The first reading of the budget for fiscal year 2016-2017 took place Thursday night at the Soddy Daisy Commission meeting with the property tax remaining the same at $1.3524 per $100 of assessed valuation.
City Manager Janice Cagle said the budget is conservative because the city is waiting to see the actual cost of a major road widening project that will take place this year.
Built into the plan is a one and a half percent pay raise for employees. A public hearing and second and final reading of the budget will take place at the next commission meeting on June 2.
For the past couple of months, the commissioners have been considering eliminating the minimum lot size which is now a requirement for single-family houses. The intent is to be able to build smaller homes with low maintenance lots. The ordinance which would have allowed the reduction would have applied to all property in the city. The planning commission recommended against the change and so did the commissioners when the proposal was rejected in a unanimous vote.
They did, however, vote to allow the lot sizes for duplexes to be reduced from the current 18,000 to 13,000 square feet for property that uses septic tanks. It was noted that the health department rules would provide the needed controls.
Property at 11130 Dayton Pike where Hixson Pike intersects the road was approved for rezoning from C-3 General Business District, TCM Tourist Court and Motel district and R-2A Rural Residential District to be all C-3. This was by the request of the owners. The plan for an end use has not yet been revealed, but the rezoning was approved by the planning commission before being sent to the commissioners.
Vandalism has become a big problem at all of Soddy Daisy’s parks. The bathrooms have been targeted at each location. The city had installed cameras at the North Park, but they were stolen. New security systems are now being investigated, said the city manager.
Ms. Cagle also updated the commissioners on demolition of the Green Gables Motel and Trailer Park. Four bids were received for the work, the lowest being $38,750. Everything on the property will be removed, she said. Commissioner Gene Shipley was concerned that the city will be investing a lot of money and at the same time will be removing the property from the tax roll. City Attorney Sam Elliott said that when it is sold, the new owner would have to re-pay the city in order to get a clear title to the land.
Commissioner Shipley, the city’s representative to the water board, would like citizens of Soddy Daisy to let the water board know if they want fluoride in the water. He attended a meeting where he said only five out of 50 people opposed it for fear of health reasons or because of cost. People would need to get fluoride treatments from a dentist if it is not available in the water.
Building pickle ball courts was suggested by Commissioner Shipley, who said they could be easily and cheaply built on tennis courts that are no longer usable. Public Works Director Steve Grant will determine exactly what would be involved in the conversion and what the cost would be before any work is done.