“We’re moving in the right direction,” said Commissioner Gene Shipley when reporting that during the month of September, Soddy Daisy issued a little over $1.5 million in building permits, mostly residential construction or remodels.
The commissioners also gave final approval for rezoning a combination of properties at 12050 Dayton Pike to R-1 Single Family Residential. The properties previously had been zoned for apartments, townhouses, local business, and single family. The rezoning will allow for a new subdivision of 35 houses that is being developed by Williams Hedgecoth.
An ordinance relating to travel trailers and the amount of time they can be parked and lived in was amended for clarification.
Wording in the previous version could have been considered ambiguous, City Attorney Sam Elliott said. In a period of one year, a travel trailer can be lived in for only two 90-day periods.
The Soddy Daisy air pollution control ordinance was revised Thursday night concerning ambient air quality standards. The change will primarily mean a small increase in individual permit fees, said Attorney Elliott.
The issue of roads within Soddy Daisy was a topic discussed at the meeting. Commissioner Shipley thanked City Manager Janice Cagle, Public Works Director Steve Grant and Rep. Patsy Hazelwood for their work to make the state of Tennessee recognize their ownership of Back Valley Road, which led the state to repave and patch it, said the commissioner.
Commissioner Max Lowe expressed concern about speeding, in particular along Springfield Road. Recognizing that speed bumps are not the answer, he suggested painting lines and stop signs on the street at the intersection of Springfield and West Walden for increased visibility. He said there are both pedestrians and bikers that use the road, and slowing cars would help the neighborhood. If painted signs on the street do not help, possibly rumble strips could be added, said Vice Mayor Jim Adams. “They’ll make you think,” he said.
A vote gave approval to apply for the Tennessee Municipal League (TML) Risk management Pool’s Driver Safety Grant. Soddy Daisy applies for this grant every year, said the city manager. It is a 50/50 matching grant. If received, $1,250 will be received from TML and the city will match that amount. The money will be used to buy back-up cameras for fire vehicles.
Ms. Cagle introduced Bridgett Raper, the new communications strategist who will represent Soddy Daisy’s and the small cities coalition in Hamilton County. She will act for the municipalities at the county and state level when an issue being considered would affect the small cities.