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published on 06/11/2003
Special Called Meeting of SM Town Council
By
Town Recorder
The Town Council of the Town of Signal Mountain held a special called meeting on Saturday May 17, 2003, at 8:00 a.m. in the Town Hall. Those present were:
Mayor James H Althaus, Vice Mayor William O. Leonard, Councilmember Robert E. White, II, Councilmember Rachel Bryant, Councilmember Stephen Ruffin.
Also present: Town Manager Hershel Dick, Town Recorder Diana Campbell, Town Attorney Phil Noblett.
See list attached for additonal people. (Note: list is at Town Hall.)
The Mayor reconvened the meeting of May 12, 2003, and the Recorder called the roll.
The first item before the Council was “A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO CAM COM COMMUNICATIONS IN AN AMOUNT OF TWENTY-TWO THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND 00/100 ($22,100.00) DOLLARS AS THE LOWEST AND BEST BID FOR THE SERVICES UNDER A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION FOR RECLAMATION SERVICES AT ABANDONED COAL MINE SITES FOR THE TOWN.” The Town Manager stated the bids were Cam Com Communication for $22,100, Joe D. Thomas & Sons $51,100 and Thomas Brothers Construction for $35,999. He explained the bids were for work to close old mines located in the Town. He informed the Council that the State of Tennessee had awarded the Town a grant of $25,000 to cover the cost of the work. After a brief discussion, Vice-Mayor Leonard made a motion to approve the resolution. The Mayor seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
The second item before the Council was a memo from the Town Manager informing the Council of the award of a bid for a telephone system for the Police and Fire Departments.
The Recorder explained the bids and noted there were eleven bids. The Town felt the lowest and best bid was from Communications Resources, Inc. for $8,708. She explained that CRI’s bid proposed equipment the dispatcher needed to be able to answer calls hands free using a mobile unit. Phil informed the Council that one of the bidders had made a formal protest regarding the telephone bids. He explained that he had reviewed the bids and the protesting bidder was not proposing the equipment listed in the specifications and in his opinion, the Town could award the bid to CRI.
The next item before the Council was a memo from Hershel Dick informing the Council of an emergency purchase made for $9,583 for a 350 horsepower Teco West motor from Chattanooga Armature Works. He explained the motor had been rebuilt twice and may not have been able to be rebuilt again. He further explained that if it could have been rebuilt the cost would have been approximately $6,000 and would have taken a month.
The Council discussed the time for the next budget meeting and decided to begin at 3:00 p.m. on May 23, 2003, and last until approximately 8:00 p.m. Saturday the meetings would begin at 8:00 a.m. and last until completed. The Council planned to meet with each department head in the Town to discuss their respective budgets.
The Town Attorney informed the Council of a lawsuit filed by a former employee Karen Perry on a workman’s compensation claim.
There being no other business to come before the Council, the reconvened public meeting was adjourned.
THE COUNCIL THEN BEGAN A BUDGET WORK SESSION AND THE FOLLOWING NOTES WERE TAKEN:
The Mayor informed the Council of the Governor’s latest budget proposal, which would include a 9% reduction in the State Shared Revenue received by the Town. He also informed the Council of the increase in health insurance costs and wages included in the budget.
The Mayor then introduced the subject of improvements to the recreation area behind the golf club. He noted that the recommendation of the Playground Committee that had been presented to the Council the week before would cost an estimated $195,000. The Mayor made the suggestion that the improvements be done using the balance left in the Sewer Fund that would be transferred to the General Fund in the current fiscal year. The Council discussed the various points to the Committee’s recommendation and which items to include. Councilmember Leonard talked about looking at an overall plan that utilizes some areas at the Mountain Arts Community Center for a playground area. No specific action was taken on the subject at that time.
The Council then discussed the anticipated fund balance for each fund at the end of the June 30, 2004, year. They discussed the amounts of the restricted, Council designated and unrestricted, undesignated balances.
The Council discussed the five-year capital outlay plan. The Recorder pointed out that two changes had been made in the plan presented to the Council by May 1, 2003. She noted that guard rails for $50,000 for Mississippi Avenue had been added to the Street Department and a Hydro Jet $30,000 item of equipment had been deleted from the Stormwater Fund.
The Council then discussed various contributions to others and agreed on the following contributions: the Welfare Council $1,000, Walden’s Ridge Emergency Service $1,000,
the City of Chattanooga for the roundabout at the foot of the W Road $8,600, the Police Monument Fund $1,000, Mountain Education Fund $0, WTCI $0, and Hamilton County Resource Officer at Red Bank $0.
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