An increase in housing will soon be taking place in Soddy Daisy. Two different developers have purchased property to build homes. At the commission meeting Thursday night, tracts of land located at 12086 and 12088 Dayton Pike were zoned R-1 Single Family Residential in the back of the property and C-2 Local Business along Dayton Pike. This is the location of a building that has held several bars in the past but is now vacant. Two commercial lots will be left in front and a subdivision of single family houses is planned behind them.
Another tract of land at 10623 Dayton Pike was also approved for housing. This is property near the post office that is locally known as “the chicken farm.” It has recently been purchased and was rezoned Thursday night to R-T/Z, Zero Lot Line District and will be used for a community of townhomes. The front of this land will be used for commercial development and was rezoned to C-2 Local Business.
Soddy Daisy has added a new chapter to its municipal code by adopting “fire prevention rapid entry requirements.” Fire Chief Mike Guffy told the commissioners that fire safety would be enhanced with the new code which consists of businesses having a lockable key box with the only key being held by the Soddy Daisy Fire Department. All schools, public or private, all new businesses with sprinklers or fire alarms, and all health care facilities and nursing homes will be required to have a lock box. If a business is open 24 hours a day, it will not be required to participate in the plan. There has been no resistance so far, said the chief.
In the event of an emergency, real or perceived, the fire department would have quick access to a building and at the same time would minimize damage that could be caused by breaking down doors and windows to get inside to assess the problem. Chief Guffy said the box will cost a business $305, but a commercial door can cost $3,000. If a door must be torn down the cost would be far greater than the preventive measure, he said. Another example of a benefit is that the fire department could also stop damage and flooding caused by sprinklers if they are activated for a reason other than a fire. He added that this should also help with insurance rates. The new policy was approved unanimously on first reading.
Money for buying air packs for the firefighters had been in the budget, but they ended up being funded with a grant instead. Chief Guffey received permission from the commissioners to use around $2,000 of the savings to buy lock boxes to keep in each fire engine that will hold the keys to open the lock boxes at the businesses. The devices will keep a data trail of entry each time a key is used.
Discussion took place about the intersection of Gann Road and Thrasher Pike, which is considered dangerous by city officials and the public. City Manager Janice Cagle said that Hamilton County is getting ready to do a traffic study at the site. Mayor Rick Nunley said he has also spoken to Soddy Daisy’s representative to the Hamilton County Commission about it, in hopes of getting something done.
This is the last Soddy Daisy Commission meeting before the election where two long-time members are on the ballot. Gene Shipley, who has been on the commission for 12 years, told the room that he plans on being back, but if he does not win he would like everyone to know that it has been an honor for him to serve the city for all those years.
Commissioner Jim Adams is currently in his sixth term, having been on the commission for the last 22 years. He said that this group of commissioners has been a very good board and that the city is now in excellent financial shape. He said he would be appreciative of everyone’s support in the upcoming election.
In his last official meeting as mayor, Rick Nunley said that it had been an honor to have served in that position for the last two and a half years. He will continue as a commissioner. After receiving praise for the job he has done, Mr. Nunley said that it had been easy to be mayor with this group of board members.