by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the Sept. 22 meeting, the Sewanee Community Council took up two issues raising questions about who was responsible for troubling circumstances impacting community wellbeing: lack of information about whether fire hydrant flow rates were sufficient to offer fire protection and whether law enforcement had the authority to issue citations for aggressive dogs without witnessing the dog attack. The council also discussed funding the cost of more speed humps in Sewanee and the need for notification about when road paving would occur.

Sewanee Fire Chief Terry Smith presented the council with a fact sheet explaining his concerns. The Sewanee Fire Department’s ISO score decreased because of lack of current information on hydrant flow rates, Smith maintained. “When we respond to a call, we know where the hydrants are, but sometimes we don’t know the gallons [of flow].” Regulations require a flow rate of 500 gallons per minute for the department to hook a pumper truck to the hydrant. “I’m here to ask this community board to help us approach the Sewanee Utility District to allow us to help them.” A department’s ISO rating impacts insurance premiums. Also concerning to Smith, the paint color on a hydrant’s cap intended to designate the flow-rate range did not always correspond to the hydrant’s actual flow rate.

“I don’t think this is the right venue for this,” said SUD manager Ben Beavers, a council representative. “The board of the utility district should have been approached first. There are also some factual issues I have with this [with Smith’s report]. This postulates the ISO rating didn’t increase just because of the water system. There are other [score] points that were missed [the water utility] had no control over.”

At the February meeting, the SUD Board of Commissioners addressed a board member’s question about the Fire Department’s ISO rating and SUD’s responsibility for hydrant maintenance. “Once every five years we have to flush the hydrants,” Beavers said at the February meeting. “We’re not required to put a gauge on them and do a flow test.” Beavers added SUD flushed hydrants on a rotating schedule. “Annual flow testing would take one-third to one-half of one worker’s time over a year plus the water loss.” Beavers also observed the Fire Department’s ISO score on hydrants decreased, but the ISO rating did not change. The board member, Donnie McBee, who raised questions about hydrant maintenance did not express concern that lack of flow testing impeded fire protection. [See Messenger, Feb. 21, 2025]

Smith acknowledged SUD was not required to flow test and that Beavers had agreed to provide a list of out-of-service hydrants. Asked at the council meeting if the Fire Department would help with hydrant testing and painting, Smith said “If I have to I would be willing to assume the cost of the $1,500-$2,000 to paint the hydrants plus the amount of labor it’s going to take to flow the hydrants … we’ll do whatever it takes to help.” The information sheet distributed by Smith stated, “We are not authorized or equipped to test them.”

Council representative Phil White pointed out, “This committee has no power. If we have concerns we express them to the University.”

Vice-Chancellor Rob Pearigen voiced appreciation for the Sewanee Fire Department and Sewanee Utility District. “We have two essential services here, and we need those services to be talking to one another.”

The council passed a resolution encouraging conversation between the Fire Department and SUD.

Provost Scott Wilson offered an update on revision of the dog control policy discussed at the past two meetings in March and May. The committee tasked with revisions recommended, although not unanimously, the policy stipulate law enforcement “will,” not “may,” issue citations; the policy increases the fines for violations; and the policy advises the victim to contact the police or animal control, not the dog owner. Upon reviewing the policy revisions, the University attorney concluded, to impose fines in addition to those authorized by state law, the University would need to revise the leasehold policy.

Commenting on the policy revisions recommended, resident Brooks Egerton who served on the revision committee said, “The broader issue is the police are not enforcing the law.” Residents reported several dog attacks to the police during the last academic year, and other attacks have already occurred this year. “The police are not doing their job. They at least need to investigate,” Council representative Marilyn Phelps insisted. Phelps said, according to the police, law enforcement could not issue a citation if they did not witness the dog roaming at large or engaged in an attack.

Egerton said he could not find any record of Sewanee Police issuing citations except in a recent instance involving a dog attacking his son. Egerton insisted the dog owner be cited. The police observed the dog at large, but not the attack, and wrote a citation for the at-large violation, only.

“We have a detailed dog-at-large criminal statute in Tennessee, and it is fully enforceable here,” said former Assistant District Attorney Steve Blount weighing in on the discussion. “You don’t have to worry about changing the lease policy.” Blount added, law enforcement could not arrest the dog owner if they did not witness the violation, but they could issue a citation. “It was never the law that a misdemeanor had to occur in the presence of an officer before an officer could do anything.” Police did not like to prosecute dog cases, Blount acknowledged. In the case of Sewanee Police prosecuting a case in court, “that’s an expense for the University.” Questioned after the meeting, Blount explained if law enforcement declined to take action, the victim could go directly to the magistrate and request a citation be issued. Blount recommended the victim present a police report as documentation of the incident.

In other business, Wilson announced the University had one more set of speed humps to install, earmarked for Kennerly Avenue. In 2024, the council Traffic Committee received a $6,000 Project Funding grant from the council for the purchase of speed humps. The University matched the amount. The committee will submit a grant request for the purchase of additional speed humps. Residents have complained about speeding on Breakfield Road, Roarks Cove Road and in the Woodlands area.

Phelps raised a complaint from a resident who missed a Home Health Care appointment because there was no notification paving would be underway. Phelps said in the past the police issued notifications about road work. Superintendent of Leases Sallie Green said perhaps the police were not informed. Green recommended Phelps contact Franklin County Road Commissioner Johnny Hughes.

Phelps also expressed concerns about hazards posed by motorized scooters travelling at a high rate of speed. Wilson said the University did not require students to register scooters. Pearigen will consult with Dean of Students Nicky Campbell.