Monteagle: Drugs Seized; Streetlights; EV Charging Stations
by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
At the April 25 meeting, the Monteagle Town Council heard updates on the police’s efforts to curtail drug traffic, the streetlight inventory underway, and expanding Monteagle’s electric-vehicle (EV) charging station resources. The council approved purchases for the police and utility departments.
Reporting on Monteagle’s efforts to curtail illegal drug traffic and use, Police Chief Jared Nunley said officers seized one-half pound (231.3 grams) of meth in the last calendar year. “That’s a lot,” Nunley stressed. “The fentanyl we can’t give a gram amount on, because it’s in the meth and in the pills. We have enough fentanyl we got off the streets to kill every citizen in Monteagle…You can see what our priorities have been.”
The council approved Nunley’s request for new software for the reporting system. “Ours is going obsolete,” Nunley said. “We’ve got to have it.” The department will share the system with Tracy City, the county sheriff, and the judge and court clerk’s offices. “They can pull up [data] and see charges,” Nunley explained. The sheriff’s department assumed $80,000 of the total expense and paid for Monteagle’s server, Nunley said. Monteagle’s cost, $16,500, includes a one-time fee of $5,000 for transferring the current software data.
Taking up another “must have” need, the council approved purchase of a manure spreader to replace the Utility Department’s out-of-service spreader. The $5,500 cost includes delivery.
In his update on operations, utility manager John Condra said the fire hydrant testing and maintenance recently conducted by an outside contractor revealed 24 out-of-service hydrants. Condra will research rehabbing the hydrants to a serviceable condition.
Alderman Nate Wilson said the inventory of the town’s 200 streetlights has revealed some are no longer needed and will be turned off to save money. In other locations, streetlights will be added. “We’re trying to have lights at most intersections,” Wilson said, “but we don’t need two.” Contact Wilson with questions at <wilsonalderman@benlomand.net>.
Mayor Marilyn Campbell Rodman reported on efforts to increase the town’s EV charging station resources. The town is currently considering contracting with Green Spot for relocating the charging stations currently at city hall. The city would receive a percent of the revenue the stations generated. A state program might also provide Monteagle with EV charging stations, Rodman said, but the city would not receive any revenue from the state sponsored units.
Janet Miller-Schmidt reported on the three recent town hall meetings conducted to solicit residents’ ideas and suggestion for developing the Main Street corridor. “We need more input from young parents,” Miller-Schmidt insisted. To that end, the town will conduct a survey available online and mailed out in residents’ water bills.
Updating the council on the baseball program, Alderwoman Jessica Favaloro said umpires were needed. The position pays $25 per game. To serve as an umpire or volunteer to help with the baseball program, contact Favaloro at <favaloroalderman@benlomand.net>.
From May 9-12, Sparkle Week, Monteagle residents can place items they want to discard at curbside for pickup by city employees. The city will not pickup batteries or tires. The mayor asked residents not to put out pickup items until the evening of Sunday, May 8.