Members of the Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance elected new officers to one-year terms when it met on Thursday.

Wilhemina Williams was elected president of the water conservation group. She is a retired human services executive who works part-time as a walking tour guide in historic downtown Greeneville.

Fred Kauffman, a history and social studies teacher at Northeast State Community College, was elected treasurer.

Dana Vaughn, formerly Dana Ball prior to her marriage earlier this month, was elected secretary for MNWA. She is an employee of TVA and a past president of MNWA.

All officers were elected unanimously.

Because of the group’s small number of members, the new officers will likely serve continuously in their positions for several years. Only seven people, including a Greeneville Sun reporter, attended Thursday’s meeting.

Discussion was held on possible solutions to algae formation and odor caused by pollution at the Big Spring, located behind the Greeneville-Greene County Library. The Big Spring, a watering spot used by the Indians and early pioneers, is considered the birthplace of Greeneville.

Paul Hayden, a soil conservationist for Greene County, suggested increasing the water flow from the Big Spring by pumping more water into it might resolve most of the algae problem.

Discussion was also held on the aesthetic and environmental impact of tens of thousands of discarded tires remaining in the Nolichucky River.

In that regard, as The Greeneville Sun reported Wednesday, Gov. Phil Bredesen and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke announced on Tuesday a $40,000 Waste Tire Cleanup Grant for Greene County.
According to a press release from the governor’s office, the grant will fund the first phase in cleanup of the abandoned tires that were dumped in the river decades ago.