Trimble board addresses zoning issues; Hudson to work pro bono

The Trimble Board of Mayor and Aldermen held their regular meeting on Monday evening to deal with an insurance-required ordinance, a grant-anticipation resolution and zoning issues.

The first item of business was to pass a new ordinance requiring residents not to place basketball goals on the street. Trimble's insurance company requested the ordinance passage due to a liability exposure.

"Right now I don't know of any, but they (insurance company) suggested we get the ordinance in place to cover that," said Mayor James Davis.

The insurance company only requested the goal to be off the street. Alderman Matt Stafford asked if there needed to be a limit set as to how many feet it needed to be from the street.

"I just think it needs to be a distance off the road," said Stafford. He speculated that if the goal was placed off the street in someone's driveway, children would still use the street as part of the playing court. He suggested the ordinance be amended by adding the goal be kept a distance of at least 20 feet from the road.

The motion to pass the ordinance requiring residents to keep basketball goals 20 feet from the street passed unanimously.

The next item before the board was to pass a resolution for a grant-anticipation note. The resolution would state the town would be responsible for any interest accrued while borrowing money to pay contractors of the town's sidewalk project. The town is then reimbursed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation for the actual money borrowed within 90 days. The money is the result of a TDOT grant the town received to have sidewalks installed. The total amount of the grant is $248,000. Davis said the Tennessee comptroller's office requires them to pass the resolution before any money can be borrowed.

Alderman Raymond Ballard asked if the town had received any bills to be paid so far. Trimble City Administrator David Norsworthy said they had not received any bills and that the job would probably be ready to bid out by July 1.

Davis clarified the town would be paying out of pocket anything that exceeded $248,000 and they would only borrow the money in increments.

The resolution passed by unanimous vote.

Davis presented the board with copies of the upcoming year's budget. He said a special meeting would be called sometime at the end of the month to adopt the 2009-2010 budget.

He also brought up the issue that he increased this year's property tax rate.

"In order to bring in the same revenue off the property taxes I raised it up four cents," said Davis. "I raised it up to $1.56 to bring in the same amount because of the property appraisals they did in January."

Alderman Steven Parker asked if the property values went down. Davis responded that some decreased and some increased in value.

Next on the agenda, Davis said he had met with Bill Emge about zoning issues. Emge wrote a letter to the board of mayor and aldermen in reference to correcting Trimble's zoning map.

Davis pointed out that a town ordinance requires them to have a planning commission consisting of five members. The members of Trimble Planning Commission are Chairman Johnny Stafford, Mayor Davis, Alderman Jody Hinson Robert McManus and John Ivy.

Members of the board referenced the letter to be associated with the former Billy Boy factory in downtown Newbern and Roger Page's request to have it rezoned.

Norsworthy said Page came into the office to see about paying his application fee to have the former factory zoned as commercial property.

"The only thing it can be changed to is M-1 (commercial)," said Norsworthy. "I don't think the neighborhood down there is going to want it changed to M-1. What the planning commission needs to do is go in and develop another category to go in our zoning book that would fit the use of that factory, where it is."

As it stands, the M-1 zoning status covers a broad spectrum of businesses that can go in the zone. For instance, the property could be used as a logging facility, sawmill, farm products raw material or numerous other businesses.

Davis said Emge wanted the board to vote on the zoning issue tonight, but he explained to him the mayoral board couldn't do it.

Davis also said Emge wanted the board to approve all business licenses. Stafford asked who currently approves the licensing, to which Davis said nobody. Davis said he thought the board approving all business licenses was a good idea.

Davis said the rezoning issue would be addressed before the planning commission this week.

"We're going to have to have it ready to present to you all the next meeting," said Davis.

Next Davis brought to the board's attention a letter from Trimble City Court Judge Jason L. Hudson notifying the board he would continue to serve as judge on a pro bono basis. Hudson noted the downturn in the economy and said the judicial salary could best be used for needs and services for Trimble and its residents. Alderman Raymond Ballard went on the record stating the board appreciated Hudson's decision to work pro bono.

Other points to the meeting:

* Davis stated that other Senor Citizen Feeding Program was going well with approximately 50 senior citizens already signed up. The summer feeding program for children would not interfere with the senior's program.

* The new fire department building on Mitchell Street is ready to have equipment moved into it. The building, which housed the former post office, was purchased for $4,000. It was needed to centralize the Trimble Fire Department's equipment.

* Hinson brought up the issue of the tornado siren. With the last line of storms the siren was used and overheated. It had to be turned off to cool down and then turned back on. Hinson said if it is not manually turned off it remains at a high pitch. He had noticed residents driving around immediately after the siren was turned off thinking the danger was over. Davis said he would talk to Rep. Judy Barker to see if they could find some funding for a new siren.

* Davis also noted a new computer for the police department was purchased for $2,079 with all the funds coming from a Department of Homeland Security grant.

* Davis notified the board the town's Families First program was going great.