by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the Aug. 4 meeting, the Monteagle Planning Commission approved a subdivision plat tabled at the July 7 meeting. The commission also revisited the discussion on prohibiting data centers and other options available to the town.

The Northcutt subdivision plat calls for four lots on Summerfield Road, two receiving water from a 6” line on Summerfield and two receiving water from a 2” line on Bud Pattie Road. Development of the neighboring lots “would require another [subdivision plat] submission,” stressed Mayor Greg Maloof. “And consultation with the engineer about having adequate water supply,” added Commissioner Alec Mosley.

The commission tabled the subdivision plat submission in July due to developer Robert Northcutt only providing three copies of the plat and for the plat lacking signatures from Sequachee Valley Electric verifying service and from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation allowing septic systems.

“The urban development [rules] don’t say you need five copies,” Northcutt pointed out. He also struggled with the signatures requirement. “I didn’t know who to go to see to get all the signatures,” Northcutt said. “Even though they say Sequachee Valley, who is the person that works for Sequachee Valley that has to sign it.”

“People don’t know where to go or they go there and they redirect you,” agreed Commission Secretary Katie Trahan who signs the final plat verifying the needed signatures have been received. “If we had a list with the phone numbers and the addresses, Jonathan [Rush, the town planner] could send it out with the plat when it’s ready for signatures.”

“To be honest, I don’t know the contact information for all the power companies,” acknowledged Rush.

Commission Chair Richard Black asked Trahan to prepare a contact information list.

“I don’t know the answers to all those questions,” Trahan replied. “I honestly don’t know who all the gas companies are.”

“If you’ll figure out what the questions are, we’ll figure out how to come up with the answers,” Black suggested.

Revisiting the July meeting data center discussion resulting in the commission recommending and the Monteagle council approving an ordinance amendment only allowing data centers as a special exception in Industrial Zoning, Mosley and Trahan both spoke in favor of Rush’s offer to look into more in depth regulations and definitions for data centers.

“Does this have any effect on [the data center amendment] the council voted for at the last meeting?” asked Alderman Grant Fletcher.

“It would put more restrictions on defining exactly what ‘data center’ means,” Rush said. “You could do a moratorium if there are concerns right now. A lot of communities in southeast Tennessee are starting to do that.”

The effectiveness of the data center amendment in stopping data centers from locating in Monteagle in part hinges on Monteagle having no property zoned industrial. At the July 27 Monteagle Council meeting Fletcher raised the possibility of a data center wanting to locate in Monteagle requesting rezoning to industrial. Fletcher asked if rezoning criteria was sufficient to stop rezoning that would allow a data center to locate in the town. “Maybe,” replied Alderman Nate Wilson. [See Messenger, July 31, 2026].

“We could use a moratorium as a stopgap?” Fletcher proposed at the planning commission meeting.

“Yes,” concurred Rush. “I would have your city attorney put the language together.”

Two rising juniors and one rising senior from St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School attended three Tennessee Governor’s Schools this summer: filmmaking, computational physics, and sciences and engineering.

Rising senior Emmett True, Sewanee, participated in the filmmaking program at the School for the Arts at MTSU, June 6-28. Along with his program peers, True participated in every aspect of filmmaking, from developing a story idea to casting to editing the film. He said, “I worked with professors and film grads, as well as people who have worked in Hollywood and professional freelance editors/directors, all of whom were instructors. I highly recommend it and would attend again if I could.”

Rising junior Adeline Pond, Sewanee, studied sciences and engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, May 31-June 27. In this immersive college experience in STEM classes, Pond focused on materials science, which included several three-day labs exploring a different material each week: metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites. Of her experience, Pond said, “My recommendation to future students hoping to attend this program is to stay curious and involved in the classes you are interested in most. Programs like Governor’s Schools can help you to expand on that curiosity.”

Martin Brodsky, a rising junior from Sewanee, studied computational physics at Austin Peay State University, May 31-June 26. “I worked with professors, grad students, and experts in fields of computer science, physics and modeling,” Brodsky said. “I made a lot of new friends and had a lot of fun. Those four weeks flew by.”

The Governor’s Schools of Tennessee provide 11 intense programs in arts, humanities, agriculture science, STEM programs, advanced mathematics, physics, leadership, international studies, Tennessee history, or potential teaching careers. Students are nominated by teachers, and the programs are funded by the Tennessee State General Assembly. Each program has specific eligibility requirement criteria.

The Sewanee Inn is hosting a Book Swap from noon to 2 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 9. Celebrate National Book Lovers Day with an afternoon of community, cozy vibes, and all things bookish. We are also thrilled to announce the ribbon cutting of our very own Little Free Library, handcrafted by our talented maintenance team — a gift to our community we hope will be enjoyed for years to come.

There will be local vendors and authors, delicious lunch offerings, book-inspired drinks, book trivia, door prize, sweet treats and more.

Book donations are being accepted now through Friday, Aug. 7. Please bring books in good condition to the front desk. (No damaged books, please.) As our “thank you,” everyone who donates will receive a coupon for 25 percent off at our full-service restaurant, Shakerag. (Valid through Dec. 18, 2026.)

On Saturday, Aug. 8, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sewanee Elementary School (SES) will host its annual Make a Difference Day. The Sewanee Parent Organization invites community members to help SES prepare for the new academic year by sprucing up school grounds.

Volunteers are needed to assist with a range of yardwork, including weeding, spreading mulch, and planting flowers. Bring gardening gloves and tools such as shovels, spades, and wheelbarrows. Many thanks for your support, as SES begins its 101st year!