by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the Dec. 15 Monteagle Council meeting, Alderman Nate Wilson reviewed the benefits of receiving Tree City designation by the National Arbor Day Foundation and the steps Monteagle would need to take to qualify. Mayor Greg Maloof championed the idea, “It’s a worthwhile project.” Alderman Grant Fletcher agreed, “It’s a great idea.” Fletcher especially appreciated the ordinance requirement stipulating Monteagle plant only native tree species.

Monteagle has already met two of the milestones necessary for Tree City designation: host an Arbor Day celebration, which Monteagle did the past two years; and form a tree board, which Monteagle did in May of 2024 as an administrative function of the Beautification Committee. David O’Neill from High Canopy Tree Service has volunteered to serve as the tree board arborist. The third benchmark requires allocating $2 per capita for trees and tree care. For Monteagle, this amounts to $2,400. Wilson noted the $3,000 in the Beautification budget could be used for this purpose. The fourth requirement calls for a “tree ordinance” governing tree planting and tree care.

Wilson drafted an ordinance modeled after that of other municipalities. He pointed out Tullahoma’s tree ordinance, as well as others, regulated planting and care of trees on private land. Wilson removed all references to trees on private land except in the case of diseased, dying, or unsafe trees. A “landmark tree” designation would be available to landowners who chose to pursue recognition. The proposed tree ordinance does not contradict or change the stipulations of Monteagle’s landscaping ordinance for commercial property. The landscaping ordinance already recommends saving existing trees whenever possible and has a formula for replanting trees in the case of tree removal.

The council will vote on the first reading of the ordinance at the Jan. 26 meeting. “Tree City designation means a town cares for and encourages its tree canopy,” Wilson said. “There are several reasons to do this. We all like trees. They provide the town with a lot of benefits. But one of the other things this does is help us qualify for grants.” Wilson observed a grant recently received by the Mountain Goat Trail Alliance for stormwater mitigation will fund tree planting at several Monteagle trailside locations.

In other business, the council approved an ordinance amendment prohibiting the following activities on city managed property: overnight parking, ATVs, fires, camping, loitering, and soliciting. An unchanged section of the ordinance prohibits the following activities at Laurel Lake and other city owned property: gasoline powered boats, trotline fishing, camping, fires, ATVs, and golf carts. The amendment removed swimming from this list.

On a split vote, the council rejected a proposal to update the rate study conducted a year ago. The study recommended that Monteagle implement a graduated rate increase over a five-year period to fund capital improvements to the water and sewer system. Maloof argued a new study was needed to fund capital improvement needs identified since the study: mitigation of inflow and infiltration (I&I) of storm water into the sanitary sewer system, I&I mitigation equipment, and a sewer system lift station at the Waffle House. Wilson argued Tracy City grant funding would pay for a Monteagle rate study and capital improvement plan at no cost to Monteagle. Maloof and Alderman Dan Sargent voted in favor of Monteagle contracting for an update to the rate study conducted a year ago. Alderman Wilson, Fletcher, and Dean Lay voted against Monteagle contracting for an updated study.

Police Chief William Raline urged drivers to use their headlights during fog. Raline said during extremely foggy conditions on Dec. 7 and Dec. 8, nine minor crashes occurred. “People failed to see other cars,” Raline stressed.