Growth is taking place in Soddy Daisy as evidenced by the number of building permits that are being issued.
“I want to brag on the city’s growth, with $2 million this month in building permits,” said Commissioner Gene Shipley, at the commission meeting Thursday night. And, in each of the last three months there has been over $1 million in permits issued. In August new residences and remodeling made up the majority of projects that were permitted, including re-roofing Soddy Daisy Middle School.
Roadwork is also underway. The commissioners gave permission to Public Works Director Steve Grant to begin repaving six streets that are in the most need of repair. These include Barbee, Viewmont, Walden Meadowview (off Dayton) and Holland Johnson for a total of almost four miles. The cost for these roads will be $390,133 - almost $100,000 per mile. If there is money left when those are done, work may be done on other roads. Vice Mayor Jim Adams made the motion which passed “to spend the money budgeted for paving til we run out.” Water lines are being put along Card Road in order to install fire hydrants and, when they are in, that road is on the list to be repaved.
Plans are to start the paving once repairs have been made to Friendship Lane to deter flooding problems to residences that have occurred since work on Dayton Pike began last year. That caused the velocity of stormwater runoff to increase during unusually heavy rain events, it was stated. Mr. Grant said all but one letter giving the city permission to do the work in their yards has been signed, and on Friday sawing driveways and taking down fences will be started. Improving the drainage will begin next week.
City Manager Janice Cagle also got approval to put two new solar-powered traffic lights in the almost-mile-long school zone on Sequoyah Road between Daisy Elementary School and the Soddy Daisy High School. Cars slow down when they enter the zone, but because it is such a long distance they pick up speed before getting through it. The new lights are an effort to keep the speed down, said Commissioner Shipley. The cost to install them will be $7,306. This was not budgeted, but Mr. Grant told the commissioners that the money can be found.
On Saturday an event will be held in Soddy Daisy to honor First Responders. It will take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Poe’s Tavern, said Mayor Robert Cothran. The Veteran’s building on Sequoyah Road will also be hosting an open house that day, with the public invited.