Kristina Garner Loves Germantown

Germantown, get excited for the crown jewel of our community, our own Houston High School makeover. HHS, built in 1989, is in need of a major overhaul to remain competitive in our community. This is our tax dollars at work bringing the heat! This fabulous project will maintain and even raise property values, ensure that our status as best of the preps continues, and offer the facility excellence that our students deserve.

The Houston High School Master Plan Overview We are thrilled to unveil the premiere of the Houston High School Master Plan, a visionary project set to redefine educational excellence within our communit...

One Tuesday evening a month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. No prior experience is necessary.

10.24.23 B.O.E. Business Meeting

Germantown Festival 2023!!

Thanks for posting, Alderman Sanders

I’d like to make the following statement to our residents:

As you are aware on the morning of Thursday July 20 many residents began contacting the City of Germantown to report smelling diesel fuel in their residential tap water. The city began to investigate and took water samples to find out what it was. Once the city realized it was in fact diesel fuel, they issued a no use of water order except flushing toilets. They then began taking immediate steps to remediate the situation.

On Friday July 21, mid-day, I visited the Southern Ave. Water Plant to lay eyes on the situation and gather some information so I could communicate with you what I knew. I was told that earlier, the morning of Thursday July 20, a “walk around” of the generator was conducted and no abnormalities were noted, however when they returned that afternoon, around 2:45, they noticed yellowing of the grass, and it wasn’t until after getting down and digging in the grass that they began to smell the diesel. Further, I was told that a “leak” was found in the generator, it was repaired, and then remediation began. I briefly explained those steps in my Facebook post five days ago. (See post with generators).

As you know on Friday July 21 the City began water distribution at Forest Hill Elementary School and I volunteered to pass out water there Friday, Saturday and Sunday. During this time, as you can imagine, I had numerous emails, requests from the media for interviews, and requests to call into radio stations. I was hesitant to do so because I was not getting any substantive information or details that would have been of benefit to anyone. Furthermore, I’m not an expert in this area. I was receiving most of the information just like you, the residents. This was from press conferences, City of Germantown Facebook posts, and videos being produced and released. I chalked the lack of information up to the fact that most of the city employees were fully engaged in this public health emergency, working long hours, and having to deal with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Shelby County Emergency Management Agency, Shelby County Health Department, the University of Memphis Center for Applied Earth Science and Engineering Research (CESAR), and with you the public. These regulatory agencies kept moving the goal posts on the city exasperating this problem. In addition, I knew they were working on water testing and with contractors involved who were assisting the city. I did not pester or hound the City Administrator or others for information not wanting to interfere with this important work. This week I did begin getting a brief phone call from the City Administrator with some updates on where things stood, but shortly thereafter the city would release that same information to you before I could formulate what I had learned into a coherent post. Last night, during that briefing I was told about a video release, but it wasn’t till I watched the video that I learned that they were now referring to this “leak” as “an overflow of diesel fuel.” As you can imagine, as soon as that was released, I had many residents contacting me and I was very troubled.

Even as your elected official, I simply had no additional information other than what had already been released to the public. “Why is that?” some ask. Remember, that if all the Aldermen were to be brought into a room, or on a daily conference call, the City Administration maintains that would violate the Tennessee Open Meetings Act (Sunshine Law); so, they called each one, separately, and gave the short brief before they released information to you. I was not ever asked by the City Attorney not to communicate or give the press any interview or information.

I would never take for granted your faith and trust in me. I wanted to make this post to assure you that I was not withholding any information from citizens.

HOPE CHURCH has water and ice for Germantown residents. Entrance 3. Wed-Fri 2PM to 6PM Bring your own containers.

New safety facility to open:

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