WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:22.880 --> 00:00:29.439 It was a warm moonless night in the city of music. 00:00:26.880 --> 00:00:34.960 Somewhere in that night, somewhere in the great state of Tennessee, a public 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:39.440 official was in trouble. Seems he didn't know who to see or what 00:00:37.040 --> 00:00:43.520 to do so he called me. That's why I'm here. 00:00:41.200 --> 00:00:49.120 That's what I do. My name is Jack Jackson, 00:00:46.239 --> 00:00:49.120 Public Eye. 00:00:49.680 --> 00:00:56.719 But this particular evening I was stumped on a case. 00:00:53.680 --> 00:01:02.480 Everything seemed to be in place: a good tax base, supportive citizens, 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:02.480 and yet... [phone rings] 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:10.119 Jack Jackson, Public Eye. [inaudible] 00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:19.880 Sounds like trouble. I'm on my way. 00:01:28.479 --> 00:01:37.200 Sparta, Tennessee, population 5000. A well-run city, 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:42.400 but every city can have troubles. That's where I come in. 00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:47.520 I didn't know what the problem was, but it must have been pretty important. 00:01:45.119 --> 00:01:52.799 My first stop was to see Margaret Pearson the mayor of Sparta. 00:01:50.880 --> 00:01:57.119 See, Jack, a lot of cities like Sparta have to deal with unfunded federal 00:01:54.640 --> 00:02:01.439 mandates and one of these mandates is a solid waste reduction. 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:06.159 Here in White County the county is responsible for the landfill and runs it. 00:02:03.759 --> 00:02:12.000 The city provides its residents with curbside pickup. The problem has been 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:16.959 arranging payments for these services since both the city pickups and the 00:02:14.160 --> 00:02:24.400 county landfill services are involved. So uh maybe need some help in collecting 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:24.400 fees for that service huh? Well, yes. 00:02:24.480 --> 00:02:28.560 Well, why don't you let me see what I can do? 00:02:26.879 --> 00:02:32.480 Maybe-- I'm sorry to bring you all this way Mr. Jackson but we've already solved 00:02:31.040 --> 00:02:37.200 this problem. What? 00:02:34.319 --> 00:02:42.400 How did--? We called the Municipal Technical Advisory Service. MTAS helped the city 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:46.239 and the county to work out an arrangement. 00:02:43.760 --> 00:02:51.599 The county now receives payment for the landfill services through the method 00:02:48.239 --> 00:02:57.680 that we worked out. We have to comply with lots of federal mandates and MTAS 00:02:54.560 --> 00:03:00.480 has really proven that they can help us. So uh 00:02:58.959 --> 00:03:05.120 tell me who are these MTAS people? 00:03:02.480 --> 00:03:09.120 MTAS is a statewide organization part of the Institute of Public Service and 00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:13.680 that's actually a part of the University of Tennessee. 00:03:10.720 --> 00:03:17.599 MTAS' job is to consult with cities and towns 00:03:14.720 --> 00:03:20.480 with long-term technical assistance. For example, 00:03:18.640 --> 00:03:25.120 we're looking for ways to improve the coverage and reduce the operating 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:29.920 expenses with our fire department. MTAS provided an expert in the area who 00:03:28.080 --> 00:03:34.720 surveyed the situation and made recommendations. 00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:41.120 With MTAS' help we're going to add a station and actually we're going to 00:03:37.200 --> 00:03:41.120 reduce our insurance rates. 00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:47.760 I see. Listen, I was in a statewide local 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:51.840 government training session recently and I heard about another problem you might 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:56.000 be interested in. It had something to do with economic 00:03:53.840 --> 00:04:01.480 development, capital budgeting, something like that. Let me see if I can't find the 00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:01.480 phone number. 00:04:01.519 --> 00:04:08.400 Oh here it is. Haywood County, 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:08.400 see the county executive. [Musical sting] 00:04:09.920 --> 00:04:16.160 So I was scooped. I made a note to find out more about 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:19.840 those MTAS people. Seems there wasn't any work for me in 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:23.199 Sparta, but at least they paid my retainer. 00:04:21.280 --> 00:04:27.000 Hmm, I better hurry if I'm gonna make that last train to Brownsville. 00:04:35.840 --> 00:04:43.680 After I got off at the Rome station, I had a long hot walk ahead. 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:46.880 They say fresh air is good for you. I hope the air wasn't the only thing 00:04:45.520 --> 00:04:51.199 good that day. Haywood County had trouble trouble for 00:04:49.440 --> 00:04:55.680 me to make right. That's who I am. 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:59.840 It's what I do. My little black book told me that the 00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:06.720 county executive of Haywood County is a man named smith Franklin Smith. 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:11.840 As it turned out, I was expected. Jack Jackson, you look tired. Please sit 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:11.840 down. 00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:16.800 How about some nice cold lemonade? 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:27.759 I hear you just came from Sparta. That's a long way. 00:05:25.520 --> 00:05:31.120 What can I do for you? Well, it's uh what I might be able to do 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:35.600 for you. I I heard something about uh 00:05:32.880 --> 00:05:40.320 money troubles... Well, no, not really. Now we've got a 00:05:38.479 --> 00:05:44.960 pretty unique situation in Haywood County. We've got 00:05:41.840 --> 00:05:48.800 one large city and one small town and we're pretty much an agricultural 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:54.320 county. Did you get to see any cotton on your way in? 00:05:50.960 --> 00:05:59.120 You've got a lot of land, believe me. Well, a public official has to look after 00:05:56.720 --> 00:06:04.000 the public and what we need in Haywood County is an economic development edge 00:06:01.919 --> 00:06:08.639 so that when industry that's relocating comes in here to look at us they see 00:06:06.160 --> 00:06:12.479 something that's unique and desirable. What we really need is consolidated 00:06:11.440 --> 00:06:16.880 government. Not only would that help us achieve our 00:06:14.400 --> 00:06:21.440 goal but industry would only have to deal with one governmental entity. 00:06:19.520 --> 00:06:26.160 That would really be a plus. Hey that uh that sounds like a big job. 00:06:24.720 --> 00:06:29.600 Why don't we get everybody together in a room? We can talk about it, you know work 00:06:27.840 --> 00:06:33.759 out the details on that? We tried that. 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:38.319 It's not that easy believe me so we called in an expert. 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:41.680 They're called the County Technical Assistance Service. 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:47.600 It's pretty complicated stuff and they have the staff and experience to help 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:52.800 make it work. CTAS helps counties with their problems, 00:06:50.400 --> 00:06:57.440 things like economic development issues, consolidation studies, 00:06:54.720 --> 00:07:02.880 maximizing human resources. They have advisors, attorneys, accountants, you name 00:07:00.880 --> 00:07:06.880 it, CTAS has it. They helped us form a consolidation 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:11.039 committee to study the best way for us to do it. We're well on our way. 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:20.160 Have some more lemonade. So uh 00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:31.440 tell me, these uh CTAS people, they in cahoots with MTAS? 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:38.560 Well yeah, CTAS works with counties and MTAS works with cities. They're all part 00:07:34.080 --> 00:07:42.639 of the UT Institute for Public Service. But I'll tell you what Mr. Jackson, I may 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:46.319 have a lead for you. There's a town called Millington not 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:48.720 very far from here. Seems they're having trouble with the 00:07:47.840 --> 00:07:52.479 navy. They may need your service. 00:07:50.880 --> 00:07:58.759 Millington, ah? You know I was in the navy. 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:58.759 Let me kind of look into that. 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:11.520 George Harvill Jr. was the mayor of Millington. They told me downtown that he 00:08:08.400 --> 00:08:16.960 was at the naval base. I hoped maybe this was the case I was looking for. I hoped. 00:08:14.479 --> 00:08:19.919 You see, Jack, every city manager or city mayor has got to look at long-range 00:08:18.479 --> 00:08:24.479 planning no matter how large or how small the city is and city of Millington 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:27.599 is no exception to that. Seems like in a smaller town like this that wouldn't be 00:08:26.080 --> 00:08:32.000 a big problem? Well, not necessarily. No matter what size 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:34.399 your city is, the voting public and the citizens are out there looking for 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:38.800 leadership in long-range planning. In fact where 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:42.959 we're standing here today is the Naval Air Station here in Millington which 00:08:40.959 --> 00:08:47.680 presently has a population of some twelve-thousand, but in the navy process 00:08:45.680 --> 00:08:51.279 of restructuring it will be downsized to approximately four-thousand and the 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:55.920 housing needs will certainly change in Millington from the young sailor, 00:08:53.680 --> 00:08:59.120 just newly married, to the more senior people. Their 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:01.920 retail purchases will be different from what we 00:09:00.800 --> 00:09:06.000 have now and will certainly affect our economy in 00:09:03.760 --> 00:09:10.080 Millington and we've got to take steps to ensure that we're prepared for these 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:15.440 changes in the city of Millington. I suppose you called in the CTAS or MTAS 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:19.040 or somebody to help you? No, not really. We got the Center for 00:09:17.680 --> 00:09:22.720 Government Training involved. They provide many services to the 00:09:20.839 --> 00:09:26.640 municipalities and counties through the state of Tennessee. We had retreats and 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:30.800 seminars and met together and they brought out things that we need 00:09:28.640 --> 00:09:35.680 to do in the city and helped us develop some leadership and their help has been 00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:39.200 invaluable to us. Well, those guys 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:43.040 really get around, don't they? Yeah. Tell me, Mayor Harper, is there, 00:09:41.200 --> 00:09:45.440 is there anything I can look into for you? 00:09:43.839 --> 00:09:48.320 I don't think so. It looks like the Center for Government Training has 00:09:46.800 --> 00:09:52.399 pretty well covered all of our bases and given us all the assistance that we need. 00:09:53.040 --> 00:10:01.760 Seems this IPS gang was moving into my territory. Cities, counties and state 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:06.399 government, that was half my clients. But I needed a retainer to make this day 00:10:03.920 --> 00:10:10.399 pay, so I looked through my little black book for a blackmail millionaire or a 00:10:09.040 --> 00:10:15.519 rich widow. As it turns out 00:10:11.920 --> 00:10:15.519 I ended up with a cop. 00:10:16.640 --> 00:10:25.279 Those people who say there's never a cop around have never been to Donelson. 00:10:22.959 --> 00:10:31.440 The Law Enforcement Academy trains officers for the whole state. 00:10:27.760 --> 00:10:36.320 It's a big job full of problems but that's why I'm here. 00:10:33.680 --> 00:10:42.880 That's what I do. Mark Bracey runs the show. 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:46.640 Good thing I know how to talk to cops. So tell me, what's your biggest problem? 00:10:45.040 --> 00:10:50.880 There are a lot of officers in the state. The laws change, skills change. Officers 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:54.079 need to keep up. Well, it's a big place. 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:57.040 Why can't they all come here? Well, many of the smaller departments 00:10:55.680 --> 00:11:02.160 can't afford it. They can't send all their officers. It's 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:06.000 a real problem. So what's the answer? LESAT. LESAT? The Law Enforcement Satellite 00:11:04.160 --> 00:11:09.760 Academy of Tennessee. It's a video teleconference series covering new and 00:11:08.079 --> 00:11:12.640 updating older law enforcement tools and techniques. 00:11:10.959 --> 00:11:16.480 Training is delivered and participants are tested for their knowledge. Who does 00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:20.800 the show? CTV. CTV? The Center for Telecommunications 00:11:18.959 --> 00:11:25.279 and Video. They're in knoxville. They produce the live show, distribute it 00:11:22.959 --> 00:11:29.839 statewide by satellite. They take live questions, they do the testing. 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:34.160 LESAT was originally designed by CGT and CTAS who worked with the Tennessee 00:11:32.160 --> 00:11:38.320 Sheriff's Association, the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police and the 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:42.079 Tennessee Department of Safety. There are over 80 departments 00:11:39.680 --> 00:11:48.959 participating. Great training, couldn't be happier. So how's CTV related to CGT? Well 00:11:45.760 --> 00:11:52.079 they're both IPS agencies. CTV works with other IPS units and the university 00:11:50.959 --> 00:11:56.160 community, produces teleconferences and tapes to 00:11:53.920 --> 00:11:59.120 disseminate information, helps train and enlighten citizens and governmental 00:11:57.920 --> 00:12:04.880 entities. So you've solved your long-distance 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:08.320 education problems? Oh yes. So tell me is there 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:14.399 anything I can do for you? Afraid not. Nice seeing you, though. Call 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:14.399 you if we get a tough case. 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:23.519 It seems the IPS puzzle was coming together, interlocking pieces separate 00:12:21.839 --> 00:12:27.680 but together. Unfortunately I wasn't one of those 00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:32.160 pieces. I figured I had one more shot: 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:37.320 private industry. Let's see, last week I had a call from... 00:12:41.920 --> 00:12:48.800 I figured a private outfit like this has problems, too. 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:54.240 Regulations, OSHA, safety, things like that. By then I really needed a case not to 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:58.639 mention the retainer plus expenses. That's what I am. That's what I do. 00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:07.279 It seems Chris Combs is the vice president of DCS. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:10.560 They manufacture electronic cabinets. Jack, the reason we called you is we're 00:13:08.959 --> 00:13:15.440 interested in getting into government contracting but we know nothing about 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:19.600 the federal regulations, the bidding process 00:13:16.800 --> 00:13:23.760 and the technical specifications. There's also OSHA regulations that we have to be 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:27.760 aware of and we want to have a good strategy for 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:31.760 dealing with customers like Martin Marietta, Holston Defense and 00:13:30.079 --> 00:13:36.320 Westinghouse. So I guess the first thing we need to do 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:41.760 is to research some regulations and look into some new equipment? 00:13:38.880 --> 00:13:47.760 Well, it's not that easy, Jack. In fact, 00:13:44.160 --> 00:13:50.639 we've already solved our problem. Let me guess-- 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:54.240 CTAS? No, that's county. 00:13:52.880 --> 00:13:59.519 MTAS? No, that's the city. 00:13:56.480 --> 00:14:04.160 CGT? No, no, that's training. It doesn't have anything to do with 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:07.839 television so that rules CTV out. Who then? 00:14:05.760 --> 00:14:13.519 The Center for Industrial Services was a great help to us. They provide technical 00:14:10.560 --> 00:14:16.639 and managerial assistance to small manufacturers throughout the state of 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:21.680 Tennessee. One of their areas of specialty was 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:25.760 government contracting and that was why we called them. 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:30.160 They even have UT professors in the specialty fields who will come out and 00:14:27.680 --> 00:14:34.079 spend time with you and will help you solve some of your manufacturing 00:14:31.760 --> 00:14:37.279 problems. So uh, 00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:40.399 tell me, got anything for me? 00:14:38.880 --> 00:14:44.480 You know, garbage problems? 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:47.839 Taxes too high? Uh, snatch, 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:53.680 heist? Sorry, Jack, not today. 00:14:51.360 --> 00:15:02.480 Before I left Mrs. Combs she gave me directions to the IPS central office. 00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:02.480 I felt I had to play this out. 00:15:02.560 --> 00:15:10.480 Seems the IPS central offices are located on the University of Tennessee's 00:15:07.839 --> 00:15:16.880 campus in Knoxville. My first meeting was with Tom Ballard, 00:15:14.160 --> 00:15:19.920 Associate Vice President for Public Service. 00:15:18.079 --> 00:15:25.600 Jack, the real strength of the Institute for Public Service, CTAS, MTAS, CIS, CGT, and 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:29.839 CTV, is the individual strengths of those 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:33.920 agencies but it's also the collective strengths of those agencies working 00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:37.040 cooperatively for the good of the state. If you're a city official and you need 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:40.880 help you call MTAS. If you're a county official you need help you call CTAS. 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:44.959 If you're a government official of any type and you need training you call CGT. 00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:50.880 If you're an industrial manager and you need help you call CIS and if you need a 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:55.920 video production done you call CTV. So how does your office fit in that picture? 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:58.639 Well, the Institute for Public Service is really an umbrella under which we 00:15:57.519 --> 00:16:03.519 operate and I guess our real strength is our 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:07.360 ability to find the way to use our great assets in the right combination to serve 00:16:06.160 --> 00:16:12.079 the state. We do that as an outreach organization 00:16:09.680 --> 00:16:16.959 of the University of Tennessee mandated in state law to do what we do but doing 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:20.560 it because we believe in it and we know it's the right thing to do for the 00:16:18.560 --> 00:16:24.959 future of the state of Tennessee and we're proud to operate from one end of 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:31.120 this state to the other. I next met Sammie Lynn Puett, Vice 00:16:28.560 --> 00:16:37.519 President in charge of the Institute for Public Service, Continuing Education and 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:41.920 University Relations. We're really proud of the organization we've built not 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:45.839 because of its size but because of the range and depth of services that we're 00:16:44.079 --> 00:16:49.360 able to provide Tennessee governments and industries. 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:54.800 In the five organizations that make up IPS, we have lawyers, accountants, field 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:58.880 engineers, TV production people, a wide range of experts and all the resources 00:16:57.199 --> 00:17:03.360 are available simply by picking up the telephone and calling. 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:07.120 So uh what's the big picture? 00:17:05.439 --> 00:17:10.880 Well, there's only one picture, Jack, and it's an important one. 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:16.319 We're constantly trying to improve the quality of life of Tennesseans, 00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:16.319 one-on-one, face-to-face. 00:17:17.120 --> 00:17:24.240 Yeah listen, I've been making uh, some pretty good dough on retainer doing 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:29.280 this kind of stuff, so uh I bet your outfit charges a lot, huh? 00:17:27.760 --> 00:17:34.240 Ah, no, quite the opposite. Most of our services 00:17:31.760 --> 00:17:34.240 are free. 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:39.360 You mean that cities, the 00:17:37.360 --> 00:17:41.919 counties, the state, private industry, they can get all this 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:46.240 help for free? 00:17:43.919 --> 00:17:50.640 That's right, Jack, and they have for years. We're a public service. It's who we 00:17:49.840 --> 00:17:53.760 are. It's what we do. 00:17:57.919 --> 00:18:08.960 It's why we're here, it's what we do. It was tough to realize the IPS agencies 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:13.679 had better rights to those words than I did. 00:18:10.320 --> 00:18:20.080 As I nodded off to a restless sleep the drone of the Pullman's wheels gave 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:22.640 way to the voices that convinced me it was so. 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:36.080 MTAS consults with cities and towns with long-term technical assistance. 00:18:33.919 --> 00:18:41.360 CTAS helps with technical assistance with problems in our counties, things like... 00:18:39.760 --> 00:18:44.480 The Center for Government Training who is a part of the IPS 00:18:43.280 --> 00:18:49.120 family, they provide training services to the 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:53.840 municipalities and local governments and the county governments... 00:18:51.120 --> 00:18:57.280 CTV works with other IPS units and the university community, 00:18:55.440 --> 00:19:01.840 produces teleconferences and tapes to disseminate information, helps... 00:18:59.760 --> 00:19:07.440 The Center for Industrial Services was a great help to us they provide technical 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:11.360 and managerial assistance to small manufacturers throughout the state of 00:19:09.280 --> 00:19:14.799 Tennessee... We're really the University of 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:22.120 Tennessee's outreach arm for cities counties and industries and communities... 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:22.120 Most of our services are free. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:33.280 It was a warm moonless night in the city of music. 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:39.840 Somewhere in that night, somewhere in the great state of Tennessee 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:39.840 a public official was in trouble. 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:48.000 But now they know who to see and what to do and who to call. 00:19:45.600 --> 00:19:54.799 I can't offer the same expertise the Institute for Public Service can. 00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:59.600 And maybe it's time for that vacation I've been saving for. 00:19:56.559 --> 00:20:03.760 Yeah, maybe I'll go to Casablanca or Key Largo, maybe spend some time in San 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:06.559 Francisco or maybe... 00:20:05.360 --> 00:20:09.559 Yeah... Dollywood. 00:21:05.840 --> 00:21:07.919 [Music]