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CITY OF TOWNSEND COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES On September 15th, 2009 |
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Attend: Attending the meeting was Mayor Pat Jenkins, Vice Mayor Ron Palewski, Commissioner Shannon Skidmore, Recorder Shelia Moss, Police Chief Ron Suttles, Fire Chief Don Stallions, Jackie Suttles, Iva Butler, Don Headrick, Florence Byrd, Mary Ann Ashworth, as well as several other community members. Commissioner's Charles Tippitt and David Wietlisbach were absent. Pledge: Mayor Jenkins opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:02pm. Minutes: Vice Mayor Palewski made a motion to approve the minutes for the August 18, 2009 meeting, pending a correction regarding an attendee's name being listed twice. Commissioner Skidmore seconded and the motion passed with 3 yea votes. Finance Report: Recorder Moss gave the finance report for the month of August. Mayor Jenkins asked if we had received any money from Wine by the Drink. Recorder Moss responded by saying yes and gave a total of one hundred fifty dollars and fifty cents. Vice Mayor Palewski made a motion to approve the finance report. Commissioner Skidmore seconded and the motion passed with 3 yea votes. Police Report: Chief Suttles reported that they had a couple of busy weekends and the next two should be busy as well. He mentioned that the Fun Run benefitting Second Harvest Food Bank was coming up. He also reported that the Knoxville Track Club 10K went well last weekend. Chief Suttles mentioned that Old Timers Day was coming up. He reported that Mr. Myers had approved the Visitor Center using his property during the Festival. He mentioned that we need to add Officer Frank Shearl to our health insurance policy due to loss of other coverage. Mayor Jenkins asked if we knew the cost. Recorder Moss stated that we did not have a price because Cariten informed her it would have to go through underwriting due a more than ten percent change in demographics. Vice Mayor Palewski ask if Mr. Herb Handly had asked for City Police help. Chief Suttles responded by stating that he had spoke with Charlie and informed him that the Police Department was covering the roads and could not just stay at the Visitor's Center. Chief Stallions mentioned that people would need to turn up Myers road to enter the field for parking and a right turn onto Highway 321 out of the field would be the exit. Commissioner Skidmore asked about requiring a right turn for people coming from Myers road. Chief Suttles stated they were going to do everything they could to maintain good traffic flow. There was further discussion about the Fall Festival. Maintenance: Chief Suttles mentioned that the tiles at Mr. John Koehler's residence had been dug out and that he would not be at the meeting. There was a brief discussion on water drainage in West Chestnut Hills. Chief Suttles reported that he met with a State Engineer to look at striping the new bridge. Chief Suttles asked her about striping the intersection at Wears Valley Road. He reported that TDOT was cleaning the gutters, weed eating and cleaning debris off the curb, and would use the long arm to clean the ditches. Mayor Jenkins asked if there will be a turning lane onto Old Tuckaleechee when the striping is done. Chief Suttles stated that he was trying to get them to create the turn lane but had not gotten an answer yet. He reported that Glen McCampbell was still mowing. He reported that the Church of God, the Eternal pastor, Richard Litz, had worked on the leaking Auditorium roof and patched the ceiling. He also mentioned the roofer had been out as well. Chief Suttles mentioned that the no guns and street signs for Trillium Cove and the Subdivision behind them had been ordered. He reported that the street between Pizza Hut and the IGA has never been declared a street and if the City names it, all the business will have to change their address. Commissioner Skidmore mentioned that the City did not take in that road because it was not up to specs. Chief Suttles also mentioned obtaining signage to put along the bike trail to keep motor vehicles off the bike trail. Chief Suttles spoke about bicycling on the Highway, the safety issues of riding on the Highway, and the law regarding bicycling on the road. Chief Suttles reported that during Fall Break (October 5 - October 9), the loop at the Elementary School would be reworked and the roof's would be painted. Fire: Chief Stallions reported that there were thirty one runs last month of which two were fire, two were other aid, and the rest were medical. He mentioned that he had just returned from swift water training. He expressed gratitude to the City for their support. Chief Stallions reported that they were able to completely outfit three fire fighters for swift water rescue and that the three did great in the class. He also mentioned that the County has twenty-two trained for swift water rescue. He reported that due to new laws, the mandatory sixty four hour basic training will begin soon. He mentioned that after the basic training is completed, they must attend a live burn. Chief Stallions reported that they went on mutual aid calls across the mountain. He also reported that he now has his red card. Chief Stallions mentioned that they were getting ready for their major fund raiser, parking at the Fall Festival. He reported that they have started the loan process for the new Fire Station. There was a brief discussion regarding the new Fire Station. Recreation: Commissioner Skidmore mentioned that there was a meeting at Townsend Elementary regarding Basketball and Cheerleading. He reported that twenty eight new basketball uniforms which would remain at the school and would be able to be used for five years. He reported that with what the PTO has, each child would still have to pay about sixty dollars each. Commissioner Skidmore reported that the money earned from concessions pays for the referee's. Commissioner Skidmore mentioned that the business permit fee donation was used to replace maps in the classrooms. There was some discussion about donating the business permit revenue to the school again this year and also donating to the basketball program. Vice Mayor Palewski made a motion to donate revenue generated from the City business permits to the Townsend Elementary PTO. Commissioner Skidmore seconded and the motion passed with 3 yea votes. Vice Mayor Palewski made a motion to donate one thousand dollars to the Townsend Elementary Basketball Program. Mayor Jenkins seconded and the motion passed with 3 yea votes. Library: Recorder Moss gave the Library report. She reported that the number of patrons to date is 2,198. She also reported that the circulation statistics was 4,517. Recorder Moss reported that computer use was 827. She reported on donations and attendance for the summer reading program, "be creative at your library". Recorder Moss also reported other donations given to the library. Old Business Townsend River Walk Landscaping Grant, Update: Recorder Moss informed the Commission that we are still in the environmental stage and that Mr. Mitch Loomis of the East Tennessee Development District was working on this portion now. There was a brief discussion about the grant. Recorder Moss mentioned that Elaine Russell had contacted her about having a haunted trail down at the River Walk to raise money for the matching portion of this grant. Recorder Moss informed the Commission that Mrs. Russell was inquiring on the requirements for this type of event. Ms. Florence Byrd, of the Garden Club, spoke about the plans for this event and mentioned it was too late to plan it for this year. Mayor Jenkins informed Ms. Byrd that the Commission would need all the details and plans a couple of months in advance. Resolution 236-09-1C, 2008-2009, Revision of Resolution 234-09-1C, City of Townsend Code Codification: Mayor Jenkins read the resolution in its entirety aloud. Recorder Moss informed the Commission that there was a three hundred thirty dollar discrepancy in the amount due to their being two different pricing charts on the MTAS website. Commissioner Skidmore made a motion to approve this Resolution. Vice Mayor Palewski seconded and the motion passed with 3 yea votes. Nelson Biddle, Liquor by the Drink "Wine Only" Contract: Mayor Jenkins mentioned that Mr. Biddle had sent a letter to the City Attorney, which was distributed to each Commissioner. Mayor Jenkins reported that Mr. Biddle's letter stated he was willing to a settlement of a one time payment of twelve thousand dollars. Commissioner Skidmore stated that he would not be in favor of paying twelve thousand dollars. Recorder Moss confirmed the year to date amount of revenue generated by wine by the drink as being one hundred fifty six dollars and fifty cents. There was a brief discussion regarding the requirements of the original contract including the payment schedule. The Commission unanimously refused the settlement of a one time payment of twelve thousand dollars. New Business **Commissioner Skidmore requested to amend the agenda and move Ms. Sue Duchow to the first item of new business as she was in attendance. Mayor Jenkins approved to amend the agenda. Sue Duchow, The Palm Church, request for use of the Auditorium (Sunday Mornings & Evenings): Ms. Duchow requested permission for The Palm Church to use the Auditorium every Sunday at 10:45 am and 6:00 pm beginning on October 4th. She reported that they had a two million dollar insurance policy through Church Mutual. Ms. Duchow reported that if approved they would need to use the Auditorium until they found a building. Commissioner Skidmore mentioned that he didn't have a problem with temporary uses but does not feel comfortable with events with no end date. Chief Stallions asked if the City was contacting the County since the building was leased from the County. He also stated that from a County standpoint, they would need to know the use and would need a certificate of insurance. Vice Mayor Palewski mentioned that he agrees with Chief Stallions, that the Commission does not have the authority. Mayor Jenkins mentioned that he is not in favor of an ongoing use. Chief Suttles stressed safety concerns. There was further discussion regarding use of the Auditorium. This agenda item was deferred to the October 20, 2009 meeting. Townsend 10k and One Mile Walk/Fun Run: Recorder Moss reported that all the requirements for this event have been met except receiving the certificate of insurance due to their agent being out of the office until tomorrow. Commissioner Skidmore made a motion to approve this event pending receipt of the insurance certificate. Vice Mayor Palewski seconded and the motion passed with 3 yea votes. Recorder Moss was requested to send a letter notifying the organizer of the approval. John Gallagher, Heritage High School Band, proposal for matching funds: Recorder Moss informed the Commission that this request was sent in writing and was included in their packets. Commissioner Skidmore mentioned donating funds with an agreement to commit to our annual Christmas Parade. Vice Mayor Palewski made a motion to donate two thousand three hundred dollars pending a written agreement to be in the Townsend Christmas Parade for 2009, 2010, and 2011 at no additional charge to the City. Commissioner Skidmore seconded and the motion passed with 3 yea votes. Richard Litz, Church of God the Eternal, request for use of the Auditorium (previously approved for 2007-2009): Recorder Moss informed the Commission that this request was also in writing. Mayor Jenkins mentioned that when a previous Commission agreed, there was probably not a lot of choices in town to hold an event. He also mentioned that there is a broader choice now. Chief Stallions again asked if we had the authority based on our lease agreement and if we were contacting the County. Chief Suttles again stressed safety concerns. There was a brief discussion regarding this request. Mayor Jenkins stated that the Commission needs to determine if they have the authority to allow use of the auditorium, address safety concerns, and whether we want to compete with businesses who have meeting space. This agenda item was also deferred to the October 20, 2009 meeting. John Koehler, Street & Maintenance request: Mr. Koehler was not present; this topic was addressed in the Maintenance report, and was resolved prior to the Commission meeting. **Recorder Moss asked if she could ask a couple of questions. She asked if the Commission was going to approve employees would be able to carry over their vacation until April 1st like we did last year. Commissioner Skidmore made a motion to approve allowing vacation earned in 2009 to be carried over to April 1, 2010. Vice Mayor Palewski seconded and the motion passed with three yea votes. She mentioned that Marilyn Byrd Myers had called to determine if the Commission had discussed her request for financial or labor assistance with the Myers Cemetery. Lastly, Recorder Moss informed the Commission that she has obtained her State certification and instructed them that she would still have to attend some classes to remain certified. There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully Submitted by: Shelia Moss |
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