Your Official Guide to Who's Who in the City of Jackson
This piece was originally published in the December 2019 - March 2020 issue of our journal, Vol. 5, Issue 3: Pioneers.
We’ve all been there: that moment when we realize we’ve taken our local government for granted and quite frankly have no clue who to call. No matter how vigorously our local leaders keep watch over our city, there will always be the occasional pothole, confusing terms, and roadkill in your driveway to put a damper on your day. But dealing with those issues and a dozen other shouldn’t be a hassle. That’s why we’ve created this “Who’s Who?” guide to twelve of our city’s most important departments: to identify those who are pioneering our community, what exactly they do, and what their heart is behind it all.
Environment
HEALTH & SANITATION / ANIMAL CONTROL
Kathleen Hunnycutt
khuneycutt@cityofjackson.net
180 Conalco Drive
731.425.8545
Mission
We provide and promote a positive appearance to a diverse community by adhering to the promise of unity and goodwill to all citizens of Jackson, TN.
Responsibilities
Picking up large debris and vacuuming loose leaves (October until the leaves are no longer falling)
Distributing rat poison and mosquito pellets
Picking up dead animals
Enforcing leash law and other animal-related ordinances
Animal Care Center
Harry Henry
hhenry@cityofjackson.net
23 Pinnacle Drive
731.422.7028
Mission
We believe in the humane treatment of animals and strive to find forever homes for the stray and abandoned dogs and cats of Jackson, TN.
Responsibilities
Providing resources for financial help to spay/neuter animals
Taking in strays and owner-surrendered dogs and cats within city limits
Connecting citizens with volunteer opportunities at shelter
Recreation & Parks
Tony Black
tblack@cityofjackson.net
180 Conalco Drive
731.425.8399
Mission
We strive to be an accountable steward of public recreation facilities and other resources and an efficient provider of quality, wholesome leisure services to benefit the minds, bodies, and spirits of all citizens of Jackson, TN.
Responsibilities
All public building maintenance and repairs, including all large parks, neighborhood parks, and playgrounds
Mowing parks and recreation center grounds
Upkeep of all athletic fields
Programming and rentals for Westwood Community Center, T.R. White Sportsplex, South Jackson Community Center, and Northside Lions Center
Infrastructure
Building & Housing Codes
greg rowland
growland@cityofjackson.net
113 East Main Street
731.425.8262
Mission
We assist builders and contractors to make sure that all construction properly follows state and local requirements.
Responsibilities
Offering permits for all aspects of new construction and remodeling
Reviewing plans for commercial projects
Providing inspections on all new construction (building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, etc.)
Inspecting and enforcing code compliance for blight issues (overgrown grass, dilapidated structures, trash, cars parked in yards, etc.)
Street Department
percy jones
pjones@cityofjackson.net
180 Conalco Drive
731.425.8541
Mission
We provide a safe network of streets in Jackson by responding promptly and courteously to our citizens’ requests and concerns.
Responsibilities
Pothole repair
Cleaning, repairing, and paving alleys
Minor street resurfacing
Snow and ice removal
Mowing non-residential city right-of-ways and specific sections of the 45 Bypass and Interstate 40
Providing a safe and handicap accessible sidewalk system throughout our city
Engineering Department
Scott Chandler
schandler@cityofjackson.net
117 East Main Street
731.425.8220
Mission
We deliver a wide range of services related to the city’s existing and developing infrastructure.
Responsibilities
Repaving streets
Street stripe maintenance
Traffic sign, street lighting, and school zone repair
Flooding hazard and storm drain system maintenance
Erosion maintenance
Street closure for community events
Planning Department
stan pilant
spilant@cityofjackson.net
111 East Main Street
731.425.8586
Mission
We create a natural and built environment where people from all walks of life come to meet, imagine, help, build, and prosper.
Responsibilities
Dividing the city into zones that determine the type and number of buildings that can be built, as well as the uses that are allowed in each zone
Handling zoning violations
Venues
Fairgrounds Park
John Merh
jmerh@cityofjackson.net
800 South Highland Avenue
731.425.8384
Mission
We strive to be the ultimate multi-purpose building for Jackson, TN.
Responsibilities
Hosting over twenty local events per year, including the West Tennessee State Fair, the AKC Jackson TN Dog Fanciers, and dozens of other races, markets, and fundraisers
CARL PERKINS CIVIC CENTER & OMAN ARENA
Tosh Newman
tnewman@cityofjackson.net
400 South Highland Avenue
731.425.8580
Mission
We strive to provide an affordable, clean, and professional environment for entertainment, fundraisers, and business meetings alike.
Responsibilities
Hosting over fifty events per year, including the Miss Tenneseee Volunteer Scholarship Pagaent, JMCSS graduations, and dozens of fundraisers
THE Ned R. Mcwherter performing arts Center (“The Ned”)
Diann Robinson
drobinson@cityofjackson.net
314 East Main Street
731.425.8397
Mission
We provide quality performances, entertainment, exhibits, and education opportunities that reflect our community’s diversity.
Responsibilities
Sponsoring six concerts, four Children’s & Teen Theatre productions, three theatre camps, twelve art exhibits, and six art receptions per year
Providing space rentals for four Jackson Theatre Guild productions, four school productions, and ten Ned Flicks movie screenings per year, as well as numerous other rentals
Providing theatre awards for Children’s & Teen Theatre
West Tennessee Healthcare SPORTSPLEX
Jason Compton
jcompton@cityofjackson.net
250 Bancorpsouth Parkway
731.425.8640
Mission
We are dedicated to providing an unparalleled sports experience for players, coaches, and supporters of baseball and softball by consistently creating an exciting and competitive environment while maintaining harmonious attitudes.
responsibilities
Hosting over twenty travel baseball/softball tournaments per year
Providing fields for local recreational league play, high and middle school play, and use by our local special needs league
Other
Recovery Court
Haley coble
hcoble@cityofjackson.net
116 North Church Street
731.425.8545
Mission
We enhance public safety by providing judicially supervised drug treatment and innovative-intensive case management to substance abuse offenders with the goal of returning drug-/alcohol-free, law-abiding citizens to our community and thereby closing the “revolving door” of the criminal justice system.
Responsibilities
Administering a year-long program to provide intensive substance abuse treatment and case management services in lieu of jail time to individuals who have open cases in Jackson City Court due to charges driven by their substance use disorders.
Originally from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Katie Howerton moved to Jackson in 2011 to study Graphic Design and Drawing at Union University. She discovered Our Jackson Home in January 2015 and used it as a guinea pig for her senior design project, creating the first issue of Our Jackson Home: The Magazine. After graduating she was given leadership over Our Jackson Home at theCO, where she now runs the blog, designs the magazine, and coordinates events. She lives with her husband Jordan and daughter November in Midtown and loves her community at City Fellowship Baptist Church.
Illustrations by Katie Howerton.
