by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the Feb. 26 public hearing prior to the Monteagle Council meeting, residents voiced opposition to the water rate increase and minimum residence size increase ordinances scheduled for a second reading vote at the meeting. The water rate ordinance passed with Alderwoman Dorraine Parmley voting, “no.” Alderman Dan Sargent’s motion to call for a vote on the residence-size ordinance died for lack of a second.

The water-rate ordinance increases the usage rate by 2 percent and adds a $5 monthly service fee for all meters. Mayor Greg Maloof explained, by law, if the town’s water and sewer department showed a loss two years in a row, the state could step in and set the rates. “It’s to prevent the state from coming in and saying, ‘We’ll take over your rate structure.’” If the state intervened, Monteagle would have no say in the rates. A resident objected the $5 service fee amounted to a 26-28 percent increase for low usage customers, unfairly penalizing that group. “I don’t like the service charge,” Alderman Nate Wilson said, but he added most of the low-usage customers were second-home owners. Another resident objected to the same $5 fee for residential meters and master meters which connected to larger service lines. Alderman Wilson insisted the town needed to have a professional long-term rate study done. “The [service fee] may be a short-term stop gap.” The rate increase would fund a rate study, Maloof said. Another resident argued Monteagle could have avoided the loss with careful budgeting. City engineer Travis Wilson acknowledged the cost of the capacity studies and mapping done in the past 12-18 months did “cause a problem with the comptroller,” with the expense contributing to Monteagle showing a loss, but the studies and mapping were critical prerequisites to the $2.6 million in grants Monteagle received. Without the studies and mapping, Monteagle would have missed out on $1 million in American Rescue Plan funding, engineer Wilson stressed. The grants paid for painting the two water towers to address a Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) violation and will also pay for rehabilitating sewer lines to prevent Inflow and Infiltration of ground water into the sewer which strains the capacity of Monteagle’s sewage treatment plant. Alderman Wilson commented last month 53 percent of the wastewater the sewage plant treated was I&I. Addressing a question about raising tap fees to cover the loss, Alderman Wilson said Monteagle had already raised tap fees and it was illegal to set the fees higher than the cost associated with installing a new tap.

The minimum residence size ordinance would have increased the 600 square-feet minimum in R-2 and R-3 residential zoning to 800 square feet, making 800 square feet the minimum for all new residential construction. (Monteagle allows 400 square-feet residences in R-4 zoning, but Monteagle has no land zoned R-4.) In response to a question about what the ordinance would “fix or make better for Monteagle,” Alderman Wilson replied “nothing.” “Is the motive to keep poor people from having 600 square foot homes?” a resident asked. “You should ban big homes and save trees.” Alderwoman Parmley said, “We have too many rules already, but the planning commission researched and recommended this. I’m conflicted.” According to Maloof, the planning commission gave no reason for recommending the ordinance. Maloof said he asked the commission to take up the residence size question at the behest of a resident.

In other business, resident Jim Waller asked if the council would move forward with the storm-water ordinance he helped draft. Maloof said critical issues with TDEC deadlines temporarily diverted attention from the ordinance.

Responding to questions about the Senior Citizens Center, Maloof said a grant, if received, could result in building-entrance changes improving accessibility. The town was addressing sewage blockage rendering the handicap restroom unusable.

Ty Burnett announced a 5:30 p.m., Thursday, March 7, meeting in the city hall conference room to review responses to a survey assessing what recreational opportunities residents favored. The survey is available on the Monteagle website Mayor’s Memo page. Updating the community on youth baseball, Burnett said Monteagle was partnering with Tracy City, with games and practice on the Monteagle field.