Several Soddy Daisy residents came to the commission meeting Thursday night asking the board to reconsider the city’s liquor ordinance going forward. One resident brought a petition with 200 signatures but without addresses, hoping to influence a change. The petition asked for parameters to be altered from the current distance specifications of two miles between liquor stores to five miles and to increase the distance from the door of the business to the door of a school or church from 500 to 1,000 feet.
City Attorney Sam Elliott told the board that putting too many restrictions on the sites might have the effect of reversing what the electorate decided in the November referendum when liquor sales were approved for Soddy Daisy. The conditions requested in the petition could potentially allow only one store in the city. Additionally, the same qualifications might then be applied for beer sales. He warned that the commissioners needed to know what the practical effects would be before making any change to the ordinance.
Vice Mayor Patti Skates asked for a poll to gauge the stance of the commissioners before doing anything further. Commissioner Jim Adams said Soddy Daisy’s ordinance is pretty consistent with others across the state and he would be opposed to making changes.
Referring to the signatures on the petition, Commissioner Robert Cothran said, “I don’t know who these people are—do they live in Soddy Daisy?” If changes were made for one group, others would continuously want to make modifications. We’d be opening up a can of worms.” He said he would not vote to change the ordinance.
Commissioner Gene Shipley shared the same sentiment saying he would be unwilling to make changes, and Mayor Rick Nunley said, “The battle was fought and lost in November. We’re tasked to deal with it. We’ve done the best we could for the city. I have to do what the citizens said” in the election.
Arnold Stulce, as chairman of the Red Bank/Soddy Daisy Foundation, presented the city with the gift of $26,000. This comes with the stipulation that the money is restricted for construction of the number three fire hall. He said something needed to be done soon because the south end of town does not have adequate protection. Added to the amount already in reserve for that purpose, the city now has $220,000 toward the estimated cost of $1,200,000 for the building.
Fire Chief Mike Guffey said the fire department would not be where it is today without the many donations from the Red Bank/Soddy Daisy charitable foundation. In the past, it has supplied the city with enough money to build one of the two existing fire halls and to purchase a fire truck.
Chief Guffey also reported that the new ISO rating came back this week, which gave Soddy Daisy a Class Three rating. The department was less than a half point from receiving a Class Two rating, and he said the score is being appealed. City Manager Janice Cagle told the commissioners that the chief was disappointed when he got the results, but that she was really proud of the department. The lower rating would primarily reduce insurance costs for industrial buildings, said Chief Guffey, helping to attract more commercial interests to bring jobs to the city.
Approval was also given to purchase air bottles for the fire department. The 2015 budget includes $7,000 for this. Bottles are good for 15 years, the commissioners were told.
On second and final reading, an ordinance concerning maintenance regulations regarding the operation of mobile home parks was passed.
In other announcements, Pam Glaser, head of Parks and Recreation for the city, has developed new park policies and applications that are ready for review by the commissioners.and city attorney.
Commissioner Cothran reported that the personnel carrier procured for Veteran’s Park should be delivered soon and would be installed by the annual Wall of Honor on May 2.