Soddy Daisy Reaches Settlement With Former Police Chief On Lawsuit

  • Friday, September 4, 2015
  • Gail Perry

The Soddy Daisy Commission acting on the recommendation from City Attorney Sam Elliott, voted to accept the decision made during mediation regarding a lawsuit against the city. City Manager Janice Cagle and attorney Elliott attended a day-long mediation concerning that lawsuit against the city brought by former police chief David Loftis claiming wrongful termination. While the city continues to maintain that legitimate issues led to the dismissal, Mr. Elliott said consideration should be made on how time is spent and the costs that the city would incur to continue the litigation that has already been going on for five years. To settle the dispute is a business decision, he told the board.

The city is not insured for judgments, but insurance will provide defense costs as well as kicking in additional money in order to reduce the risk of losing more if the judgment ends up being against the city with a jury trial. The TML will pay $30,000 and Soddy Daisy will pay $90,000 to settle the case. Mr. Loftis was demanding multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars from the city, said Mr. Elliott. 

In the city manager’s report, Janice Cagle first thanked the fire and police department for work they did contributing  to the search for two young children and their dog. On Tuesday night a four and seven year old disappeared from their porch on Soddy Mountain. The Soddy Daisy police and fire department employees, even if off-duty, along with city council members helped with the search during the night. They were joined by fire, police and rescue personnel from many surrounding communities. The children were found being led by the dog, the following day by a utility worker.

Ms. Cagle also reported on the cost for repaving Durham Street which came to $7,828. The cost for the asphalt itself was another $26,827. Additional paving may be done if sufficient funds assigned to paving remain.

A vote by the commissioners was in favor of trading in an old vehicle with high mileage that requires a lot of maintenance, for a new Ford Escape for $27, 805.  Money for the purchase will come entirely from the drug fund.

Also announced were dates for the condemnation hearings that will be conducted by the city. Ms. Cagle said the first meeting is scheduled for Sept. 17. Three or four properties will be dealt with at a time. As of now, the second meeting is scheduled to take place prior to the regular commission meeting on Sept. 22. And on Oct. 22 another hearing will be held. All condemnation hearings will take place at 6 p.m.  More information will be available on the city’s website. The first hearing will be for Green Gables, said the mayor.

Commissioners voted to accept an extension of Cox Lane as a publicly dedicated city road. The road will become a city street beyond the point where it crosses the railroad tracks.

Discussion took place regarding conditions of some city roads that are above sewer lines. Commissioner Robert Cothran said he would like the WWTA to be held responsible for maintaining the lines that were built after the sewer system was turned over to the WWTA. There are multiple locations where water undermines gravel where the sewer lines have been placed. This causes manholes to sink and it is speculated that causes cracks and leaks in the lines and problems with the roads. City recorder Burt Johnson will research minutes from the meetings in 2006 -2007, when the transactions took place, to document what conditions were agreed upon.

A resolution was passed by the board to formally oppose the redistribution of state shared sales taxes. It was noted that Red Bank has already passed a similar resolution. Ms. Cagle said that Mayor Coppinger is attempting to get a portion of the sales taxes that are now divided among cities. She said this would take away $300,000 yearly that is given to Soddy Daisy. In Coppinger’s proposal, that money would instead, go to Hamilton County’s general fund with no use specified. She said that the city currently pays $8 million in property and school taxes to the county each year. She said she feels that is sufficient for the services the city receives. It is expected that other municipalities in Hamilton County will also pass resolutions to protest the change. 

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