Alderman Jerry Don Case, right, embraces Kimball Mayor David Jackson on Thursday at the meeting of the Kimball Board of Mayor and Alderman. Jackson submitted his resignation as mayor to take office as Marion County mayor. In the background is City Recorder Tonia May.KIMBALL, Tenn. - David Jackson has resigned as Kimball's mayor so he can officially take over as Marion County's new leader.
At Thursday's meeting of the Kimball Board of Mayor and Alderman, Jackson stepped down after 24 years on the board, calling it "a bittersweet day."
He fought back tears as he read a prepared statement in which he thanked a long list of people with whom he had worked alongside for almost a quarter of a century.
Jackson said it was "an honor and a privilege" to serve Kimball as its mayor for the last 11 years.
"I hope the decisions we've made over these years have made Kimball a better place to live and work," he said.
Alderman Jerry Don Case said that after Jackson was elected Marion County mayor in August, he started thinking about all the changes that have occurred in the town since Jackson's appointment to Kimball's board in 1990.
At that time, Kimball's property tax rate was 25 cents per $100, he said.
Now the city boasts one of the lowest property tax rates in Tennessee at 10 cents per $100.
In July 1992, Case said a proposal was made for Kimball to invest $50,000 to start a Chattanooga State satellite campus in an existing building along U.S. Highway 2.
"After some discussion, David Jackson made a motion to commit the $50,000 to the project," he said. "Look what we have today - the Marion County Regional Institute for Higher Education. I never would have thought we'd be that big that fast."
A new town hall, fire department, police department, maintenance building, and a large city park with a sports complex are just a few of the other advancements Kimball has enjoyed on Jackson's watch, Case said.
"There's a lot more," he said. "That's just skimming over the top."
Alderman Mark Payne said he could remember when Kimball couldn't afford to replace flat tires on two of its police cars.
"This town has progressed a lot," he said. "I don't think the federal government has made enough money to buy [Jackson]. I think his mother and father deserve an immense amount of credit for the man that's sitting in front of us tonight. It's been a pleasure and an honor."
As Jackson took his seat in the audience, newly appointed Mayor Rex Pesnell presented him with a plaque thanking him for his service to the town.
The board voted unanimously to make Case vice mayor and appointed Johnny Matthews to fill Pesnell's vacated seat for the remainder of that term.
Pesnell will serve out the remaining two years of Jackson's term.
"I hope I can continue the good work he's done," Pesnell said.
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.