Minutes :: March 15, 2011

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR STATED MEETING OF THE LAKESITE CITY COMMISSION MARCH 15, 2011

Mayor Wilkerson called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. Commissioner Howell gave the Invocation. Vice Mayor McPherson led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll was called with Mayor Wilkerson, Vice Mayor McPherson, Commissioner Boddy, Commissioner Burkett, Commissioner Howell, City Manager Edwards and City Attorney Elliott present. Commissioner Howell made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting and Agenda Workshop Meeting, both held on February 15, 2011. Vice Mayor McPherson seconded the motion. All Commissioners voted aye and motion carried.

New County Commissioner, Mitch McClure, was introduced and said he would be glad to help in any way he could.

Janice Atkinson, Hamilton County Sheriff's Department, reported for February 2011 the following: traffic citations 52, traffic warnings 53, auto theft 1, watch list 2, park & walk 1, burglar alarms 6, thefts 4, burglary 0, traffic crashes 5, and 297 calls for service.

Chief Fritts, Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department, gave the following report for February 2011: trash fires 1, rescue/EMS 11, vehicle accidents with injuries 2, gas leak 1, overheated motor 1, power lines down 2, persons in distress 11 and alarm malfunction 1, for a total of 30 calls. Chief Fritts said the Fire Department answers distress calls (such as low falls) as the Sheriff's Department and ambulance aren't always able to handle them or be able to response to. Mayor Wilkerson said the Fire Department did a good job at a recent resident's fire and that they showed sincere concern for the home owners and their loss.

Mayor Wilkerson said, after the recent storm, Curt Blair, Marty Beach, David Tate and John Scott were in problem areas quickly and cleared roads from fallen trees and debris. Mr. Blair has made a list of damages and FEMA will do an emergency assessment of the damages in the City.

Mayor Wilkerson said that money cannot be spent which has not been appropriated by the Commissioners. To spend money for the energy grant we recently received, it must be put in the budget. Commissioner Burkett made a motion to pass Ordinance 200, an ordinance of the City of Lakesite, Tennessee, increasing estimated receipts and appropriations in EECBG Grant Fund in the amount of $88,915.00 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010 and ending June 30, 2011. Vice Mayor McPherson seconded the motion. During roll call vote all Commissioners voted aye and Ordinance 200 passed on first reading.

Ordinance 201, an ordinance to amend the Lakesite Zoning Ordinance, as referenced in the Lakesite Municipal Code Title 14, Chapter 2, of the City of Lakesite in relation to Day Care Centers and Day Care Homes will be tabled until the April 2011 meeting.

Commissioner Howell explained Resolution 93 which is to support a bill so that municipalities can post public hearing notices on government web-sites rather than in the newspapers as a cost saver. For those who do not have website access, a free copy of the notice can be obtained. Commissioner Burkett made a motion to pass Resolution 93, a resolution expressing the Lakesite Commission's support of Tennessee General Assembly House Bill 1309/Senate Bill 1263 as written, which will allow Hamilton County and the municipalities therein to post public notices on a County or City Government website. Commissioner Howell seconded the motion. All Commissioners voted aye and motion carried.

Commissioner Burkett said, concerning the proposed TVA park, that he has concerns about the future amount of money needed to pursue approval from TVA and there may or may not be support. He made a motion to: (1) To suspend going further with the project. (2) To notify TVA to cease work on any studies immediately and bill the City for any amounts now owed. (3) Ask TVA to explain what process would be necessary to pick the project back up and resurrect the project in the future.(4) For TVA to let the City know what equity we have on work already done and can we claim this for resurrecting the project. Can we use what we have spent already in the future. (5) If a study is 80-90 % complete, we could authorize the City Manager, at his discretion, to ask that the study be completed and apply this to the resurrection of the project and a time frame to carry this over. Commissioner Howell said he favors the project with the assets of educational, recreational and economic development, but times are changing and it could now be a risk. He commended the efforts of Bob Mullin, Curt Blair and David Tate for their work on the project. Mayor Wilkerson said that the Commissioners were guardians of the taxpayer money and how it is invested although the majority of negative comments about the park were from residents not in the City. Vice Mayor McPherson seconded the motion. All Commissioners voted aye and motion carried.

Commissioner Howell made a motion to adjourn. Vice Mayor McPherson seconded the motion. Mayor Wilkerson adjourned the meeting at 7:45 p.m.