by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

“Chancellor Willis ruled the council had made procedural mistakes regarding the revocation of RBT’s vested property rights. She, however, gave no weight to the intention of the council,” said Monteagle resident Lucy Keeble at the May 19 Monteagle Council meeting, commenting on the lawsuit brought by RBT against Monteagle for revoking the developer’s vested property rights on their truck-stop project. Other residents spoke out as well, expressing concern about the proposed RBT truck stop negatively impacting the community’s drinking water supply.

“The substance of what you did was so critical to the growth of this town,” said resident Mary Beth Best. Revoking the developer’s vested property rights for failure to meet required benchmarks meant the RBT developers were subject to compliance with Monteagle’s new stormwater ordinance. The developers could not refuse to comply claiming they were grandfathered in, so the ordinance did not apply to them.

Keeble stressed the potential for runoff from the truck stop parking area to pollute Laurel Lake, Monteagle’s drinking water supply. “You must do all in your power to make sure the stormwater ordinance is upheld,” Keeble insisted. “No grandfathering should preclude necessary action.” She cited Tennessee law on vested property rights, “Those rights shall not preclude local government enforcement of any government standard when the local government determines … the development plan or property which is the subject of the building permit … seriously threatens the public safety, health or wellbeing of the community.”

The initial controversy arose when RBT sought to have their building permit reinstated. [See Messenger, August 30, 2024] In response to the citizens’ remarks on May 19, Building Inspector Travis Lawyer said, “I appreciate all your input. I’m still going to follow this. I’m not going to give up on this, and I’ll see this is done in the standard with the code and the law … I’m gathering paperwork on environmental impact along with the city code and statute I’m supposed to follow.”

In regular business, the council approved the 2025-2026 budget on first reading. The budget, as approved, is posted on the Town of Monteagle website.

The council also approved an ordinance amendment authorizing Development Review Fees to recoup expenses the city incurs when prospective developers consult with city engineer Travis Wilson. Alderman Grant Fletcher voted no, arguing the language of the ordinance differed from the language the planning commission used when reviewing documents. Alderman Nate Wilson said the language under question referred to review prior to review by the planning commission.

The task order approved by the council authorized work to proceed on the new I-24 bridge at exit 134 and stipulated the Tennessee Department of Transportation would bear the cost of infrastructure relocation, although the town would be liable for the cost of inspection. Alderman Dean Lay proposed the inspection be done by a firm other than the engineering firm doing the work. Alderman Nate Wilson said the Mountain Goat Trail Alliance explored that possibility, but learned it was more costly.

Mayor Greg Maloof announced plans to restripe the highway lines at exit 134 in the near future, even though new striping would happen with the bridge project. The projected start date for the bridge project is August 2026 or October 2026, depending on yet undetermined factors.

Reporting on the Imagine Monteagle town plan, N. Wilson said the consulting firm reviewing the town’s ordinances found some overly complex and others lacking in detail. The planning commission is reviewing the consultants’ recommendations. The Imagine Monteagle Tourism Committee invites artists to submit designs for a new Monteagle logo. Send designs to Tourism Committee Chair Iva Michelle Russell at <iva@ivamichellerussell.com>.

Monteagle will host a First Responders Day at Hannah Pickett Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, May 31, with free hotdogs and popcorn. “We want to get the kids outside and playing and get them to know who their first responders are,” said Police Chief William Raline. “Some children are scared of police officers, because sometimes you might have to arrest their uncle or dad or mom. We want to change that way of thinking.” Thanks to donations from local businesses, 10 boys’ bicycles and 10 girls’ bicycles will be given away.