Soddy Daisy Honors Jim Adams For Years Of Service; City Has Over $1 Million In Building Permits In 3 Months

The Soddy Daisy commissioners surprised one of their own Thursday night with a resolution honoring Vice Mayor Jim Adams. The entrance to the Big Soddy Creek Gulf was officially named “Jim Adams Wilderness Walkway.” The honor was bestowed on Mr. Adams at the suggestion of Hardie Stulce, past city manager of Soddy Daisy. Mr. Stulce said that when the city first started talking about the purchase, even with many unanswered questions about how it could happen, Mr.

Adams said, "That is the kind of thing that we need to do. It’s a no brainer.” Mr. Stulce said, "He led the way to making it happen."

 

Vice Mayor Adams has been a city leader and an advocate for Soddy Daisy for 20 years, and has served the city the longest of any citizen, holding multiple elected positions over the years. He has been known for working to establish trails and wilderness areas in the city and was instrumental in establishing the Rails to Trails and the Walkway at Holly Park among other outdoor recreational areas.

 

Mr. Adams said the honor meant a lot to him because he grew up there and has memories of many good times at the place that is now a city park.

 

Soddy Daisy received a very good yearly audit report for 2017-2018 from CPA Brian Wright from the firm Johnson, Murphey and Wright P.C.  He told the commissioners that the city is in excellent shape financially. Grants received during the year did much good for the citizens of Soddy Daisy, he said, and there is a substantial amount of money left for the future. The city received an unmodified opinion, the best you can get, he said. City Attorney Sam Elliott said the city is basically a $10 million business, but there are many governmental standards that apply. City Manager Janice Cagle and the department heads have done a great job, he said.

 

Commissioner Gene Shipley said he had to brag about the city again because growth is continuing. In the past three months, over $1 million in building permits have been issued. He announced a fundraiser for a new building on Sequoyah Road for the Vietnam Veterans of Soddy Daisy. The dinner/auction will be held on Jan. 23 at Charley’s Restaurant. Congressman Chuck Fleischmann will be the speaker.

 

Christmas at Poe’s Tavern along with the Christmas Parade on Dec. 2 was another success, said the mayor. Best of the Best winners of the parade were Soddy Daisy Health Care Center in the business category and Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians in the school category.

 

The commissioners voted to give City Manager Cagle approval to purchase asphalt for paving and road repairs in the amount of $29,969, which was determined through a bid process.

 

The ad agency Kelcurt Media is doing photographs and videos on behalf of Soddy Daisy to help promote the city. It was reported to the commissioners that the films and photos made at the city’s Christmas celebration are now on Facebook and the website “Soddy Daisy Living.” The city is trying to get the word out about how great it is to live in Soddy Daisy, officials said.