District 31’s state representative Jim Cobb (R-Spring City) told the Soddy-Daisy City Commission on Thursday night he is pushing a new bridge over the Tennessee River linking Soddy-Daisy to Harrison.

He said the idea was recently shot down in committee, but Rep. Cobb said he is hopeful that a 2007 TDOT summer study will “get them to look at our bridge.”

Rep. Cobb said a Soddy-Daisy—Harrison bridge is an excellent opportunity for Enterprise South, and he plans to set up a bridge meeting with TDOT and keep in touch with the Hamilton County Commission about the issue.

“We certainly would support it,” said Soddy-Daisy Commissioner Jim Adams.

Rep. Cobb also said the plans for a traffic light at Highway 27 and Highwater Road have been approved by TDOT, with installation aimed to be complete by spring or summer 2008. This area is notorious for serious accidents and the commission agrees the light is needed.

Also, Rep. Cobb and Rep. David Hawk (R-Greenville) are working to pass the Hawk Amendment, which would release $100 million to $150 million in state lottery funds for K-12 “brick and mortar-type issues.” Rep. Cobb said this money would come out to $100 or $150 extra per student.

- Commissioner News –

Commissioner Gene-O Shipley led the commission to approve $27,000 from the city’s $400,000 street reserve to widen Highwater Road two feet and finish paving it. He said the binder currently on the road will not last the winter and that action must be taken now to economically finish the road.

Commissioner David Skiles pointed out that Soddy Lake has a ducks and geese problem. City Manager Janice Cagle said she will look into options to control the duck and goose population.

The commission approved rezoning from A-1 (agricultural district) to R-2A (rural residential district) a tract of land located at 9839 Vine St. (second and final reading).

The commission agreed to table a second rezoning request until the owner has his plans ready to present to the commission. The request is to rezone from A-1 (agricultural district) to R-1 (single family residential district) and R-3MD (moderate density apartment townhouse district) a tract of land located at 341 Hixson St. (first reading).

- Budget News –

$2,700 was approved to pour concrete finishes on Walnut Street. The contract was awarded to Concrete Doctor. The commission will experiment with asphalt instead of concrete on Norman Street.

$2,929 was approved for a new police mobile radio.

$17,505 was approved to upgrade nine breathing apparatuses for the fire department. This updates old apparatuses to new parts and components standards.

- Events –

Sept. 15: Second Annual Meet-and-Greet. Come support Soddy-Daisy’s war veterans. Attractions: free food and door prizes, military exhibit, ex-POWs from WW2 and Vietnam. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Soddy-Daisy Veterans Park. For “young and old and in-between.”