Fire Chief Mike Guffey told the Soddy Daisy Commissioners that the fire department has been awarded an Assistance to Firefighters Grant for $303,000. The money will be used to buy Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for the department. The packs, that cost $5,800 each, were scheduled to be replaced this year because they have a shelf life that was close to expiring. The cost of the equipment was planned for in the 2017 budget. Since they will now be replaced by using the grant money, there is $75,000 available that will not be used for the equipment.
Vice Mayor Patti Skates made a motion to put that amount in the account for building a new fire hall #3, but the motion died for a lack of a second.
City Manager Janice Cagle also asked for and received approval for the emergency purchase she made for 10 sets of turn-out gear for $18,770 to replace the ones that were recently damaged while fighting a fire at a cabinet shop that used extremely flammable materials. Additionally, Ms. Cagle said that she has also ordered boots and gloves and other equipment to replace what was lost during the same fire. The money will be reimbursed to Soddy Daisy by its insurance company.
The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 942 in partnership with the city of Soddy Daisy is raising funds for U.S. veteran flood victims in Baton Rouge, La. On Wednesday, a fundraiser/prayer vigil will be held at Veterans Park from 6 to 8 p.m. Commissioner Robert Cothran asks for people who come to bring cleaning supplies and donations of money. He said they do not want bottled water, food or clothing. Contributions can also be made by calling city hall or the Soddy Daisy police department anytime 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Checks should be made out to Soddy Daisy Vietnam Veterans Foundation and are tax deductible.
Every penny collected will go to people in Baton Rouge, he said. The local veterans organization will be taking care of the expenses related to going to Louisiana to help and deliver the goods and money. If the $20,000 goal is met, the plan is to give 40 of the neediest families, each $500 to buy building supplies.
In regular business, the commissioners voted to extend the Hamilton County water quality interlocal agreement between the city of Soddy Daisy and the county and state of Tennessee. This agreement addresses the minimum requirements for stormwater pollution control established by the EPA. This is something the city must agree to each year, said the city manager.
The commissioners also approved an ordinance that renews a contract with the Middle Tennessee Natural Gas Utility District to allow use of streets within Soddy Daisy’s corporate limits for maintaining, repairing and selling gas energy delivered through its distribution system.
On second and final reading, property located at 326 Durham St. was rezoned from C-2 Local Business District to R-2 Urban Residential District to allow for a house to be built on the lot.
The Punkin Fest is scheduled for Oct. 1. Vendors have already begun to sign up for the event, said Commissioner Cothran. This year there will be no marathon associated with the festival.