Collegedale city commissioners on Monday voted 4-0 to move city elections from March to November.

The ordinance passed smoothly, with no citizen comments, despite previous trouble moving the election date. “In the past, we had one, possibly two people on the commission who opposed it,” said Mayor John Turner. “ This current commission wants to see a bigger turnout.”

Mr. Turner also mentioned cost savings of $11,000 and student participation as reasons for the change. In recent election years, the city paid for early voting to accommodate absent Southern Adventist University students away on spring break.

A two-time candidate for commissioner argued against the change in a letter. Ray Minner wrote commissioners last week. “We (only) spend 7 or 8/100 OF ONE PERCENT of what we take in to the city's coffers on holding elections!” Mr. Minner wrote. The new election date will coincide with national and state elections. Mr. Minner argued people might “vote randomly for names they like the sound of, having no clue whether those people are qualified or why they are running in the first place.”

Before the vote, Commissioner Larry Hanson thanked Mr. Minner, who was present at Monday’s meeting, for writing. “There are pluses and minuses (to the ordinance), but I believe pluses outweigh minuses at this time,” said the retired math professor. Mr. Minner did not comment on the ordinance.

March elections will be held one last time in 2011, but instead of a full four-year term, commissioners voted in would serve three years and eight months.

Two transitional election cycles, in March 2011 and 2013, would elect commissioners whose terms would end in November 2014 and 2016, respectively. November elections would begin in 2014.

The city charter requires that the three top vote-getting candidates serve four years in office and the two lowest vote-getting candidates serve two years. Two election cycles are required to make the full switch over to November because of this staggered process.

A large, 350-acre parcel of land owned by the Chastain family is up for annexation and was sent to the planning commission, along with four smaller parcels as part of Resolutions #351-355.

“We aren’t too happy about paying city taxes on a bunch of farm land,” said property owner Don Chastain.

Mayor Turner and City Attorney Sam Elliott assured him that only a study would be conducted at this time.

Other properties being considered by the planning commission include small parcels by the Caddo Lane duplexes and on Ooltewah-Ringgold Rd. and McDonald Rd.

Another property being considered for annexation is the Ooltewah Post Office. “We’re going to study it in connection with a proposed plan of services,” said Mr. Elliott.

Back in April, City Manager Ted Rogers expressed the need for a new post office because of mailing mix-ups between Ooltewah and Collegedale zip codes.

“The final vote for annexation will probably come middle of September,” said Mr. Elliott.

Ordinance #748 passed unanimously on its second reading. It rezones part of the McDaniel property near the First Baptist Church from agricultural to industrial.

Commissioners approved the June financial report and granted permission for the public works department to purchase two new lawnmowers at just under $50,000. The bid was awarded to a Knoxville firm.

Vice Mayor Tim Johnson and City Manager Ted Rogers were not present.