There is a problem in one area of Soddy Lake that is out of the jurisdiction of the city of Soddy Daisy. Caused by flooding at the end of September 2018, a lot of debris washed into the lake and collected in the area between State Highway 27 and Dayton Pike in the area known locally as Soddy Embankment. In that area, which is always shallow, just one foot deep in some places, there is a path almost 200 feet wide now filled with dangerous pieces of jagged metal, wood and other materials that have accumulated. The trash lies just below the surface and cannot be seen from above. With the temperatures warming and people increasingly using the lake, there is a real fear that jet skiers, boaters and children being pulled on inner tubes could be seriously hurt if they run into the rubbish.
Mayor Gene Shipley said the city has made every effort to clean out that space but has been unable to. The water level never has dropped low enough because of the huge amount of rain this winter and spring. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is responsible for cleaning it up and keeping people safe, he said. Officials from the city have met with representatives from TWRA to ask for help by putting up buoys as markers and signs of warning until they are able to get rid of the debris. In the meantime, the mayor is asking to get the word out through social media about staying away from the dangerous area.
A public hearing was held at the commission meeting Thursday night about an amendment to the city code that will allow beer sales every day of the week, 24 hours a day. Just one resident of Soddy Daisy spoke saying he was in opposition and asking instead for the city to allow no alcohol sales at all. The commissioners voted five to one to change the law. The state controls the sale of wine and spirits and has made changes to times that is allowed. The new hours approved for beer sales will match those for alcohol and will reduce confusion by retailers who sell both.
City Manager Janice Cagle received approval from the commissioners for several expenditures including $24,400 for a contract with Johnson, Murphy and Wright for yearly auditing services. The public works department has paved several roads and payments of $27,465 for labor and $64,040 for materials to pay for the work was authorized. Some fire hydrants in Soddy Daisy were originally installed in the 1940s and parts are no longer available to repair them. There are 10 hydrants that are scheduled to be replaced this year. Only one bid was received for $23,500. These were planned for in the budget, said Recorder Burt Johnson.
A solution is being sought for speeding cars that several commissioners routinely hear complaints about. Commissioner Rick Nunley said that the city has tried using rumble strips, posting signs, putting up speed displays that show how fast a car is traveling and giving tickets, but he said, "We are not getting anywhere." He asked the commissioners to consider enhancing existing rumble strips and adding new ones.
City Manager Cagle questioned that being the answer, because she said, where they have been used in the past, people living nearby call and wanted them removed. The people that are speeding most often are residents who live in the neighborhood where they are stopped, she said. The possibility of putting in speed humps was also discussed. City Attorney Sam Elliott said the city has been advised that its insurer considers them to be a liability. He suggested talking to the liability carrier for their advice.