[0:00] call the meeting to order. >> Everyone, please rise for the

[0:04] invocation. Remain standing for the pledge of allegiance.

[0:08] » Lord, we just thank you for this opportunity, Lord, to do what you have

[0:11] us to do. Let this meeting be uplifting for everybody in this town and that we

[0:16] keep that in mind when we vote and doing anything for this town, Lord, that we do

[0:20] what your will is for this town forever in Jesus name. Amen.

[0:25] » Amen. I pledge algiance to the flag of the

[0:31] United States of America and to the republic for [clears throat] which it

[0:35] stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice

[0:41] for all. >> Thank you.

[0:47] » Call the roll, please. >> Here.

[0:51] » Here. >> Daniel,

[0:52] » here. >> Doug,

[0:53] » here. >> Here.

[0:56] Approval of the agenda. Is there any questions regarding tonight's agenda?

[1:08] » Do I have a motion to approve the agenda as written?

[1:12] » I make a motion to approve the agenda. >> Do I have a second? Second. The motion.

[1:17] Motion. Second. Call the roll, please. >> I second.

[1:20] » I. >> Daniels.

[1:21] » I. >> D.

[1:22] » I. >> All right.

[1:25] and approval of the September 18th, 2025 city council meeting minutes.

[1:34] Do I have any discussion in regards to the September

[1:39] minutes?

[1:54] Make a motion we approve the minutes. Okay, I have a motion. Do I have a

[1:57] second? >> A second.

[2:00] » Motion a second. Call the role, please. >> I second.

[2:04] » Daniels, >> I

[2:09] » recognize citizens, guests, and visitors. Do I have anybody to come

[2:12] before the board?

[2:16] Yes, sir. >> Yes. I just want to thank the city,

[2:20] your workers, and yourself. On October 3rd, they shut the water down to remove

[2:26] a fire hydrant, >> which also shut our business down.

[2:30] » Once they found it, it shut our business down. I know he made a call to you is

[2:34] decided to move that to another date >> when actually all the businesses on that

[2:38] side of town were closed. and we highly appreciate it because on that Friday we

[2:43] would have lost a bunch of money. >> We just wanted to come forth and say

[2:47] thank you. >> We should have thought well we thought

[2:49] we were going to be able to isolate it and we couldn't. So

[2:54] thank you.

[3:00] Okay. Mayor's report committee council member reports

[3:07] planning commission >> we meet next Tuesday.

[3:10] Okay. And recreation committee, we did not

[3:16] have a meeting.

[3:19] So,

[3:22] everything still good for the trunker tree,

[3:27] » right? Every everything's on. >> Yes.

[3:32] » Okay. General government report, city manager report. Uh fall [clears throat]

[3:37] cleanup will continue this month. Uh trunk or treat will be October 31st from

[3:44] 6:00 to 8 at the ball field. [clears throat and cough]

[3:47] And the bids for the roof roofs came in. Low bid was the Dixie Roofing at

[3:54] 120,000.

[3:57] And that was I think they had a 20-year warranty on the roof. Uh what was the

[4:04] next bid? >> 138,000 and something. That was exterior

[4:09] roofing. >> Okay.

[4:12] » We just have two. >> Yeah, we just had two.

[4:17] » 120. >> Yep.

[4:24] » We know when this is going to start. >> We sent the paperwork in yesterday. I

[4:29] think Heather did so to try to get them on the try to get us on the schedule for

[4:34] before bad weather. >> That'll be a good thing before snow and

[4:40] wet weather. >> Financial report.

[4:45] » Uh drug fund. Uh they received $14,000.

[4:51] They had expenses of 1,700.

[4:56] Then the general fund we received 123,000.

[5:00] Uh our expenses is 205,000.

[5:05] Uh we did pay 17,000 in our towards our debt service.

[5:13] Then the street aid we did not receive any for this month of September. We

[5:18] didn't spend any either. The water uh revenue for water was

[5:24] 72,000 for sewer was 82,000. Our interest for the water is 2250.

[5:32] Total revenue is 157253.

[5:36] uh purchased 14,500 of water and expenses

[5:44] totaled 84,000 total [snorts] for U balance of

[5:50] difference of 72,000.

[6:00] Any questions on the financial report?

[6:09] police report. Chief,

[6:13] » thank you.

[6:19] » Over the month of September, your police officers made 31 arrests conducted

[6:23] traffic stops issued 59 citations and 37 warnings. They completed 55 in reports

[6:31] responded to a call for service. We have one over

[6:44] our officers completed their annual inservice training. It was accepted by

[6:47] post

[6:52] » for grants. We had looked at BCI that we got two years ago that was really good

[6:57] for training equipment. However, the way they focus

[7:03] a lot We could apply for

[7:08] for internal procedures and equipment. We implemented the record policy

[7:13] last month. We did have one issue with record service

[7:18] inspection.

[7:28] I've got a requested action for you with the oversized load.

[7:45] » I got a red light.

[7:50] » All right. There is a uh state statute for the

[7:54] oversized loads which requires permit from Nashville do

[7:59] » part of that the city could not adopt because it's a class A that's the

[8:03] portion in the statute over the weight while being overweight. However, the

[8:09] other parts of it we could enforce if we adopt an ordinance as the size

[8:15] and the height and so on and so forth

[8:20] would be where we could take some hopefully correct that. I don't know

[8:26] that it would fix it, but it would be a step in the right direction.

[8:30] » Okay. Well, we need to do a little bit of

[8:33] further research on what the right avenue here is in regards to those.

[8:40] » Uh >> I don't think it's working either. And

[8:42] with a state highway which kind of ties our hands in a lot of

[8:47] but when they're damaging our sidewalks and they're damaging our traffic lights

[8:51] that's a different story. >> Yes sir.

[8:53] » I thought something on the bridge here. Let's say do we know first of all do we

[8:58] know the tonnage of the bridge >> and our bridge?

[9:02] » Well it's which T dot dot. But if something was to happen to that bridge,

[9:08] where's traffic going to get diverted? That

[9:10] » would y

[9:16] I don't think there's ever been a weight limit on that bridge.

[9:25] » They know in Nashville that we are upset >> with these oversized loads.

[9:31] » Yes, sir. >> They know [cough] very They

[9:33] [clears throat] very well know we're upset about it.

[9:36] The good side to our bridges is loosely short.

[9:41] » Those oversized loads are so long. >> The tractor will be in front of city

[9:46] hall and the end of the trailer will be >> North Main Street on the other side of

[9:52] the bridge. >> That is but it still

[9:58] takes a toll. Has to take a toll.

[10:03] It's the reason they're coming through this town is because the

[10:08] the river bridge will not support

[10:13] » and with the number of axles all of the weight gets on the river bridge at one

[10:17] time or mostly or a large percentage of its [clears throat] rating.

[10:21] » Yeah. The whole loads on the bridge at one time

[10:24] » whereas our bridge is >> it's not on the bridge at one time.

[10:28] » Yes sir. Okay. For our accreditation, we completed seven more secondary policies.

[10:33] We got 54 remaining before our next benchmark at the end of December. Uh

[10:38] case of significance, officers made many drug related arrests. The main drug uh

[10:43] offense that we're seeing is methamphetamine.

[10:45] Uh we had the issues with the oversized loads damaging the traffic light. And uh

[10:50] we did complete accident reports and issue citations on the ones that we

[10:53] could. >> The uh we had a rash bicycle thefts over

[10:57] near the fairgrounds. officers investigated that, identified a suspect,

[11:00] and before they could arrest him on that, he committed a more serious

[11:03] domestic offense and got arrested for all of the above.

[11:09] » For our budget, uh by pay period, we're 26.9% through the fiscal year. I

[11:13] calculate we've spent 18.9% of the department's uh portion of the budget,

[11:18] but that's because of irregular uh expenses for our personnel costs were on

[11:22] track to be even in the projections. >> Okay. Thank you, Chie. Yes, sir.

[11:28] » Before you sit down, I'm just going to throw this out there. Would would these

[11:32] oversized loads be worthy of a workshop?

[11:40] » Yeah, I believe so.

[11:43] » What do you What do you mean? The council workshop discussed maybe we get

[11:47] a state representative in here to speak to them or someone from T DOT.

[12:00] And also the reason why I had the suggested action item or something for

[12:04] you to consider about an ordinance. There are other municipalities for any

[12:08] future workshop. I can pull those for what ordinances they have to address

[12:12] their issues for your concern. >> That would be that would be awesome.

[12:15] Yes, sir. >> Please do that.

[12:17] » We'll do. >> Yeah. Thank you.

[12:19] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[12:22] » Okay. Fire report. 25 EMS calls, one vehicle fire, three

[12:28] false alarms, eight lift assist, two motor vehicle accidents, mutual aid

[12:34] call, three overdoses. Not good. Total calls

[12:39] of the month, 43 calls. We're a total of 455 calls for the year.

[12:50] Public works. Uh 57 and 3/4 tons trash for the month

[12:57] of September. Uh no brush. Well, it was brush, but we're

[13:04] not showing brush tonnage wise because we're burning our brush. Now we take our

[13:08] brush over to the sharp property, which is saving us quite a bit of money

[13:12] [cough] versus [clears throat] taking it to the landfill and having to pay per

[13:16] ton to dump it. uh mow weed bush hog throughout town ball fields uh been

[13:23] spraying weed killer hot patched several holes in town and

[13:30] trim trees and there's more tree trimming going on

[13:34] » and Stansel Electric is they are working on the interstate lights

[13:39] » uh I saw them on the 128s the other day >> guy was down there and we've seen him on

[13:47] the 129. They had crews up there setting poles, but uh the gentleman we spoke to

[13:53] at the 129 >> Mhm.

[13:55] » I saw him down out at the 128 under the bridge around.

[14:00] » Yeah. They they were looking right there for that box where the guardrail is.

[14:06] » Mhm. which they gave me a quote which is

[14:10] going to be $15,000 to >> everything's $15,000.

[14:18] Okay. Water and sewer month report. Uh they've been repairing had a which every

[14:25] month we have a lot of service lines and the service line is the line from the

[14:30] main to your meter. Uh a lot of leaking service lines. lot of know problem there

[14:35] is a there's a lot of shallow lines and rock people drive over them and rock

[14:41] wind up punching a pinhole in the line

[14:46] had two repaired two 8 inch mains that's probably uh one of the big reasons for

[14:52] our water loss for last month we pulled a hydrant down here on the second of on

[14:58] the corner of second and Lawson Street is going to be replaced with a new

[15:02] hydrant Um,

[15:06] our jeter's been down for the last week due to mechanical failure. Hopefully,

[15:13] you heard anything about that part? >> No.

[15:16] » Hopefully the part will be in within the next day or two. We can get it back in

[15:21] operation.

[15:25] Monthly water loss. It's one of the worst ones we've had in a long time.

[15:29] » But wouldn't that be High Street? H. >> Wouldn't this be the one we had on High

[15:34] Street? >> No.

[15:40] » Yeah. >> Yep. Aren't we that we're about two

[15:44] months behind? >> No. Uh

[15:50] [clears throat] well, that time lag. This isn't high. Uh

[15:55] these are those other two 8 in

[16:00] that they had leaks on. Not counting of course the one we just had on the

[16:05] freeway that pal Clinch got into will be on this next

[16:10] » No, it'd be two months. >> It'll be in de we'll see it in December.

[16:15] We'll see those numbers in December.

[16:21] was working on it, but it

[16:25] » uh yeah, but it's not that big. That one's not that big.

[16:30] » Does Palinch pay or anything or is that >> just

[16:35] » We kind of We tear their stuff out of the ground and we don't have to pay when

[16:39] we tear their stuff up. Okay. >> It's kind of

[16:41] » Okay, >> that's how and we didn't mark it. They

[16:45] went [clears throat] by the map. The map's not right where it shows the line.

[16:50] you know, they marked it where the map shows.

[16:53] That's not where they got into it. I mean, they were several several feet

[16:57] away where they got into it. And that's a matter for further discussion

[17:03] on our uh we're looking at some options for locating these lines and doing a

[17:09] more accurate survey on where our lines are at, where our valves are at.

[17:15] Are we updating maps as something what as we kind of at least redline?

[17:20] » Yes, I've got redline maps. Joy's got redline maps. Uh

[17:26] we found a device here a couple of months ago that's a it's a Garmin GPS

[17:32] device and we gave it to Canon and Canon and

[17:35] Canon Canon's trying to download the data that was on. We don't know how it

[17:39] was used. Hopefully we can use that to create more detailed maps.

[17:44] But with in-house usage, our loss was 45%.

[17:48] We'll we'll have a pretty good usage at the sewer plant this month where they're

[17:54] using water to press that sludge. Sewer adjustments. Uh we have one for

[18:00] $6129. This is at New Beginning Church over on

[18:04] Fourth Street. They had to fill their bad tismal up. I guess we would look at

[18:09] that as like it was a swimming pool. So that's kind of a a one-time thing.

[18:14] » So there to back up, but are we using portable water to press?

[18:22] » Yes. Off fire hydrant. >> Wonder if we could use affluent water.

[18:27] » We possibly could, but we don't have a system to do it with.

[18:32] » I just didn't know if we had a big enough pump just to

[18:35] » No, we don't have a big enough pump to do it. And it would it I don't know if

[18:40] it'd have to be filtered. I don't know how clean it's got to be to

[18:44] go through there because it goes through a metering where they inject the

[18:48] polymers. Okay. >> But that's a future when we get our new

[18:52] system set up over there. I'd like to be able to use processed water to run it.

[18:58] That would be huge. Thank you. >> In regards to the sewer adjustment of

[19:06] $6129 for New Beginning Church, do I have a motion to approve this sewer

[19:12] adjustment? >> Motion second.

[19:15] » Have a motion in a second. Call the roll, please.

[19:18] » Gillan, >> I.

[19:19] » Tack it. >> I.

[19:20] » Daniels, >> I dove

[19:21] » I. >> Templant.

[19:22] » I. Ordinances and resolutions.

[19:28] Ordinance 616.

[19:33] This is an ordinance that uh see your organization

[19:38] is requesting this. That's ASAP of Anderson County.

[19:44] Uh this is an ordinance to amend title 11 Rocky Top Municipal Code to prohibit

[19:48] smoking and the use of vapor products in certain age related venues.

[19:54] uh being active with city council Rocky Top and whereas on July 1st, 2022,

[19:58] public chapter number uh 11:10 went into effect authorizing

[20:03] municipalities, counties, and counties with a metropolitan form of government

[20:07] to regulate including a resolution or ordinance smoking and the use of vapor

[20:11] products in certain age restricted venues. And whereas in the interest of

[20:16] protecting public health, safety, and welfare, the Rocky Top City Council

[20:20] deems it appropriate to prohibit smoking and the use of vapor products and age

[20:25] restricted venues described herein. Now, therefore, be it ordained that city

[20:31] rocket top Tennessee as follows. Section one, title 11 of the Rocky Top Municipal

[20:35] Code is hereby amended by adding the following new chapter 7. Chapter 7

[20:40] prohibit prohibition of smoking in certain age restricted venues.

[20:46] Smoking in the use of vapor products is prohibited in age restricted venues

[20:50] within the city pursuant to authority granted to city council by TCA section

[20:55] 39 tax 1751 as may be amended from time to time.

[21:02] [clears throat] Section two definitions for the purpose of this chapter the

[21:06] words and phrases herein shall have the following meanings. One, age restricted

[21:10] venue means a legal establishment that affirmatively restricts access to its

[21:14] buildings or facilities at all times to persons who are 21 years of age or older

[21:21] by requiring each person who attempts to gain entry to these buildings or

[21:24] facilities to submit for inspection an acceptable form of identification for

[21:28] the purpose of determining if the person is 21 years of age or

[21:33] older. Two, cigar bar means a legal

[21:37] establishment that holds a valid license or permit for the on- premise

[21:40] consumption of alcohol beverages. B generates a portion of its total

[21:45] annual gross income from the on-site sale of cigars

[21:50] and the rental of humidors. C does not normally sell products or

[21:55] services or permit entrance to the pre premises of any person who is less than

[22:00] 21 years of age. And D does not permit vaping. Thank you. or the smoking of

[22:06] products other than cigars on the premises. Three, hemp means industrial

[22:11] hemp as defined in Tennessee code 43, tact 26, tact.

[22:18] Retail tobacco store means a retail store that deres its largest category of

[22:23] sales from tobacco products and accessories.

[22:26] Five, retail vapor product store means a retail store that deres its largest

[22:31] category of sales from vapor products and accessories.

[22:35] Six, smoke and smoking means inhaling, exhaling, burning or carrying any

[22:40] lighted or heated cigar, cigarette pipe or their lighted tobacco product in any

[22:44] manner or in any form. And seven, tobacco product means any product that

[22:49] is made from or derived from tobacco or that contains nicotine that is

[22:53] intended for human consumption or is likely to be consumed whether inhaled,

[22:58] absorbed or ingested by any other means including but not limited to a cigar,

[23:02] cigarette, a cigar, pipe, tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff or snuss as well

[23:07] as any component part or accessory there to or thereof. Eight. Vapor product

[23:13] means any device that may be used to deliver any aerosol aerosolized

[23:19] or vaporized substance to the person inhaling from a device including but not

[23:23] limited to an ecigarette, ecigar, e cigarette, e- pipe, vape pen or

[23:30] e-hookah. [laughter]

[23:35] Okie dokie. Okay,

[23:39] we did have a bong in there. A means any non-combustible product

[23:46] containing nicotine or any other substance that employs a mechanical

[23:50] heating element, battery, electronic circuit, or other mechanism regardless

[23:54] of shape or size that can be used to produce or emit a visible or non-visible

[23:58] vapor. B includes any electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic

[24:03] cigarella, electronic pipe or similar product and any vapor cartridge, any

[24:08] substance used to refill a vapor cartridge or any other container of a

[24:12] solution containing nicotine or any other substance that is intended to be

[24:16] used with or in an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarella,

[24:22] electronic pipe or similar product and does not include any product regulated

[24:26] underton chapter Five of the Food and Drug and

[24:31] Cosmetic Act. Section three, smoking and use of vapor products and age restricted

[24:36] venues prohibited. Notwithstanding subsection A of this section,

[24:41] the prohibition on smoking and the use of vapor products and age restricted

[24:46] venues shall not apply to retail tobacco stores, retail vapor product stores, or

[24:53] cigar lounges.

[24:58] discussion.

[25:03] This is designed to

[25:08] basically prohibit smoking in bars. I personally

[25:16] uh

[25:21] don't agree with that. I like to slope when I'm in a bar.

[25:28] I think I'm a grown man. [laughter]

[25:33] You're 21 years old, which should be 18. [laughter] I don't like the 21 age

[25:38] limit. I can go leave my blood. Some kid can leave his blood on a battlefield

[25:42] halfway around the world. He ought to be able to drink a cold beer or smoke a

[25:46] cigarette or a cigar or a hookah bowl so chooses.

[25:51] That's just my That's just my opinion.

[25:57] This is good intentions. I totally understand. I've been a

[26:04] consumer of tobacco products since I was 11 years old and haven't had a stop and

[26:10] it'll probably ultimately end in my demise. We all end with some sort of

[26:15] demise. So, uh, >> yeah,

[26:19] [snorts] >> but it's my choice and if I choose not

[26:23] to be around [clears throat] people who do such things, I don't have to have the

[26:27] government tell me to stay away from them. I can stay away from them. I

[26:32] cannot go there on my own. >> You're exactly right. We've all got the

[26:35] free will to get up and walk out >> or not go

[26:38] » or not go at all. Yeah. So if you're someplace and it gets to where you can't

[26:44] see >> uh the next table,

[26:50] ain't nothing says that we've got the state.

[26:53] » No, I mean you know [clears throat] I I there slippery slopes of things. I know

[27:00] there are places in this country where uh like children's services are called

[27:06] because they saw mama smoking a cigarette in the house and they remove

[27:09] the kids. That happens and and there are places in the country this country that

[27:15] that happens. Um and I I I am not justifying the use of

[27:21] tobacco. It's it's a horrible product. Uh

[27:25] but I use it daily. Uh, and someone that chooses to do that, I

[27:32] think that's their business. >> I think it's their freedom.

[27:36] » Yeah. Well, >> I mean, it's their choice.

[27:38] » I mean, and and the the side effect is there. [cough] We don't want you to have

[27:43] a Marboro with that shot of Jack Daniels cuz it's not good for you. But we're not

[27:48] talking anything about that shot of Jack Daniels.

[27:51] » You know, I don't I don't think you should be able to gamble on the line

[27:55] either. I think that's a horrible bias that's only devised to take money out of

[28:01] the poor people's pockets and put it in the state's pocket. But that's just me.

[28:07] » But I guess didn't the state pass that you're not allowed to smoke or anything

[28:11] in public places? >> Not in the 21 and older bars. They still

[28:20] have the option. Now the [snorts] the bar itself may say we don't allow

[28:24] smoking here but if they want to allow smoking they can. Okay. Mhm. They can't.

[28:29] » But places like Chili's Applebees and places like that. Yeah. They were were

[28:34] children, >> right? That's the difference.

[28:36] » And it's exactly there's there's minors and and adults there. So, but they they

[28:41] say, "Okay, nobody can." >> But in places that were 20 and over like

[28:46] bars and stuff, >> I tend to agree that it should be it

[28:51] should be to the patron's discretion. >> Don't have to go there.

[28:58] That's just mine. >> So, what are we trying to do with

[29:02] » Okay, the uh

[29:08] this is a pending ordinance. Uh we can we could choose to table it. We could

[29:17] choose to vote on it.

[29:24] » This is just >> Yep. This is the first reading. Um

[29:33] I mean we can someone can make a motion to

[29:38] approve it that it can be voted on

[29:45] » or it can just lay there and die. >> Would this be like the bar that just

[29:50] opened up uptown? >> But we only have two bars now. that bar

[29:55] and and AJ's up on the north end. That would be the only places that this would

[30:00] apply to. It wouldn't apply anywhere else.

[30:02] » Like it wouldn't apply to the Mexican restaurant even though they have a bar

[30:06] in there too. It wouldn't apply there because it there's primarily food

[30:10] service and I think there's some it calls that out somewhere in the

[30:14] Tennessee code about how much uh revenue is derived from food sales.

[30:25] I can't I can't make a motion to approve and then vote. No,

[30:31] » I'm I'm against it. I'm against it totally.

[30:35] » Well, uh do I have a motion to approve?

[30:45] Sounds like this has failed for lack of a motion.

[30:53] It could be brought back up at a further future date, but

[30:58] » is somebody bringing it up or is it >> this is the the ASAP organization out of

[31:04] uh Clinton.

[31:11] Then it's not just here they're doing that, you know, in all the

[31:14] municipalities in the city, you know, and I understand what they're trying to

[31:18] do. I I truly and I'm uh I'm sympathetic to that, but [snorts]

[31:26] I'm also sympathetic to people's freedoms.

[31:34] Freedom to choose.

[31:38] Choose not to go there and choose to fire up that lucky strike. It's on you.

[31:47] But there be no further discussion.

[31:55] Would we call that a tape? What would we call that? Because there's failed lack

[31:59] of motion. >> Failed for lack of emotion. Failed for

[32:01] lack of emotion. >> Trying to make you read all those

[32:04] definitions then. >> It's okay.

[32:10] » Okay. 616. Second and final reading of ordinances.

[32:15] None. Adoption of resolutions. Resolution 612.

[32:21] A resol a resolution approving the city of Rocky

[32:24] Top, Tennessee to enter into an agreement with the American Municipal

[32:29] Services Corporation, otherwise known as AMS

[32:33] to provide collection services. Whereas the city of Rockytop desires to enter

[32:37] into an agreement with AMS to provide collection services for delinquent court

[32:42] and utility accounts.

[32:47] And whereas the city of Rockytop further desires to establish a collection fee in

[32:52] the amount not to exceed 35% to be applied to such accounts referred to AMS

[32:58] for collection. Now therefore, be it resolved that the mayor and city council

[33:03] of the city of Rockytop do hereby approve an agreement with AMS for

[33:07] collection services. Mr. Ellis, do you want to expound on

[33:12] just what we talked about at the last meeting? The 35% is on top of the 100%

[33:19] that we would get >> in addition to the

[33:21] » in addition. Yes. And they take the 35% away from

[33:26] us. >> So if it goes to this bunch, we they'll

[33:29] tack on their >> Yes.

[33:31] » So if somebody owes us $10, they're going to pay them

[33:35] the 35% on top of paying us 10 bucks. And there's couple municipalities at

[33:43] least two around us, Kingston and Rockwood that are using this AMS

[33:48] service. I don't know. Do they ever do anything like this? You were on the

[33:51] board talking about it before. That's why I knew something about

[33:56] never did it. >> There's been nobody nobody want to take

[33:59] the chance to be the first one to do it. It's it's real popular in big cities and

[34:03] big places, but no small t community want to take a chance of doing it. I

[34:07] guess people, you know. Yeah, >> we're struggling and I'm far.

[34:11] » Well, you think I guess I just saying that's what he was asking about. That's

[34:15] what the main argument was because the size of community is the main argument.

[34:20] » The people who pay their bills are subsidizing the people who don't pay

[34:23] their bills and I don't like that. >> Uh this is one of the avenues to

[34:28] correct. >> You are not collecting it on for for

[34:31] [clears throat] tax.

[34:33] » Property tax is a different deal. Correct. Well, it says delinquent

[34:40] » uh delinquent court and utility accounts is all it calls out.

[34:44] » Okay. So, property taxes is different. >> Yeah, I think we have to go through

[34:48] there's different hoops we have to jump through in regards to going after

[34:52] property taxes. >> I think they just don't offer the

[34:55] property taxes yet, but he said that they were in the works of

[34:59] » Okay. They were trying to establish that.

[35:00] » Oh, the company doesn't. I can understand why we weren't doing that cuz

[35:03] I thought that was the whole thing we were trying to start on was trying to

[35:05] get >> Is there a time frame for the contract?

[35:12] that I can't answer because I wasn't in on the meeting. Jessica was the gone

[35:18] [snorts] when he came

[35:25] » and was the reason that we didn't we can't go is or after people is just

[35:30] manpower or >> what do you mean economics?

[35:34] » Okay. Just I mean it's like we can't go after collections I guess.

[35:40] Well, you mean for us to do this? >> Yes.

[35:44] » Yeah. We You'd basically have to have somebody practically full-time. That's

[35:50] their job. >> See, we the advantage to this deal is we

[35:54] don't pay out anything. Don't cost us nothing. If they don't collect nothing,

[35:57] we don't get nothing. They don't cost nothing. But if we start hiring somebody

[35:59] or paying somebody for the city to do it, we got to pay that. Regardless if

[36:02] they collect 10 cents, don't or collect a million dollars, we still got to pay

[36:05] for it. I'm sure this outfit has lawyers on that work for them and they get the

[36:12] qu, you know, where we'd have to not only have somebody that we're paying to

[36:16] do it and we're going to have to pay the attorneys.

[36:19] » This is basically self-supporting. >> Yeah. And it I I [snorts] think there

[36:24] should be we need to see what the the length of the contract is.

[36:31] » There's going to be a period to make sure [clears throat] we're all

[36:33] comfortable. I think I've come I >> I'm not sure, but if we could try to see

[36:37] how it works. >> I would I I think there should be like a

[36:40] 12 month >> and then we revisit it on your desk.

[36:45] » That's a resolution that's ongoing. Correct.

[36:50] » It's not specifically written in >> I think he's going into

[36:53] » Okay. Also, >> it should be in

[36:55] » say uh chief brought somebody a ticket from Michigan for doing 60 and they go

[37:02] back home and don't pay it. Are we going to send somebody to Michigan for a few

[37:07] dollar fine? >> Right.

[37:09] » But this outfit's got an office in Michigan. They got people up there.

[37:18] » But yeah, that'll take care of a lot of sins.

[37:22] » I mean, if if we can recover 50% versus recovering zip.

[37:33] All right, I've just been handed the answer.

[37:38] Can we cancel our agreement with AMS at any time? Yes. AMS operates under an

[37:44] evergreen agreement, which means that there are no long-term commitments.

[37:49] Clients may cancel at any time without >> Okay. Fair enough.

[37:54] » And that's our that's the contract through them.

[37:57] » This is their this is through them [clears throat]

[37:59] » through AMS. contract we're going to sign if we pass

[38:04] the resolution. >> Okay. Do I have a motion to approve this

[38:08] resolution to enter into [snorts] an agreement with actually it doesn't say

[38:12] contract says agreement with American [clears throat] Municipal Services to

[38:17] try to recover some of our >> bad debts. Made a motion.

[38:21] » Okay, got a motion. Got a second. >> Second.

[38:23] » Motion to second. Call a roll, please. >> Gllum,

[38:26] » I. >> Tack it.

[38:27] » Hi. >> Daniels,

[38:28] » I. >> Dove.

[38:29] » I. >> Templan. I unfinished business. None.

[38:34] New business. Rocky Top Urban and Community Forestry Inflation Reduction

[38:40] Act grant proposal. Uh

[38:55] this is a tree inventory of all trees on city own property.

[39:03] Okay. >> A lot of trees.

[39:05] » That's a lot of trees. Yeah, >> there's a lot of them we're cutting

[39:08] down, too. Tree management and work planning will

[39:11] break up the city into sections with information to manage that area. Arbor

[39:15] Day event materials.

[39:30] Okay, Norris, Clinton and Knoxville are using this.

[39:48] » What are we paying?

[39:51] » Yeah, that's we pay but we get reimbured.

[39:58] That's number two. >> It's in tree inventory

[40:01] » cost

[40:04] » under tree inventory. >> Doesn't this hinge on the the funding we

[40:08] get from Arbor Day? >> I think so.

[40:11] » Yeah. They're paying for trees for the new for the park over

[40:16] here.

[40:19] » So any expenses we have, we're going to be reimbursed.

[40:22] » Yes. >> Okay. Okay. Do I have a motion to

[40:28] approve the Rocky Top Urban and Community Forestry Inflation Reduction

[40:34] Inflation Reduction Act? >> That's is that

[40:36] » takes a bureaucrat to come up with that uh grant proposal.

[40:46] » It's they're doing an inventory of our blooming trees. Uh and they pay us back

[40:52] to do this inventory.

[40:56] Yeah, >> it's the Harbor Day Foundation.

[41:00] » Yeah. And and this is all tied into, you know, we get a couple thousand bucks a

[41:04] year uh from the Arbor [clears throat] people.

[41:10] » Yeah. For planting trees and and whatnot. And this is all tied into that.

[41:16] » They got to have an inventory to know where we need new trees

[41:20] » because of all the mimosas we've cut down.

[41:26] Okay. >> Yeah. Do do I do I have a motion to

[41:30] approve to request for the grant for the Rocky Top Urban and Community Forestry?

[41:37] I can't say that again. Inflation reduction grant. I make a motion to

[41:43] accept it. >> Okay, we have a motion. Do I have a

[41:45] second? >> I'll second it.

[41:51] Call, please. Gillum. >> Hi.

[41:54] » Tacket. >> No.

[41:55] » Daniels. >> Ah.

[41:57] » Dove. >> I

[41:59] » Templan. >> Ah.

[42:04] » Next is bench for paving.

[42:13] » We have

[42:20] Okay, here we go. Rogers group.

[42:29] Three bids or four? >> Three bids. Three good bids came in.

[42:34] [clears throat] >> Rogers Group. AXC. Who are they?

[42:42] » Didn't the ones out here didn't bid? AXC LLC

[42:48] and Durac Cap asphalt paving.

[42:53] This is for paving four street from Main Street to the

[42:58] interstate bridge. Also, uh cold planing 3 in of four street down. So they would

[43:06] mill four street down 3 [clears throat] in

[43:10] and go back with an inch and a half >> of compacted asphalt.

[43:16] Uh high street from

[43:24] » High Street, >> High Street from Fourth Street to 7

[43:30] » Street before we tore it all the pieces. uh Cobb Hollow

[43:37] from the city limits to North Freeway

[43:43] and Pearl Street from Main Street to Leech Street

[43:52] for a total of [clears throat]

[43:59] Okay.

[44:07] 187,77280

[44:15] and that funding is coming from >> ARPA

[44:18] » the ARP our ARPA funds that we have had for a couple years here. Those are

[44:25] specifically appropriated for infrastructure.

[44:29] Paving's definitely an infrastructure

[44:33] Do I have any discussion on regards to the bids for paving? Is

[44:38] » it Underwood? >> It's too big. Too big for them.

[44:42] » Okay. >> Yeah. And I'm sure that's the the the

[44:45] you know, we've got another We got a paving outfit in town for you know where

[44:49] Clayton was at the uh what's the name of that people that used

[44:56] to be there? Barlo, but there there's another facility back behind Clayton's.

[45:01] There's another there's a paving company in there.

[45:04] » Really? >> Mhm.

[45:05] » Yeah. Neither one of them bidded on it. >> Their guess is too big for them.

[45:10] » Yeah. >> So, surprisingly, Rogers

[45:15] had the low bid of $187,772.80.

[45:23] I'm sure there'll be a lot of people in town happy. I don't street will be

[45:28] » Four Street. Four street's a big one. Four street's a mess.

[45:32] » Street High Street both a mess. >> Do I have a motion [cough] to approve

[45:39] the bid for Rogers Group and the amount of $187,772.80

[45:46] to pave and meal the roads noted >> previously. Motion.

[45:53] » Okay. Have a motion. Have a motion in a second. Call roll please.

[45:57] » Gillan >> I.

[45:58] » Tack it. >> Hi.

[45:59] » Daniels >> I.

[46:00] » Dove. >> I.

[46:01] » Templan. >> All right.

[46:08] » No. City streets. Okay. >> Oh, you mean global bill?

[46:14] » Oh, no. >> Okay.

[46:17] » And statement of qualifications for sludge press system. Uh

[46:23] » this is for engineering.

[46:28] » This is Canon and Canon and CTI. That is the

[46:35] Is that the new organization that's come in with Canon and Canon?

[46:38] » CTI. >> Yeah.

[46:40] » No, they got four or five offices.

[46:46] » Okay.

[46:55] Okay, this is a parks and rec. Why did I have the sledge press?

[47:01] » It should say parks. >> It does carry out design services on

[47:05] 2024 parks and recreation. >> It should say that's not right.

[47:10] » Should say, >> but it's the same.

[47:14] » Yeah, it's the same. >> Okay.

[47:19] On the scoring, Canon and Canon came out at 100

[47:26] and CTI engineering at 95 out of the possible 100 points.

[47:32] So, we need to vote on approving Canon and Cannon to be the engineering of

[47:39] record on the sludge press. Uh, that was USDA, right?

[47:46] » Yes. The USDA sledge press grant be the engineer of record for the sledge press

[47:52] grant. Do I have a motion to

[47:57] approve cannon and cannon as the engineer of record on the USDA sledge

[48:02] press? >> I'll [clears throat] make the motion.

[48:04] » Second. I'll roll please. >> Gllum.

[48:08] » I. >> Tack it.

[48:09] » Hi. >> Daniels.

[48:10] » I. >> Dove.

[48:11] » I. >> Templ.

[48:12] » I.

[48:16] There be nothing further to come before the board. Do I have a motion to

[48:20] adjurnn? >> Motion.

[48:22] » I have a motion. Do I have a second? >> A second.

[48:26] » Motion a second. All in favor say I. >> I.

[48:29] » Opposed. We are adjourned.

[48:33] » Can I get a motion to put up my Christmas tree? Their weapons.

Rocky Top City Council 16 October 2025

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