posted December 1, 2008
Signal Mountain Town Council members discussed items ranging from the dangerous road up the mountain to a proposed fowl ordinance at a special meeting Monday morning.
Town Manager Honna Rogers updated the council about a recent meeting that she and Mayor Bill Lusk had with Transportation Planning Organization Director Melissa Taylor.
Ms. Rogers informed the council that according to studies, Highway 127 up the mountain is one of the top five most dangerous roads in the state of Tennessee.
Mayor Bill Lusk said the section of Highway 127 up the mountain has an “A” rating and a score above 500, which puts it in the “High-A: Very High Risk” rock fall site category. He said the road is "one of the 35 highest scoring sites for rock fall risk along state responsible roadways.” This is a direct quote from TDOT’s March 2007 Preliminary Geotechnical Assessment on the highway.
Ms. Rogers said the town of Signal Mountain will have to wait three to four years to get projects included in the Transportation Improvement Program, but Ms. Taylor said that if safety is a real issue that Signal Mountain officials should approach the state with their concerns.
Ms. Rogers also reported on the meeting with Ms. Taylor that Signal Mountain is eligible to apply for bike and pedestrian path grants and that the Safe Routes To School program was approved last month.
Ms. Rogers said Ms. Taylor informed them that Signal Mountain could lose its funding for public sidewalks if the sidewalks are not completed by September 2009. Signal Mountain was awarded an 80.20 grant from the state. The council discussed approving $50,000 to go towards the project so that the city will not lose the state funding.
The council voted to pass changes in the Signal Mountain beer ordinance on a second reading.
Officer Scott Ogrodowczyk was introduced to the council as the newest policeman for Signal Mountain. The Signal Mountain force is now at full capacity.
The council discussed the Signal Mountain Golf and Country Club's beer permit, which lapsed at some point and has never been renewed. The council discussed renewing the permit and wanted to make sure that the club is paying taxes on the alcohol and that the club complies with rules that require that no schools or churches can be within 500 feet of the establishment.
The council also discussed board reappointments that will come up at the end of 2008. Members of many of the boards will be stepping down in 2008, and the board also discussed potential candidates to fill those positions.
The council discussed several of the boards. Councilwoman Annette Allen suggested she would like to see the Parks Board meet more often than the scheduled four times per year, in the hopes that the board could get more work done.
Councilwoman Susan Robertson stated that she would like to see a commercial development expert - either a retired developer or a commercial realtor - who could serve in some capacity on the DRC board or as a consultant for the DRC board since the DRC board will now potentially be making more commercial decisions in Signal Mountain.
The council discussed a proposed package store ordinance and the requirements that would be written into the ordinance.
The council also discussed reviewing and updating the sign ordinance. The council agreed to refer the ordinance to the Design Review Commission board to review, and agreed to provide the DRC board with examples from other cities, such as Hilton Head and Germantown, to see what has been successful.
The council also agreed that a fowl ordinance should be written up for consideration. The council referred to a request from a Signal Mountain resident requesting the ordinance. Councilman Paul Hendricks said he has received a lot of positive input about the ordinance from residents.
Councilwoman Allen spoke about septic tank education and suggested the council start a special committee to develop a three-pronged approach to educating Signal Mountain residents about septic tanks. She suggested that officials work with the WWTA and its 60/40 plan.
The council also discussed a request to change an ordinance that outlaws climbing within Signal Mountain. The council agreed to invite interested parties to come speak to the council about where climbing could potentially happen and how to make it safe.
The council confirmed Jan. 9-10 for its strategic planning session.
Councilwoman Robertson, on behalf of the tree board, asked each councilperson to donate $25 each to plant three dogwoods in front of town hall. The dogwoods will be used as an example for residents who are interested in purchasing an "honor tree" in Signal Mountain. Honor trees will be $175 per person, which will include the cost of the tree, planting the tree, and a plaque that will state who the tree is honoring.
The council also discussed John Stagmaier of Rock Tenn's request to change the pricing structure for aluminum so that it is the same as the pricing structure for scrap metal. Mr. Stagmaier requested that his company receive 55% of the cost of aluminum from the recycling center. Mr. Stagmaier's company currently hauls all mixed paper, scrap metal, and aluminum from the Signal Mountain recycling center.
| Dining Out | Business | Movies | Focus | About Us |
| Church | Living Well | Memories | Outdoors | Real Estate | Student Scene | Travel |
