by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the Nov. 18 Monteagle Council meeting, the community received news about two grants for initiatives spawned by the Imagine Monteagle plan adopted in September. Less welcome news came with Police Chief William Raline’s year-end report on vehicle crashes and drug arrests.

Monteagle received a $65,000 grant from the Lyndhurst Foundation to hire a consultant to assist with zoning definitions and mapping. In response to Alderwoman Dorraine Parmley question about the need for a consultant, Alderman Nate Wilson explained, “Our zoning ordinance isn’t working for much of anybody. People wanting to come here and do business don’t understand it, and the community doesn’t understand why we’ve done things. The planning commission talked about campgrounds 10 months. [The commission and council] didn’t know what questions to ask.” Requests for Qualifications have gone out to eight firms. If the consultant costs less than $65,000, Wilson said Monteagle could request reassigning the remaining funds to hiring an economic development consultant to assist Monteagle with attracting businesses.

A $10,000 grant from the South Cumberland Community Fund will go toward a new sign for Monteagle Elementary School, with the base and stand constructed from mountain stone to reflect Imagine Monteagle’s vision for the town. Beautification Committee Chair Martha Ann Pilcher estimated the total cost at $23,000-$25,000. Send donations earmarked for the sign to the SCCF.

Pilcher put out a call for volunteers to move the Imagine Monteagle Plan forward, citing a need for help with digital presence, the website, grants, research, public arts and more. Pilcher and Wilson will meet to clarify what tasks the steering committee needs assistance with.

Listing statistics for police department activity from December 2023 to the present, Raline said officers had issued 400 warnings and/or citations, worked 100 vehicle crashes and made 41 arrests. “One hundred vehicle crashes for this small town is unacceptable,” Raline insisted. He cited speed and distracted driving as the primary causes and told the community to expect “an influx of blue lights. We’re going to pull people over and try to reeducate them about why we want people to slow down.” Of the 41 arrests, 83 percent were drug related. Raline stressed, “If you bring drugs here, we will arrest you, and you will go to jail. Maybe in the future we can come up with programs that will help people get off their addictions, but the only thing I know how to do right now is to keep the citizens safe.”

Updating the community on the water supply, Mayor Greg Maloof said the town’s primary water source, Laurel Lake, was at seven feet. Monteagle continues to purchase water from Tracy City as needed. Dewayne Rollins reported on water plant operations. Asked about the discrepancy between gallons of water sold and gallons produced and purchased, Rollins attributed the anomaly to the billing software. He pointed to aging meters which had stopped recording water usage as another source of error. The meters are being replaced.

The council revoted approving purchase of a dump truck for the Street Department. Maloof said at the September meeting the cost he quoted for the truck, $58,000, did not include the dump body. The actual cost, $79,274, was still well under the $90,000 budgeted amount, Maloof noted. Wilson questioned the need for the truck, pointing out the dump truck currently in use, although nearing “the end of its life” was still “serviceable.” “The DOT would park it,” said Street Department Superintendent Keith Butner. Alderman Dan Sargent said he trusted “the knowledge and judgement” of the street department employees who recommended purchasing a new truck. Maloof concurred, arguing for purchasing a replacement before repair parts became unavailable for the truck. Wilson voted against approving the purchase.

Grant Fletcher and Dean Lay were elected to the Monteagle Council in the recent alderman election. The Election Commission will certify the results on Nov. 21. Monteagle may hold a special called meeting early in December, rather than the last Monday of the month meeting, to evaluate RFQs for the zoning consultant.