by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

“If it’s not a city road, I’m gonna block it off,” said Susan Congrove appealing to the Monteagle Council at the Feb. 24 meeting to control motorist speeding on Bluff Circle where she and her husband Dennis Congrove resided. The council also addressed concerns about traffic congestion at the Pilot and Wren’s Nest Avenue.

Daniel Congrove said in the past the town had maintained Bluff Circle, tar and chipping the surface, and had installed speed bumps when he complained about speeding, but the speed bumps had recently been removed, and the speeding problem had resumed.

Mayor Greg Maloof cited a 2010 ordinance stipulating Bluff Circle was not a public street. “My issue is it’s listed as a private street, and if we do public work on a private street, that’s not appropriate,” said Alderman Nate Wilson. “We’re not supposed to be spending public money on private streets.” Wilson also pointed out Bluff Circle was “awfully narrow” for public street status.

Alderman Dean Lay said the street list had changed over the years as administrations changed. The Congrove’s asked to have Bluff Circle designated a public street to allow for speed control measures. Lay recommended deferring action until the March meeting so other Bluff Circle residents could be notified. Alderman Grant Fletcher argued property deeds needed to be reviewed to determine if the documents defined a road.

The council approved a resolution introduced by Lay asking the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to remedy traffic safety issues at the Pilot at I-24 exit 135 and where Wren’s Nest Avenue entered Highway 41 at I-24 exit 134. Lay noted Police Chief William Raline had cited the Pilot as an “accident zone” and the faded Highway 41 turn lanes at Wren’s Nest needed restriped to prevent motorist confusion. Maloof said TDOT was aware restriping was needed at exit 134. He will contact the agency again about the problem and will request a traffic study at the Pilot.

The council also voted to retain Inc Codes to assist Monteagle with zoning ordinance reform. A $65,000 grant from the Lyndhurst Foundation will fund the project, said Wilson, explaining the intent was for zoning ordinances to better reflect the goals identified in the Imagine Monteagle Plan and to clarify the ordinances for developers. The Monteagle Planning Commission and Imagine Monteagle Steering Committee received proposals from two planners. Town Planning and Urban Design Collaborative proposed rewriting Monteagle’s ordinances from scratch, a costly two-year project. Inc Codes’ one-year proposal focused on downtown development and zoning ordinance modification. Inc Codes will supply “specific recommendations” for ordinance changes, Wilson said, and rely on the Planning Commission “to come up with the language.” Lay and Alderman Dan Sargent voted against retaining Inc Codes to lead the ordinance revision process.

Revisiting a request from the Grundy County Food Bank, the council approved a $500 donation. Fletcher commented that since other Plateau municipalities made donations, Monteagle should as well. Maloof will examine the budget to determine which category has money available.

The council approved, on second reading, two water rate increases, with one rate increase going into effect March 1, 2025, and the other going into effect July 1, 2026. Fletcher explained a water-rate study recommended a graduated increase over a five-year period. The two rate increases approved are the first two phases of the proposed five-year rate increase platform. Lay abstained from the vote.

The new 911 contract approved by the council calls for Marion County sharing in the 911 service expense. Monteagle’s cost will decrease by almost $11,000.