The Soddy Daisy commissioners voted at the Thursday night meeting, to accept the extension of Main Street as a publicly dedicated city street. As it is now, the street extends from Old Dayton Pike to Wall Street where it ends. Some interest has been shown in developing the property at the dead end if the road is extended 365 feet.
When the latest zoning maps were drawn for Soddy Daisy, 331 Durham St.
was rezoned from C-2, Local Business District to R-2, Urban Residential District. The owner of the property has asked for it to be returned to its original zone so the commercial building on the lot can be used for a business. The change was approved on first reading.
Another zoning issue failed to pass. A resident of Soddy Daisy had requested to erect a billboard on the south end of the city near the boundary with Chattanooga. City Manager Janice Cagle presented the request to the planning commission which recommended no change to the sign ordinance. This means a billboard cannot be put in that location, she told the commissioners.
Ms. Cagle also reported on the city’s personnel policy that has been revised. In 2009 Soddy Daisy changed its retirement benefits policy. Before the change, the city would pay medical insurance for employees who had worked for the city 30 years and retired before age 65 when Social Security benefits would be available. The change in policy removed that benefit. At the time it was done, it was believed the amendment affected three people and they were exempted from the change. Ms. Cagle has recently found that six people are in that position. The commissioners approved a resolution that the additional three employees will be included in the exemption.
The city is also preparing to make improvements to its ball fields. The city manager is in the process of getting cost estimates for the work. Also in progress is a new social media policy. City Attorney Sam Elliott said that the staff has put together a good policy and, after he has reviewed the policy, it will come back to the commissioners for approval.
A resident who asked for help with water problems in his neighborhood along Friendship Lane at the last meeting came to the Thursday night meeting to get an update for how the city can help. In the past two weeks, Wiser Consultants has given a second opinion of how to remedy the problem which confirmed what the city had already been told. According to affected residents, the problem began after the road work was started on Dayton Boulevard. It has been determined that work did not add more water flow, but it did increase the velocity. Drainage pipes that catch water on that street begin at 24” then the size progressively gets smaller and unable to handle water during periods of intense rain.
Commissioner Gene Shipley said the city had reassured residents that the roadwork would not create problems for them, but it did. He said that fixing the drainage should be considered part of the road project, and be fixed by the city.
Public Works Director Steve Grant was directed to get cost estimates for how to take care of the problem by either replacing drainage pipes or increasing the size of the drainage ditches. When price has been determined, he will talk to the residents on the street to let them know other ways they will be impacted by the work, such as destroying rock walls and fences and cuts through driveways. This information will be given to the commissioners to decide how to proceed.
Residents on Bowman Road have repeatedly asked to be de-annexed. The commissioners dealt with the request Thursday night. With no second to the motion, it died and the request was denied.
The “Punkin Fest” will take place the first Saturday in October. Mayor Robert Cothran said participation by the citizens will determine if the festival will be continued in the future.
On Sept. 22 the new Robert Cochran Veterans Building at 9615 West Ridge Trail will have an open house for the community who built it. There will be live music and food. Also, on the third Wednesday of each month a Veteran’s Service Officer will be available at the building to assist any veteran with getting services that are available to them.