Rocky Top hikes court costs, appoints Duff
Richard Duff shakes hands with General Sessions Judge Matt Tuck after being sworn in to serve on the Rocky Top City Council last Thursday night. He was appointed to the seat by the rest of the council. The seat was vacant because no one ran for it in the Nov. 5 city election. (photo:G. Chambers Williams III )
Court costs have been assessed at $125 since they were last adjusted in 1998, City Manager Mike Ellis told the council. Some of the increase was based on new fees for electronic recording of court cases, along with higher litigation taxes.
The change was the topic of a public hearing just prior to the regular council meeting, but no one spoke up from the audience.
Council members approved the measure, Ordinance 597, by a unanimous vote (5-0).
Officially, the ordinance amends Title 3 of the Rocky Top Municipal Code, which sets out the structure and operation of the court.
Municipal court primarily deals with traffic citations issued by city police officers, and violations of city ordinances and codes.
The city judge is appointed by the City Council.
In other business:
• Keith Daniels was sworn in by Anderson County General Sessions Judge Matt Tuck to begin a four-year term on the City Council.
He was elected in the Nov. 5 general election to take the seat of Councilman Zack Green, who chose not to run again.
• Richard Duff, a lifelong resident of Rocky Top, was nominated by Mayor Kerry Templin to take an open seat on the City Council, replacing Stacy Phillips.
Phillips chose not to run for the seat that she had been appointed to after a previous council member resigned last year, and no one else filed to run for the seat.
The four seated council members approved Duff’s appointment unanimously, and he was sworn in and seated at the council table.
Because no one ran for the seat in the election, the mayor had the authority to appoint someone to fill the seat until the next city election, which will be held in November 2026.
Duff would have to run for the office then to finish out the four-year term.
• Ellis said the water and sewer line-breakage/leak insurance program will begin Feb. 1, with a monthly fee of $2.35 for water and an additional $2.35 for sewer customers.
To opt out of the insurance, water and sewer customers must go to City Hall and sign a form; otherwise, the charges will automatically be added to water/sewer bills in February.
• The water/sewer rehabilitation project now underway is 61% completed and on day 219 of 360 days, Ellis told the council.
In relation to that, the council approved two change orders, for $44,000 and $52,000, for additional work on water or sewer lines that resulted from problems detected during the ongoing rehab project.
• The council approved purchase of a new Ford Explorer SUV for $45,000 from Ray Varner Ford of Clinton for use by the city manager.
• Also approved were contracts to build an 80-foot-long three-sided shed to house vehicles of the city’s Public Works Department, for $24,115, and to build a fence around the area, for $13,956.
• The contract for the services of John Owings as city attorney was renewed by the council.
• Sewer adjustments for November totaling S1,122 were approved.
