New Monteagle Leaders Make Changes
Thursday, December 1, 2016
by Kevin Cummings, Messenger Staff Writer
With the wind and rain thrashing outside, the Monteagle Town Council and its three new members got to work making changes on Nov. 28, at City Hall.
In the first meeting since the Nov. 8 election, new Mayor David Sampley, new vice mayor Jessica Blalock and new alderman Kenneth Gipson, joined current aldermen Rusty Leonard and Delores Knott. The council immediately hit a minor roadblock when it couldn’t approve minutes from the previous meeting without a quorum of council members who were part of the last meeting.
“Nobody’s ever run into that situation before,” Sampley said. “We’re going to table that because we only have two previous aldermen here.”
After that initial snag, the new council voted on a number of issues, including ending the 5 p.m. work session prior to monthly meetings. The council voted 4–1 to cancel regular work sessions with Leonard the lone vote against. The work sessions are open to the public, but Sampley said the change will increase transparency.
“I feel like everything needs to be conducted in this room with the people here,” he said. “We don’t have anything to hide and we can do it in one meeting.”
Leonard countered that the workshops allow him to prepare for the meeting.
“These workshops are just a chance to brainstorm and they are open to anybody, they’re not closed,” Leonard said. “It’s just an opportunity to toss ideas back and forth before the meeting and those are brought out in full before the entire public at the meeting.”
A large crowd attended this town meeting despite the weather, and Blalock noted that very few people can fit in the room where workshops are held.
The council also unanimously voted to fill three open positions at the recommendation of Police Chief Virgil McNeese: Diane Campbell as court clerk; David Meeks as crossing guard for Monteagle Elementary School; and William Barker as a part-time police officer.
The council also unanimously appointed Blalock to lead the Parks and Recreation Department and appointed all members of the council as signatories for city checks. Checks require at least two council signatures, Sampley said.
In other business, the council approved business permits for two restaurants, Pearl’s, which is under new ownership, as well as Margaritas, a new Mexican restaurant next to Piggly Wiggly.
The council agreed to pay $38,750 as part of its share for two fire trucks if the fire department receives a federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant for $775,000. Fire Chief Mike Holmes said the grant is very competitive, but if awarded, the department will purchase a full size truck and a mini-pumper, with the smaller truck allowing better access in areas such as Clifftops.
In addition to equipment purchase requests, Holmes asked the council to approve an agreement with Tracy City that would require both fire departments to assist each other automatically. Holmes said the agreement could help lower Insurance Service Office (ISO) ratings, reducing home insurance rates. The council unanimously approved moving forward with a potential agreement with Tracy City.
Wanda McDaniel, 911 director, said her department plans to move into its new building in late December.
The council unanimously voted to allow John Condra, utility systems supervisor, to pursue a state permit that would allow the re-routing of water that is currently going into the creek toward Pelham. Condra said about 130,000 gallons per day are being discharged over the mountain. Monteagle is facing water concerns like many towns impacted by the current drought.
The council also voted to join the Fuelman gas card program, which will allow city employees to fill vehicles at any gas station in town. Previously, city employees could only use a card to purchase gas at Pilot Travel Center and the change will allow the city to share taxpayer dollars at other gas stations, Sampley said.
The council cancelled its December meeting because of the holidays and is scheduled to meet again Monday, Jan. 30, at 6 p.m.