Rocky Top street paving set to Begin
The Rocky Top City Council holds its meetings on the third Thursday of each month at City Hall on North Main Street. (photo:G. Chambers Williams III )
Mayor Kerry Templin said The Rogers Group will be doing the paving under a $187,773 contract awarded by the council during its meeting on Oct. 16.
Besides Fourth Avenue, the repaving will also include High Street from Fourth to Seventh streets, and parts of Pearl Street and Cobb Hollow Road.
The work mostly will be to smooth over the streets following the city’s recent sewer-rehabilitation project, which involved tearing up pavement to dig out and replace old sewer and some water lines.
Money for the repaving is coming from federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) grants.
In other business Thursday, the council:
• Passed on first reading Ordinance 618, which would amend the city’s zoning map to change the zoning for property at 901 S. Main St., described as the old hospital site, from M-1 Industrial to C-2 Tourist Commercial for construction of several housing units. The measure still must be passed on second reading before it takes effect.
• Passed Resolution 613, which authorizes the city to conduct tax sales of delinquent real property, and assess attorneys’ fees and other costs related to such sales.
Templin said the measure is meant to empower the city to seize and sell properties whose owners are delinquent in paying property taxes, which has become a problem in the city with many absentee property owners.
• Heard from the mayor that the Anderson County Water Authority intends to raise the rates on water it sells the city for distribution through the city’s water system, effective Jan. 1.
While Rocky Top maintains its own water lines, it does not have a water source and must purchase all its water from AWCA. The city has no control over the rates AWCA charges for the water.
• Authorized a payment of $300 to the Rocky Trop Foundation to cover expenses of the 2025 Christmas parade, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5.
The foundation took over control of the annual Christmas parade this year after the Rocky Top Chamber of Commerce was dissolved. Before, the chamber was responsible for the annual Christmas parade.
• Approved two contracts to continue the services of the Cannon & Cannon engineering firm to help with ongoing city projects and for general engineering services.