by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the Nov. 24 meeting, the Monteagle Council approved a flow study, cost $99,350, to continue ongoing work to reduce inflow and infiltration (I&I) of groundwater into the sanitary sewer system. The council also approved the purchase of eight automatic rifles, cost $17,976, for use by the police department. The council deferred a decision on an ordinance amendment that stipulated projects under 1,000 square feet did not require a site plan or planning commission approval.

The three-month flow study will measure I&I entering the sewer system from the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly and two satellite areas Monteagle treats sewage for, Tracy City and the Grundy County Housing Authority. I&I puts an unnecessary burden on the city’s wastewater treatment system, taxing its capacity. The cost of the study “will be reimbursable,” said Mayor Greg Maloof who anticipates receiving grant money for the I&I reduction project. In conjunction with the flow study, the council approved the purchase of a flow meter to measure I&I entering the system from the Grundy Housing Authority, cost $9,031. Flow meters to measure I&I from the Assembly and Tracy City have already been installed.

Asked about the purchase of the automatic rifles, Monteagle Police Officer Gus Raby explained, “They are rifles, not fully automatic machine guns. Us not having them puts us at a disadvantage.” The department currently owns three nonfunctional automatic rifles. “A few officers carry our own personal ones,” Raby said. The rifles are equipped with suppressors to “quiet the noise down,” a benefit to bystanders and officers not wearing ear protection and an aid in helping officers distinguish enemy fire, Raby maintained. He stressed the suppressors are not silencers. The cost of the rifles will be drawn from the drug fund. Alderman Dean Lay “passed” on the vote.

In other police business, Sargent Hafiz Karteron addressed a question about why Monteagle police responded to a call outside the Monteagle city limits. Karteron said Grundy County requested Monteagle’s assistance. “It was a domestic call, so a priority call,” Karteron insisted. “Whoever can get there fastest.” Monteagle arrived first. The arrest for false imprisonment was made by Grundy County. “Mutual aid is common practice,” Karteron said. “We have had 69 other mutual aids this year.”

The proposed ordinance amendment excluding projects less than 1,000 square feet from requiring a site plan and planning commission approval only applied to commercial, multifamily, and industrial developments, Alderman Nate Wilson pointed out. Only a sketch plan would be required. Alderman Grant Fletcher took issue with the amendment. “If a new business comes in and it’s going to be 800 square feet in one of those skinnies along the frontage [greenway], they would not need a site plan, and I don’t think that’s a good idea. It has utility implications, all kinds of drainage implications, even though it’s a small building. I want to see the sketch plan definition so we know it includes all the things needed for a new building,” Fletcher said. “I think you’re onto something,” Wilson agreed. The council deferred a decision on the amendment pending receiving more detailed information on sketch plan requirements.

Going against Maloof’s recommendation, the council approved transferring $500,000 from the operations budget to the capital reserves account. Maloof argued for waiting until the end of the fiscal year in June before transferring projected excess from the operations budget. “I do not see the urgency. I think we can add to the balance at the appropriate time. No one can predict what the future holds between now and June 30.”

Reporting on the Imagine Monteagle planning initiative, Fletcher said Monteagle received a $20,000 Brownfields grant to hire an environmental engineer to identify possible contaminated sites. The town also received a $97,000 Brownfields grant for assessment of a privately owned site to determine remediation possibilities. For the assessment to move forward the owners would need to temporarily transfer ownership to the town via a quit-claim deed, Fletcher noted. Following the assessment the property would be deeded back to the current owners.

Building inspector Travis Lawyer updated the council on the Mountain Inn which burned nearly a year ago. By law, the owners had six months to clean up the property. “I’m going to serve them a notice for condemnation of the building and seek demolition. It’s the first time Monteagle has had to deal with this. I’m seeking a lien on the property for the city to be reimbursed on the demolition.”

Monteagle’s holiday calendar includes a parade at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, lineup at the flea market at 2:30 p.m.; and the Christmas Bazaar 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, at City Hall.

The council will meet next on Monday, Dec. 15 instead of the regular meeting day on the last Monday of the month.