MINUTES OF

CITY COMMISSION MEETING

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2007, 5:30 P.M.

CITY HALL, PIGEON FORGE, TENNESSEE

 

 

Mayor Chance called the meeting to order with the following in attendance: Commissioner Reagan, Commissioner Brackins, Commissioner McClure, City Manager Teaster, City Recorder Clabo, City Attorney Gass, Community Development Director Jagger, members of the press and interested citizens.  Vice Mayor Sexton was absent.

 

            Mayor Chance opened the meeting and Commissioner McClure led in the pledge of allegiance.

           

            Mayor Chance presented proclamation for Billy Baker day for years of entertaining locals and visitors.  Mayor Chance spoke of the contributions Billy had made to the City and presented him with a painting as a token of appreciation from the City.

 

            Billy Baker thanked the City and those that have supported him for so many years.

 

REGULAR MEETING

 

            Mayor Chance opened the regular meeting and presented the minutes of previous meeting for approval.

 

            The minutes were unanimously approved following motion by Commissioner McClure and second to motion by Commissioner Brackins.

 

            The authorization for the payment of bills was unanimously approved following motion by Commissioner Reagan and second to motion by Commissioner McClure.

 

ORDINANCE NO. 818 to amend Section 408.6.3 (re: Signs in Shopping Centers) of the text of the zoning ordinance of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee was presented for the second reading.  Mayor Chance asked if City Attorney Gass was fine with the ordinance.  City Attorney Gass stated he was fine with the ordinance.  On a motion by Commissioner McClure, second by Commissioner Reagan and with all voting “aye” the ordinance was approved on the second reading.

 

ORDINANCE NO. 819 to establish non-refundable meter deposits in Title 18 of the Municipal Code was presented for the first reading.  On a motion by Commissioner Brackins, second by Commissioner McClure and with all voting “aye” the ordinance was approved on the first reading.

 

Approval of bid for printing trolley department brochures per budget was presented for approval.  City Manager Teaster stated that three bids had been received and it was recommended that the bid be awarded to Interstate Graphics of Morristown at a cost of $12,000 for 400,000 brochures.  On a motion by Commissioner McClure, second by Commissioner Brackins, it was unanimously approved to accept the bid as presented.

 

Approval of low bid with Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson for purchase of two (2) motorcycles for police department was presented for approval.  City Manager Teaster explained and noted that the low bid was received from Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson & Buell at a cost of $13,750 each plus a $750 prepaid maintenance contract for a total cost of $29,000.  On a motion by Commissioner Brackins, second by Commissioner McClure, it was unanimously approved to accept the bid as presented. 

 

Approval of request to purchase seven (7) two way data terminal radios for police department was presented for approval.  City Manager Teaster explained and stated that the units would be purchased on the State Wide Contract.  The unit cost would be $4,951.70 for a total cost of $34,661.90.  On a motion by Commissioner McClure, second by Commissioner Brackins, it was unanimously approved to accept the bid as presented.

 

Approval of request from library to donate books to Friends of the Library was presented for approval.  City Manager Teaster presented and stated that the books were no longer needed for the library.  On a motion by Commissioner McClure, second by Commissioner Brackins, it was unanimously approved to accept the request as presented.

 

Approval of the rejection of bids for purchase of water slide for community center because of over budget was presented for approval.  City Manager Teaster explained and stated that all bids received were over budget and the slide would not be bid again in the current budget year.  On a motion by Commissioner Brackins, second by Commissioner McClure, it was unanimously approved to reject the bids as requested.

 

Manager’s report included the following:

 

1.      A Planning Commission meeting will be held on January 23, 2007 in the council room of city hall at 5:30 p.m.

 

2.      A public hearing will be held on Ordinance No. 817 on February 12, 2007 at city hall in the council room at 5:30 p.m.

 

3.      A work session will be held on Thursday January 25, 2007 in Meeting Room A at 8:30 a.m.

 

Mayor Chance asked for comments from the floor or Board.

 

Glen Miller asked if the City had any alternate plan for Waldens Creek Road by raising the road.  He stated that before filling was done, water used to back up 2” to 6” but now can get up to approximately 6’ and he wants to know if someone can stop the filling. 

 

City Manager Teaster stated that the filling should have taken place before the property was annexed and should have been approved by the Army Corps of Engineers.  Teaster stated that discussion has taken place on the possibility of widening the road, installing guardrails, etc.  However, in order for the City to do any modifications would involve getting necessary state permits. 

 

Community Development Director Jagger stated that the only filling that he is aware of taking place since being annexed into the City is the Cherokee Valley Development.  That development came before planning commission and it was identified where the floodplain was located and where the floodway was located.  Jagger noted that under FEMA regulations, one could fill in floodplain as long as no filling occurs in the floodway.

 

Glen Miller asked why a housing project up the road was not able to change the contour of the ground.  Jagger said that the majority of the project was Walnut Grove and most of it was in the floodway where majority of flood waters go.  If in a floodway, one has to get an engineer to issue certificate of no rise which means what is being done in floodway will not impact flood waters.  For this reason, those houses were built up to allow for the flow of water underneath.

 

Glen Miller asked if it is ok to take ˝ the mountain and put in floodplain?  John Jagger stated that according to FEMA regulations, one could fill in a floodplain as long as not designated by FEMA as a floodway.

 

Glen asked if City did any work on the road, would it be raised or widened?  City Manager Teaster stated that an engineer would have to look at the whole project and the project would have to be signed off by state of Tennessee before anything could be built.

 

Glen wanted to know what would be done about the water because the developer is currently filling the area.  City Attorney Gass stated that if a developer is violating federal regulations as it relates to streams then they are accountable.

 

Mayor Chance asked Community Development Director Jagger to get with Glen Miller regarding issue.

 

Mr. Miller stated that all he was concerned with was an emergency vehicle getting down the road.

 

There being no further comments, and Executive Director of Tourism Downey offering a closing prayer, the meeting was duly adjourned at 6:15 p.m.

 

 

 

                                                            APPROVED: _____Ralph E Chance_____

                                                                                                 MAYOR

 

 

 

ATTEST: _____Dennis C Clabo_______

                         CITY RECORDER