Monteagle Utility Department Honored; Fire Hall Update
Thursday, March 28, 2019
by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
At the March 25 Monteagle City Council meeting, Vice Mayor Tony Gilliam presented Utility Department Supervisor John Condra with a plaque of appreciation from Laurel Lake Drive residents. The plaque thanked the department for its perseverance and hard work to address flooding that made the road impassable.
Heavy rainfall earlier in the year left the road temporarily out of service, then the situation worsened.
“During the last big rain the road totally washed out,” Gilliam said. “The utility department workers were in 17 degree water temperatures pumping out water.”
On March 13, the road reopened with a five-foot culvert installed to prevent future flooding. The city has requested reimbursement for the repair costs from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Gilliam also thanked James David Oliver for the easement allowing a temporary road on his property.
“It helped us, too,” Condra said. “We had to have access to work on the road.” Condra extended personal thanks to the utility department crew for their hard work and a job well done.
Updating the community on plans to construct a new fire hall, Gilliam said the design was downsized to keep it within the budget, but the downsized structure wouldn’t accommodate the fire department’s equipment.
The council is looking at other designs and working with an engineer who recently oversaw construction of new fire halls for the Whitwell and Sequatchie fire departments.
Parks and Recreation Chair Jessica Blalock said 50 of the 3,000 eggs at the Monteagle Easter egg hunt would contain a dollar bill courtesy of a donation by the Harton Park Garden Committee. Citizens Tri-County Bank also made donations. The event is scheduled for April 6, at 10 a.m., at Harton Park.
Planning Committee Chair Ron Terrill said the committee is working with Southeast Tennessee Development District regional planner Garrett Haynes to create a road map for the city. An updated, accurate zoning map that will likely be available in both print and digital form. A public hearing will be held to present the zoning map upon completion.
The council approved on second reading rezoning of a 175-acre tract from commercial to agricultural to allow the new owner to run cattle on the farm property as was done in the past.
The council also approved a business permit for the Eagle Inn under new ownership by Dennis Patel.
Building inspector Earl Geary said the former Mexican restaurant would reopen under new ownership as The Porch, a tavern and restaurant featuring country cooking. Geary recommended deferring a decision on the business permit until renovation was completed.
The Monteagle Council meets next April 29.