Rocky Top approves $300 water deposit
Amanda Daugherty, right, Rocky Top’s city recorder, swears in the city’s police force during a ceremony at the beginning of last Thursday’s February City Council meet- ing at City Hall. The officers include, from left: Deputy Chief Matt McGhee, Sgt. Kevin Perkins, Officer Mikala Malicoat, Detective Tim Powers, Officer Matt Maples, and Officer Cody Culver. In front is Chief of Police John Thomas. (photo:G. Chambers Williams III )
Last Thursday evening, the City Council passed on second and final reading Ordinance 582, which sets the new deposit amount.
The good news is that the deposit is fully refundable to those who pay their final bills after they move out, Mayor Kerry Templin noted.
“We’ve had issues with renters skipping out on their final bills, which has become a common occurrence,” Templin said during presentation of the proposed ordinance during last month’s council meeting, in which the ordinance was passed on first reading.
The city hopes that the new $300 deposit requirement will at least cover the final water and sewer bill if a renter leaves without paying, the mayor said.
Councilman Zack Green made the motion to approve the ordinance on second reading, and the measure was seconded by Councilwoman Stacy Phillips. The council then voted 5-0 to approve the ordinance.
Rocky Top already has water and sewer rates that are among the highest in the region.
Also during last week’s regular council meeting:
• The council agreed to apply for a parks and recreation grant of up to $750,000 from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to help pay for improvements to the city’s ballfield, including new bleachers.
These grants require an equal match by the city, and a notice of intent to apply must be filed by Thursday (Feb. 22), city officials said.
“We’re looking at spending almost $1 million on the ballfield,” said Councilman Green, who serves on the Recreation Committee.
• Heard that the city had filed an application for a grant of up to $18,000 to pay for trees that would be planted to create a “green space” and canopy around the city’s splash pad, to provide shade. Included would be an irrigation system for the green space.
• Approved on second and final reading Ordinance 583, which would amend city code to adopt state traffic offenses and rules of the road for enforcement by city police and dispensation in the Rocky Top City Court.
Under this measure, these cases would be handled by the city judge, rather than being heard in General Sessions Court in Clinton.
• Heard from Green that the Recreation Committee has set this year’s Independence Day activities and fireworks for Thursday, July 4, rather than tying the celebration to a weekend.
• Proclaimed that Arbor Day would be celebrated on March 1 this year. There will be an 11 a.m.. program for schoolkids at the Rocky Top Public Library.
• Rescheduled the April meeting of the City Council to April 25 from the usual third Thursday, which would have been April 18.