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published on 09/13/2002
Official Minutes, August 12th Town Council Meeting
By
Town Recorder
The Town Council of the Town of Signal Mountain held its regular monthly meeting on Monday, August 12, 2002, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Hall. Those present were:
Mayor James H. Althaus
Vice-Mayor Robert E. Steel, Jr.
Councilmember Rachel Bryant
Councilmember Stephen Ruffin
Councilmember William C. Steele, Jr.
Also present:
Town Manager Hershel Dick
Town Recorder Diana Campbell
Town Attorney Phil Noblett
Police Officer Greg Hill
See list at bottom for additional people
The Mayor called the meeting to order and briefly explained that the Council would switch from the Town Council to the Beer Board and convene a Beer Board meeting. He explained the Council is the Town’s Beer Board. He introduced Lori Everett, Court Reporter, who would be making a transcript of the proceedings. He further explained that the Council meeting would also be switched to a Public Hearing for a stormwater utility ordinance. Councilmember Steele offered the prayer. The Recorder called the roll.
Vice-Mayor Steel made a motion to approve the minutes of the July 8, 2002, regular meeting. Councilmember Steele seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
BEER BOARD CONVENED
The Mayor asked Officer Hill to come forward and explain to the Beer Board the necessity of convening the Beer Board. Officer Hill explained that on June 20, 2002, he conducted an operation with assistance from MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) to have an underage person attempt to purchase beer from five locations in the Town. Those places were Signal Mountain Market, Favorite Market, Pruett’s, Top of the Mountain, and the Pasteria. He informed the Board that the underage person was able to purchase beer at three of the locations, Pruett’s, Top of the Mountain, and Pasteria. He presented copies of the incident reports, copies of the underage persons’ driver’s license and a picture of the underage individuals. The Board then took up the case of each institution in alphabetical order with no one present representing Pasteria, Glen Broom and Marty Pruett’s representing Pruett’s, and Bill Woodcock representing the Top of the Mountain.
The proceeding resulted in the following actions and votes:
Pasteria – Councilmember Bryant made a motion to impose a fine of $500.00 with a probation of six months and the Town would donate the fine to Mountain Education. Councilmember Ruffin seconded the motion. The votes in favor were Mayor Althaus, Councilmember Bryant, Councilmember Ruffin, and Councilmember Steele. Vice-Mayor Steel abstained.
Pruett’s – Councilmember Steele made a motion to impose a fine of $500.00 with a probation of 12 months and the money would be donated to Mountain Education. It was noted in the discussion that this had been Pruett’s second offense. The votes in favor were Mayor Althaus, Vice-Mayor Steel, and Councilmember Steele. Councilmember Bryant and Councilmember Ruffin opposed.
Top of the Mountain – Councilmember Bryant made a motion to impose a fine of $500.00 with a probation of six months and the money would be donated to the D.A.R.E. program. The votes in favor were Mayor Althaus, Councilmember Bryant, Councilmember Ruffin, and Councilmember Steele. Vice-Mayor Steel abstained.
BEER BOARD RECESSED
The Pruett’s representative then informed the Council that they would voluntarily make a $500.00 contribution to the Town for the D.A.R.E. program.
PUBLIC HEARING
The Mayor briefly explained the public hearing was being held to allow citizens to ask questions or make comments on the proposed “STORMWATER UTILITY ORDINANCE.” The Town Manager explained that the Town was conducting this second public hearing to comply with the State’s requirement to publish a notice 30 days before the public hearing. The Mayor, Town Manager, and Town Attorney answered questions from the citizens and Councilmembers and presented information.
PUBLIC HEARING COMPLETED
Councilmember Steele made a motion to approve the “STORMWATER UTILITY ORDINANCE” on Second Reading. Vice-Mayor Steel seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
The first resolution before the Council was a “RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND TOWN MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE HAMILTON COUNTY WASTEWATER TREATMENT AUTHORITY TO JOIN THE TOWN’S WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM TO THE AUTHORITY.” The Town Attorney pointed out there were some additional changes to the agreement with the
Hamilton County Waste Water Treatment Authority (WWTA). He noted the Councilmembers had been given a draft of an agreement dated August 8, 2002. He explained that there had been a meeting with the Town and a member of the WWTA earlier in the day and there were some changes to the August 8 draft. He recommended the Council pass the resolution to authorize the Town Manager and Mayor to enter into the agreement when the additional changes and a final version were completed.
Mr. Henry Hoss, representing the WWTA, addressed the Council. He discussed the wording changes in the agreement with the Council. Mr. Hoss requested the wording be changed in Section 3C regarding Town approval on projects. After a brief discussion, the Town Attorney suggested the agreement be changed to add the following, “Any proposed sewer project affecting more than 20 existing households as of August 31, 2002, which requires the residents to contribute to the cost of construction shall only be constructed after the approval of the Signal Mountain Town Council and the Board.”
Next, the Council discussed a change to Section 5 regarding rates. It was agreed the wording would be added as follows: “The parties agree that any increase in rates shall be implemented, if necessary, so that any customer rate increase shall not exceed a 10 percent increase through August 31, 2005.”
The Town Attorney next pointed out a minor revision to Section 10 on Reversion. He explained the Town would be transferring the system free and clear and in the event the WWTA went out of business, the Town would have the right to transfer and accept the facilities that had been transferred to the WWTA at the same cost at the time of the assumption by WWTA.
The Town Attorney explained there was a slight change under the billing section to add wording to determine how any dispute that may arise in billing would be resolved.
The Town Attorney noted that there had been an agreement with St. Ives worked out.
Councilmember Ruffin made a motion to pass the resolution to authorize the Mayor and Town Manager to enter into the agreement with the WWTA as discussed that evening. Vice-Mayor Steel seconded the motion. The resolution passed unanimously.
The next resolution before the Council was “A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO PURCHASE ONE (1) 2002 CHEVROLET 4WD BLAZER, FROM BILL HEARD CHEVROLET, #CT1056 ON STATE CONTRACT, IN THE AMOUNT OF TWENTY-ONE THOUSAND SEVENTY-SEVEN AND 00/100 ($21,077.00) DOLLARS TO BE USED BY THE BUILDING OFFICIAL FOR THE TOWN OF SIGNAL MOUNTAIN. The Town Manager and the Town Attorney briefly explained the purchase of this car for the Building Inspector. Councilmember Steele made a motion to approve the resolution and Vice-Mayor Steel seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
The final resolution the Council considered was “A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO PURCHASE ONE (1) 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR, FROM NEILL SANDLER OF 3699 ALCOA HIGHWAY, ALCOA, TENNESSEE 37701, STATE BID #218, IN THE AMOUNT OF TWENTY-ONE THOUSAND ELEVEN AND 00/100 ($21,011.00) DOLLARS TO BE USED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE TOWN OF SIGNAL MOUNTAIN. Vice-Mayor Steel made a motion to approve the resolution. The Mayor seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
The members of the Council, the Town Manager, the Town Attorney, and various citizens brought several matter to the Council for discussion but no other action was taken.
Officer Greg Hill gave a report to the Council on the D.A.R.E. program.
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