Taylor re-elected mayor of Maryville
By Iva Butler | (ivab@thedailytimes.com)
Tom Taylor was re-elected mayor and Andy White vice mayor at the Maryville City Council meeting Tuesday night.
Newly re-elected Councilmen Taylor and Joe Swann took the oath of office.
Their single opponent, J. Nathan Higdon, was present for the swearing-in ceremony.
Both Taylor and Swann said Higdon ran a clean campaign.
In other action, council approved on first reading an ordinance limiting the height of light poles for parks, recreational and athletic facilities.
This issue arose in March when the school board wanted to place 50- and 60-foot light poles at the soccer field at John Sevier Elementary School. Residents of the area opposed the tall light fixtures.
The regulation focuses on the height of light poles and the type of lighting fixtures. It regulates light trespassing on area properties and requires buffering where possible.
The school board is expected to erect 60-foot poles at John Sevier with lighting fixtures that will cut light trespass.
Council also approved on final reading an ordinance that will increase water and wastewater rates.
It will take effect Jan. 1.
Rates will increase 5 percent and the minimum monthly charge will go up $2.50 each for water and sewer.
The additional money will be used to pay for fixed costs and to make up the difference in a reduction of usage by customers.
The charge for a city resident using water and sewer service using 5,000 gallons per month will be an additional $6.56 a month, increasing the bill from $43.01 to $49.57.
Maryville Electric Department was authorized to make in-lieu of tax payments amounting to $947,186.20 to Maryville and $274,989.54 to Blount County.
Approved on final reading was moving $550,000 from the local grant fund to the Greenbelt Lake Sediment Removal Project.
Also approved on final reading was rezoning property at 925 Turner Street, which is behind Home Depot, from Residential to Business and Transportation Zone.
The property was originally rezoned from Residential to Commercial when it was annexed in 1996, however, he change was never reflected on the zoning map.
An ordinance was approved on first reading providing more consistency and clarity to the grading, soil erosion and sedimentation control regulations.
The changes are mostly grammatical, said Maryville Director of Engineering and Public Works Angie Luckie.
Since the January meeting date falls on New Year’s Day, the date was moved to Jan. 2 as required by the city charter.
