The Soddy Daisy Commission meeting began Thursday night with Mayor Jim Adams making the special presentation of “Lifesaver Award” to the members of Hamilton County Emergency Services and the Soddy Daisy Fire and Police Departments that saved the life of a past employee of the city.
Mayor Adams told the audience that one of the city’s favorite citizens had a heart problem this summer while shopping. Fortunately, he was in the right place at the right time. Jerry Smith, who was a fireman for 42 years, and chief of the Soddy Daisy department for four years, suffered cardiac arrest in late July. Mr. Smith told the room that the last thing he remembered thinking when he realized something was wrong, was “Oh, no”.
After he collapsed, he said heroes then went to work. First, his wife started CPR. Police were already next door to the store where the incident happened, and firemen were in cars close by so they all got to him quickly. Soddy Daisy was also in contact with Hamilton County Emergency Services responders who rapidly arrived on the scene and helped saved his life. He said that he had performed CPR 33 times and it was one of those things he had never considered he might need himself. City Manager Hardie Stulce added that the responders get credit for saving a life, but that it all starts with the 911 dispatchers that must get and relay good information.
In his report to the commissioners, Mr. Stulce read City Attorney Sam Elliot’s opinion of an issue that a resident brought up at the last meeting. The resident said that minutes from the previous commission meeting should be read and citizens should be allowed to discuss them before the board votes to pass them. After researching the matter, Attorney Elliott confirmed that the city code does not specify that be done. He also defined the council meeting as being between the five members of the commission except for the section of the meeting devoted to citizen participation.
Next Monday from 6-8 p.m., there will be a meeting at the Soddy Daisy High School cafeteria of the Hamilton County regional planning commission. A regional transportation plan is updated every five years and it requires citizen participation. It will seek input on how Hamilton County and federal tax dollars are spent on transportation specific to the Soddy Daisy area. This plan includes highways and roads as well as greenways, and trails. The city manager urged residents to come to the meeting and take part in the conversation.
On Nov. 8, the city will have a Veteran’s Day celebration at 9 a.m. Mr. Stulce said there will be refreshments and that everyone is invited.
Because it is election time, a lot of misinformation is going around, said Mr. Stulce. He asked City Recorder Burt Johnson who is the city’s CFO, to present the town’s financial status. The board was told that as of today, Soddy Daisy has $1,291,000. in reserve. The various departments have held spending down and average expenditures of 25 percent of their budgets for the year to date, said Mr. Johnson. Mayor Adams added that $100,000 was paid for paving roadways last week, and the city has bought a lot of equipment and vehicles during this year. The city owes nothing. A grant of $185,000 has been procured from the state to upgrade Holly Park in two phases. The city will need to match that amount; however, it is already planned for in the budget. There should be $1,350,000. on hand going into the next fiscal year, reported Mr. Johnson. Mayor Adams stated, “We’re in a heck of a good shape now.”
The commissioners held a public hearing and first reading to create an ordinance to extend a portion of Brumlow Hollow Road as a publicly dedicated city street. No citizen was present to comment on the action, which will affect six or seven residences. The commissioners voted to approve on first reading.
During the citizen participation segment of the meeting, a resident came to the meeting to announce that Daisy Lodge 706 is having a barbecue Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help fund a scholarship for the high school. Another event on Saturday, Oct. 27, will be a “wall ceremony” to honor veterans. It was requested that no politics be involved in this event, even though it is election time.
The next meeting of the Soddy Daisy Commission will be on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.
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