, 600 block Cadogan Court 8:04 p.m., residential burglary, 1300 block Arbor Ridge Drive Donelson 1:26 p.m., holdup/robbery, 500 block Donelson Pike Downtown 3:25 p.m., holdup/robbery, 100 block Broadway South 5:58 a.m., holdup/robbery, 2700 block Murfreesboro Pike 7:37 a.m., holdup/robbery, 900 block Murfreesboro Pike 9:18 a.m., residential burglary, 5700 block Cedar Ash Crsg 10:57 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 800 block Bell Road 12:17 p.m., holdup/robbery, 1500 block Heil Quaker Boulevard 1:16 p.m., holdup/robbery, Murfreesboro Pike and Smith Springs 6:33 p.m., holdup/robbery, 900 block Murfreesboro Pike

What is going on in Davidson County from July 4th through the 12th

Lots of things to do around the town this week....take a look a the ling below... http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080702/COUNTY010403/807040318/1196/COUNTY01

Nonprofits struggle to make ends meet for others

Food banks and emergency services hit harder; other volunteer By ANGELA PATTERSON • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • July 2, 2008organizations hurt in other ways As gas and food prices rise, many households are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. So, some seek help from nonprofit services. But rising costs also affect these organizations, impacting the amount and depth of services they can provide. Nonprofits are finding more people requesting what they offer, yet have less money and resources with which to supply the need. "With the food pantry, we actually ran out of food from having to serve a surplus of clients from other food pantries due to a food donation shortage," said Jennifer Eldridge, the Salvation Army's marketing director.The Second Harvest Food Bank is feeling the same crunch."Second Harvest distributes over 2 million pounds of food per year through our Emergency Food Box Program. With food drives collecting only 700,000 pounds, Second Harvest has had to purchase 1.3 million pounds of food at a cost of $225,000," said program services manager Kelli Garrett. "When there is not enough food from food drives, or funds aren't available, then we have to reduce the amount of food that we distribute."Some nonprofits maintain that services will not be cut or lessened, but increasing costs may push others to close their doors. Need increases for Salvation Army, Second Harvest Record-level gas and food prices are bringing more people to the Salvation Army's doors. Eldridge said in April and May alone, the number of emergency assistance calls received increased from an average of 660 a month to 900 a month ending May 31. "Too many of our clients have to pay the higher prices of fuel, which means less money to spend on needed expenses such as food, utilities and clothing," Eldridge said."With a reduced amount of money for these items, the need for assistance has increased greatly, impacting the services we provide," she said. "The amplified volume of people needing some type of assistance has led to assisting all that apply as long as funds allow."The number of people that Second Harvest Food Bank has served over last year has increased by nearly 10 percent, said program services manager Kelli Garrett."More and more people are turning to the food bank to receive that assistance to get them by," Garrett said.Eldridge said for people on fixed incomes or government assistance, the rising costs create a vicious cycle."They only receive X amount of dollars and cannot afford the increases in fuel and food," Eldridge said. "Others are in search for second and even third jobs. Some of the jobs seekers are wary of working more for fear of losing the food stamps they so dearly depend on. The more income, the less stamps, but due to the increase, people are stuck in a bind with no means of escape." Fuel costs affect groups', volunteers' budgets Even nonprofits that don't deal in necessities have to rethink their operations."We haul a fleet of bicycles to various schools for on-bike education with fourth-graders, and since we haul them in a trailer, fuel cost is sure to affect our budget," said Shannon Hornsby, director of Walk/Bike Nashville. "Especially since this budget was based on fuel cost/federal reimbursement per mileage when the grants were written and the amount we have allocated for fuel is set. We'll likely have to make cuts to other areas of the budget to haul bicycles."Gas prices have left other nonprofits searching for volunteer manpower close to home. "The rising costs of food and gas are directly impacting Better Tomorrows' services," said interim director Ashley Holland, whose organization provides adult literacy and GED classes."We rely heavily on volunteers to help us provide one-on-one attention for our students. We've lost at least one literacy volunteer so far because she could no longer travel from Franklin due to gas prices. That number may continue to increase." Less funding could close Better Tomorrows But the real impact on nonprofits comes from a growing demand and a decreasing supply. When sponsors and donors cut back, these organizations consider doing so as well.Garrett said some of the people who used to donate to Second Harvest have found themselves needing the organization's services in recent months. For Holland, the drop-off in Better Tomorrows sponsorships affects staffing."We're now having trouble funding our budget because foundations, individuals, and other donors who are finding their resources stretched thin are unable to give as much as they have previously. That has not been a problem because our co-founders are passionate about Better Tomorrows' mission and have other resources, so they have been able and willing to work without pay. "Now, however, the two co-founders are leaving — one to focus on healing from cancer, another because of her husband's job transfer. So the nonprofit must hire two permanent full-time employees."Therefore, the economic impact on funding may adversely affect not only our ability to offer services, but our ability to stay open," Holland said.Entities such as the Salvation Army and Second Harvest haven't had to cut services. But if they don't receive more money to fund salaries, smaller organizations like Better Tomorrows may have no choice but to close."That's sad because it means that our students, who are directly affected by high food and gas prices, will also lose an opportunity to get the education they need to improve their situation. (Our own graduate and) literacy tutor Larry Holt said it well, "If we have a literacy problem in this city, then places like this don't need to be closing."It's just going to keep the welfare system overloaded. A lot of people in this community are dependent on this program."

Dollar General Literacy Foundation gives reading program $40,000

Submitted by Donna Clark • FiftyForward Communications Director • July 2, 2008 The Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded $40,000 to Friends Learning in Pairs, which promotes literacy among elementary students in Davidson and Williamson counties. FLIP is an intergenerational, volunteer tutoring program sponsored by FiftyForward. Since 1993, tutors have provided encouragement and assistance to children in grades K-4 who are experiencing difficulty with their reading skills. "In April, we were faced with the possibility of having to cut 23 partner schools because of lack of funding. This would have resulted in the cancellation of services to approximately 350 students and the loss of many dedicated volunteers," said FLIP program manager Sandra Thomas. "Because of this generous donation by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, students will continue to receive that needed support from a friend, and volunteers will continue to encourage and share in the excitement of learning." During the 2007-08 school year, FiftyForward FLIP volunteers tutored about 800 students at 47 elementary schools in Davidson and Williamson Counties. On average, 79 percent of students who received help from a FLIP tutor increased their reading and comprehension levels. "Sometimes all a child needs is one person to believe in them and a few minutes of one-on-one instruction in order to achieve academic success," said Rick Dreiling, CEO, Dollar General Corp. "FLIP pairs a child who is struggling academically with a compassionate senior volunteer who is knowledgeable and committed to working one-on-one. We are proud to support FLIP's continued success." FLIP coordinators in Davidson and Williamson counties will begin training current and new volunteers in August for the upcoming school year.

53 to graduate from police academy

By MATT MEDVED • Staff Writer • July 1, 2008 Fifty-three Nashville residents will graduate tonight from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Citizen Police Academy. The 6 p.m. ceremony will take place in the community room of the Hermitage Precinct, located at 3701 James Kay Lane. Mayor Karl Dean and Metro Police Chief Ronal Serpas will be in attendance to honor the graduates, who have completed the required 11-week course.Since its creation in 1995, 931 Nashville residents have graduated from the Citizen Police Academy.

July 4th Trash Pick-up Alert and July 4th Downtown Street Closings

Hello District 29 Neighbors: Below are two important alerts directly from the Public Works Department to help make your July 4th holiday much easier to enjoy! Vivian

July 4th Holiday Trash Collection Alert

Metro trash and curbside recycling customers who normally have their brown and green carts emptied on Fridays will be collected on Saturday, July 5th, due to the July 4th holiday. All Metro Recycle Convenience Centers and the Bordeaux Mulch Facility will be closed on Friday, July 4, and re-open on Saturday, July 5, with their regular operating hours. Residents who have questions or need further assistance with their trash or recycling service can call 880-1000.

Downtown Traffic Alert for July 4th Festivities

Below are street closings for Nashville’s annual July 4th Fireworks Celebration at Riverfront Park on Friday: Titans Way and Victory Lane @ LP Field Closed Monday, June 30, until Saturday, July 5, at 5 a.m. 1st Ave N between Broadway and Church Closed to thru traffic from 12 noon on Tuesday, July 2 until 4 p.m. on Friday the 4th Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge Closed Friday, July 4, 7:30 - 10 p.m. Beginning Friday at 8 a.m. until approximately midnight, the following streets will be closed: @ 1st Avenue from Demonbreun to Union @ 2nd Avenue from Demonbreun to Church @ Bank Str from 1st Ave to 2nd Ave @ Broadway from 1st to 3rd Avenues @ Church Str from 1st Ave to 2nd Ave @ Commerce Str from 2nd Ave to 3rd Ave @ Gay Street and Gay Street Connector at 1st Ave N @ Union from 2nd Ave N to Woodland St Bridge @ South 1st Str from Victory Lane to S 2nd St The Woodland Street and Korean War Veterans/Gateway bridges will be closed to vehicle traffic at approximately 8 p.m. and re-open after the fireworks demonstration. Pedestrians will be allowed on the Woodland Street Bridge to view the fireworks. For more details and information regarding street closings, please visit the Public Works's website at www.nashville.gov/pw.

More Photos from the Sunday June 29th, 2008 Dedication and Unveiling of the UNA Historical Marker

Thanks Fran for sending us your great photos!

Signs, Signs, Everywhere there are Signs...

Please keep our district free of these signs. They will taken away if they are seen...

Early Saturday Morning, people volunteered their time to take down the signs...Let us keep our community sign free.......

New laws to take effect July 1

More than 4,000 bills were introduced during the legislative session on Tennessee's Capitol Hill over the last two years, but only a fraction of them officially become law on Tuesday, July 1. Bills about budget cuts, cable TV competition and long-term care received plenty of attention this year. Many other bills, like new sentencing options for judges in DUI cases, did not get that kind of attention. Mothers Against Drunk Driving pushed through a measure where drunken driving offenders can now be ordered to listen to stories from DUI victims. "The stories that they hear are absolutely gut-wrenching you will hear a father talk about the loss of his son or a mother talk about the loss of her daughter or her nephew," said Laura Dial of MADD's Middle Tennessee chapter. As a condition of his DUI sentence and probation earlier this year, state lawmaker Rob Briley agreed to participate in what MADD calls a "victim impact panel." Dial said 30 to 50 offenders take part monthly in its Middle Tennessee program. The group hopes judges in other parts of the state will take advantage of the program. Click HERE to view a complete list of the laws to take effect Tuesday.

Samples of Photos from the Sunday June 29th, 2008 Dedication and Unveiling of the UNA Historical Marker

Photos by Mindy Schwartz

Metro gets head start in booking for proposed convention center

Bureau recruits conventions for 2013, beyondBy MICHAEL CASS • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • June 30, 2008 It won't open for a few years and hasn't even been fully approved yet, but the Music City Center has already booked its first convention. The Nashville-based Southern Baptist Convention has agreed to hold its annual meeting at the proposed new downtown convention center in June 2013 — and again in 2019. R. Clark Logan Jr., the Baptist group's vice president for business and finance and convention manager, said his organization is confident the new center is on schedule. "We've been given every assurance it is," Logan said. "We feel pretty good about it." Booking space several years in advance is the way of the conventions-and-meetings world. But the aggressive push by the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau — with Mayor Karl Dean's blessing — also puts extra pressure on city officials and contractors to make sure the Music City Center opens on time. If all goes well, the $595 million facility will open sometime in 2012. Supporters say it would allow Nashville to compete for 70 percent of the convention market, while the current Nashville Convention Center, with less than one-third the exhibit space, competes for 20 percent to 30 percent. For now, the Convention & Visitors Bureauis booking groups for March 2013 at the earliest to give the massive construction project some wiggle room. "The best window to grab some business for 2013 and even beyond is right now," said Butch Spyridon, the bureau's president. The Metro Development and Housing Agency hired a team of architects last week to design the convention center. Construction firms and facility planners were already on board. But the project still needs final approval from the Metro Council. Dean is expected to send the council a financing plan early next year, with city debt to be paid off by revenues from various taxes and fees targeting tourists. Rich Riebeling, Dean's finance chief, said the bureau's strategy is sound. "If you don't start booking now, you'll miss out on a lot of stuff that's coming up," he said. Bureau offers 'outs' The city is hedging its bets somewhat, however. The Convention & Visitors Bureauis giving convention groups some chances to pull out of their commitments if the city's timetable is derailed. If the council doesn't approve the financing, architects don't finish their designs and construction workers don't break ground by next summer, the groups will "have some outs," Spyridon said. If that were to happen, the Southern Baptists would move their 2013 convention to Baltimore, where they're planning to go in 2014, and meet in Nashville in 2014 instead, Logan said. Spyridon said the existing convention center wouldn't be able to accommodate the group, which can be as large as 12,000 Baptist "messengers." Spyridon said the CVB has made pitches for 16 conventions to nine groups, including the Southern Baptists. The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance has committed to meet at the Music City Center in 2018, while the American Academy of General Dentistry is looking at Nashville or Toronto for 2013. It probably will be too late to book large groups for 2012 by the time the city knows whether the convention center will be ready by then. But Spyridon said he would look to bring in multiple smaller groups, whose combined size could fill the facility. In the meantime, the existing convention center has booked meetings as far out as 2016 and continues to beat the bushes nationally, Executive Director Charles Starks said. Those meetings would be able to move to the new facility or stay in the existing one if the city decided to keep it for smaller conventions, Starks said. "We're still making sure the current one gets filled," he said. A task force that studied the need for a new convention center in 2006 said the existing building's economic impact was $92 million a year. The group said the proposed facility would generate an additional $700 million annually, based on bringing in 1 million more people who would spend $700 each over three days on hotel rooms, food and other items.