Soddy Daisy Commissioner Rick Nunley said the city has been approached by residents who would like Poe’s Tavern to be open for public use. The idea is to furnish it with time appropriate furniture and have tours with a historian. The goal is to open Poe’s Tavern in conjunction with the Soddy Daisy farmer’s market in May. Any work needed would be done by volunteers.
The 50th anniversary of Soddy Daisy’s founding is this year.
Commissioner Jim Adams got the celebration preparations started Thursday night by suggesting the creation of a committee of five citizens to develop the program. It was decided that each commissioner would appoint one member to the committee. A tentative date for the celebration is Sept. 28.
Permission was given for a revival being organized by seven Baptist churches and 10 pastors past and present to be held at Veteran’s Park from June 2 to June 8. The group will be responsible for the tent, stage, equipment and any damage. Attorney Elliott said that it would be permissible as long as the city does not help or hinder religion. Other organizations such as schools, veterans associations or other churches will have to be allowed to hold events, he said. The revival will be allowed on the condition that the group secures insurance to remove any liability from the city.
Soddy Daisy adopted the 2015 edition of the International Fire Code and the 2015 edition of the National Fire Protection Agency101 Life Safety Code at the Thursday night commission meeting. The 2015 version meshes with the city’s building codes. City Attorney Sam Elliott said the city must implement codes that are within seven years of the present date.
The fire department will be the beneficiary of purchases approved by the commissioners Thursday night. Bids have been received for the purchase of eight to 10 sets of turnout gear. With the recommendation from the fire department; the best bid was accepted at the cost of $15,792. This equipment was a budgeted item.
Approval was also given to buy an industrial washing machine for the fire department. The best bid for this item was $8,565 which includes installation. This, too, was planned for in the current budget.
New equipment was also budgeted for the public works department. Authorization was given to buy a new Bobcat for the cost of $61,000.
The contract with Everbridge, the emergency alert company used by Soddy Daisy which notifies citizens by phone of dangers or disasters, is up for renewal. The commission approved the renewal for $8,500, which is the same price it has been in past years.
The city’s comprehensive purchasing policy was amended. Until now, the city manager was allowed to spend up to $5,000. With the change, the amount was increased to $10,000 without coming to the council for approval.
With a second and final vote, the commission abandoned a portion of the right-of-way on the west side of Dayton Pike that is parallel to 12193 Dayton Pike. This will allow commercial development along that portion of the road.
Two intersections on Thrasher Pike have residents of the area concerned. Two of them came to the commission meeting to get support from the city officials. One intersection is Thrasher Pike and Gann Road, and the other is Thrasher Pike and Harper Road. A resident who lives at the intersection of Thrasher and Harper said in the four years she has lived in the house there have been six wrecks with cars ending up in her front yard. She suggested changing the configuration of that intersection from a triangle with stop signs to a roundabout, which might slow down cars and prevent some of the wrecks. She said that the community is getting involved for public safety. City Manager Janice Cagle said she has already been in contact with Hamilton County about the concerns, but has not yet gotten a response. The police will set up speed signs in the area in the coming week.