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Maryville City Council members approved Tuesday a Maryville School Board request to hire a project manager for pre-construction services for the high school and a new elementary school.

According to Mike Dalton, Director of Maryville Schools, no one has been selected for the project manager's position.

Board members asked the City Council on March 9 for the help of a project manager, given the complexity of expanding Maryville High School at its current location. It's uncertain to what degree board members will be involved in the selection of a project manager.

"I've got to talk to (school) board members and see if they want to be involved in that," said Dalton.

The city will choose the project manager, according to Pam Arnett, Maryville public information officer, but the school board will be involved in the process. The contract for the project manager will have to be approved by the City Council.

In the called meeting Tuesday, City Council members also approved a 45-day extension to continue negotiations with Vulcan Materials Co.

Vulcan filed suit in 2004 against the city to determine the extent of its quarry operations on Duncan Road. Company officials asked a federal court to clarify whether it can expand its operations onto adjacent land that it leases. The company and the property owners leasing the land to Vulcan will be reviewing the proposed agreement.

On Jan. 30, the City Council voted to continue negotiating for 45 days toward the settlement. That deadline passed on March 16.

In other actions, City Council members:

* Accepted a $750,000 settlement in a case the city filed March 17, 2003, against Consolidated Technologies Inc., Chattanooga, over construction of a raw water reservoir at the Maryville Water Filtration Plant.

"We had a new reservoir at the plant that failed," said Maryville City Manager Gary Hensley.

The resolution for approval of the mediated settlement agreement between the company and city indicated the reservoir has not held water since 2002.

* Approved on second reading a rate increase for the city's electric service. The rate increase comes as a result of higher rates by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Electric department customers can expect to see an increase of 9.95 percent. TVA raised rates wholesale rates, effective April 1.

* Approved an off-premises beer permit for KVA-T Food Stores Inc., doing business as Food City, 2136 E. Broadway Ave.

* Held a public hearing in regards to a plan for services for the annexation of property on U.S. 411 South. In its called meeting, the City Council also approved on second reading annexation of the property, located across from a site for a Wal-Mart store. The territory was rezoned and a plan for services for the annexation was also approved.