An ordinance that is meant to clean up trailer parks and raise the quality of life of people who live in them passed on second and final reading at the Tuesday night meeting of Soddy Daisy’s commission.
Three years ago, an ordinance was passed for this purpose, but the new law will not take effect until May 1, 2018. That timing was planned so owners would have time to transition into the new law pertaining to mobile homes that are owned and leased by the trailer park where they are parked.
Mobile homes that are older than 28 years must be replaced with newer ones, and there are requirements for the age of those replacements.
The new ordinance also regulates the age of trailers that are newly located in a trailer park. In the three years since the original ordinance was passed, some Tennessee laws have changed that required adjustments being made to the Soddy Daisy ordinance. The changes were made so that, when it takes effect, the ordinance will be compliant with all state laws. The new regulations will not apply to individually-owned trailers.
The commissioners passed a resolution to begin the process of updating the Soddy Daisy municipal code, which is done about every 10 years, said City Manager Janice Cagle. The city will request that the Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) codify ordinances that have been added or changed into a format where information can be easily found. MTAS provides technical advice to cities and towns across Tennessee and assists them with municipal management projects.
The city is waiting to get the final blueprints for Soddy Daisy Fire Hall #3. Public Works Director Steve Grant and Fire Chief Mike Guffey have met with the architect to make minor changes involving dirt works and drainage. The city manager said that the cost has come in at over $2 million and that an attempt is being made to get the cost down. The old fire hall next to Veterans Park will be razed and replaced with this new one.
Ms. Cagle also received approval for paying a tree service close to $7,000 for the removal of some dangerous trees on the city’s right-of-ways around schools and for the cost of repairs necessary for police vehicles during the past month. The commission also approved exercising the option for another three-year contract with Priority Waste to provide garbage service to the citizens of Soddy Daisy.
Mayor Robert Cothran and Commissioner Geno Shipley thanked the citizens of Soddy Daisy for the successful fundraising dinner held for the Soddy Daisy Veteran’s Foundation. Over $13,000 was raised, which will be used for the new building that is now under construction on Sequoyah Road. It will be for the use of all veterans. It will be used for meetings and dinners and will provide a place for veterans to get help in receiving the benefits that they have earned, said the mayor.
In addition to the money raised, he said one company donated bricks for the front of the building and another donated the mortar and sand. The donation of a flag pole has also been made. “It didn’t stop at the fundraiser,” he said. Commissioner Shipley said that Larry Hill Ford is donating an automobile that will be raffled off. The drawing will be held at the city’s Fourth of July celebration and proceeds will go straight to the veterans, he said.
Commissioner Shipley also urges community members to share ideas for growing the city’s annual Fourth of July celebration and making it better. It has been pretty much the same for the last 45 years, he said. He would like for the park to be filled all day long, not just for the fireworks.
Resident Ellen Ferrell, a member of the board of directors for the Soddy Daisy Trojans Lacrosse, came to the commission meeting asking for help in finding a field for the teams to use for practices and games. This program has teams for high school age players, grades nine through 12, a middle school team for sixth to eighth grade, and a 12 to University team.
No support is received from the schools because it operates as a club program and the players are actively looking for opportunities to raise funds, she said. Team players are also looking for community involvement projects, said Ms. Ferrell.
The commissioners offered several ideas about playing fields that may be available and suggested that the lacrosse club set up a booth at the city’s Fourth of July party to publicize the teams.