by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the July 28 meeting of the Monteagle Council and beer board meeting immediately prior, the council voted on two food truck issues: sale tax revenue and beer sales. In other business at the council meeting, Mayor Greg Maloof offered advice on black bears sightings in the Assembly, and the council discussed replacing the police K-9 dog.

The food truck ordinance amendment approved by the council distinguished between temporary food trucks and permanent food trucks. “We have some food trucks that are permanently set up, and we wanted to make sure we could get that sales tax coming here,” said Vice Mayor Nate Wilson. By state law, for temporary food trucks sales tax revenue goes to the town where the truck owner lives.

At the beer board hearing, the alderman voted to allow beer sales by Paco’s Tacos conditional upon the food truck being contingent with the building at 202 E. Main, the former coffee shop. “The portable kitchen, as you attach yourself to the building, would fall under a different category [from food trucks] so that [beer sales] would be allowed,” said Alderman Grant Fletcher explaining the rationale behind the decision. “Part of the discussion still going on in redoing the food truck ordinance is whether we would allow standalone food trucks to serve alcohol.” All beer sold at 202 East Main will be served inside the building. Owner Deborah Reed anticipates necessary renovations being completed by the end of August. The business will operate under the name Paco’s Cantina and Sports Bar.

Taking up the issue of black bears in the Assembly, Maloof said, “They are a protected species. Tennessee Wildlife recommended securing the garbage. The Assembly will be taking on a project to eliminate garbage cans unless they are in some kind of shelter. The bear population is coming out of hibernation, and if they are hungry, they will be looking for food. Bears won’t harm you if you don’t harm them. Don’t challenge them, don’t feed them, don’t talk to them. Just let them be bears.”

Police Chief William Raline announced the retirement of the department’s K-9 dog, Milo. Asked if the department would get another dog, Raline said, “Do I see the need for one? Absolutely. Do we have the budget for it? I have no clue. It is costly.” He estimated the cost of purchase, training, and building a kennel at $30,000-$40,000. Milo lived with an officer who is leaving the force, reducing the cost. “Milo was a tracking dog, an article search dog, and a narcotics dog,” Raline emphasized. Raline cited article search and finding lost children and elders as primary in importance, but he also stressed reduction in drug traffic as a benefit of having Milo. “Drugs were flowing through Monteagle pretty heavily for a bit. They’re not now. A K-9 makes a difference. [Drug traffickers] go around Monteagle.” Raline hopes to have more detailed information in September on the costs associated with acquiring a new K-9.

In addition, Raline alerted residents of increased law enforcement presence at the elementary school with the start of school Aug. 7. “We’re going to be focusing on child restraints.” If children are not properly restrained, the police will pull vehicles over and advise parents on child restraining measures.

The council approved initiating a contract with grant writer Gina Massey Daniels. Currently employed by Winchester, Daniels has time to assist Monteagle as well, said Fletcher who initiated the grant writer search. Payment for services will be the administrative fee designated by the grant, meaning no additional cost to the town. If there is no administrative fee designated by the grant, the payment will be based on the amount of the grant. Wilson observed Southeastern Tennessee Development (SETD) currently performed this service for Monteagle. Fletcher speculated Daniels could find additional grants. Maloof praised SETD’s grant work for Monteagle in the past, but anticipated a greater need, especially with the Imagine Monteagle planning process underway.

The council also approved purchase of a truck for the street department from budgeted funds; an emergency repair at the water plant to avoid curtailment of water service and water quality problems; and a task order for the sewer plant. Maloof explained, the task order provided for sewer line analysis to determine what sewer lines could be added onto without exceeding the capacity of the existing line and pump.

Taking up communications, Maloof urged residents to contact city hall and sign up for “master blast” email notifications. “There’s no way to reach people if they don’t reach us,” Maloof said.