Hamilton County commissioners on Wednesday passed a resolution aimed at cracking down on commercial operations in agricultural and residential zones, specifically those that sell produce.
“What we have, a lot of people are setting up so-called nurseries, but they don’t grow anything,” said Commissioner Fred Skillern. “It is a buying-selling operation instead of a nursery operation.”
Mr. Skillern said he would like the owners of those businesses to pay commercial taxes.
“It is a business,” he said.
Mr. Skillern said several business owners in the county are obtaining business licenses but operating outside commercial zones.
“They’re operating five or six years, and they’re saying we’ve been in business five or six years when the zoning comes up,” he said.
Barry Bennett, executive director of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Planning Agency, said licenses are given prior to zoning. He said the licenses state that businesses must operate in the proper zones.
Mr. Bennett said the only way to eliminate the problem would be to require zoning to take place before licensing.
Ain’t too proud to pass off
The City Council’s Budget, Personnel and Finance Committee met Tuesday to work on a mission statement and goals and objectives for budgeting.
But more than three-quarters of the way through the meeting, Councilman Jack Benson said he thought any type of resolution should go through the Legal and Legislative Committee before being placed for a vote in the council chambers.
Committee Chairwoman Carol Berz had been talking of drafting a resolution and making it available for a vote by this week.
When Mr. Benson brought up his objections, it was pointed out that he wrote the original resolution.
“I wrote it, but it doesn’t mean I’m proud of it,” he said.
The mission statement and goals will go before through Councilman Peter Murphy’s Legal and Legislative Committee this week.
Getting the Golden Button
Department of Public Works personnel on Tuesday outlined to the City Council several projects that could potentially receive federal money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Public Works pavement supervisor Ed Tate said $900,000 will be used for downtown signal upgrades.
Councilman Murphy immediately asked if that will help traffic flow.
“With the downtown signals, does that mean I get to go more than two lights before stopping?” Mr. Murphy asked.
“I believe you, as a councilman, get a special button to let you through,” Mr. Tate joked.
Don’t forget the garbage
City garbage collection will take place as usual on Memorial Day, sanitation manager Justin Holland said.
In the past, garbage collection on Memorial Day was scheduled for the following week.
“The only holidays that will see a change in garbage collection hereafter are Thanksgiving and Christmas,” he said.
Refuse collection centers also will be open. Recycling convenience centers, however, will be closed.
Mayor gets in way of Stringer’s Ridge
The Trust for Public Land announced last week that it is postponing its Stringer’s Ridge Park planning meeting because it conflicts with Mayor Ron Littlefield’s State of the City address.
The planning meeting was scheduled for June 25, said Rick Wood, trust executive director.
“There is no way we would want to conflict with an important civic event like the State of the City address, so we’re postponing,” Mr. Wood said.
A new meeting date will be scheduled in the summer, after the trust coordinates with the planning team and meeting facilities, Mr. Wood said.
Cliff has worked for the Times Free Press for five years and covers Chattanooga city government. He previously covered Rhea County, as well as transportation and growth and development in Southeast Tennessee. A native of Maryville, Tenn., Cliff graduated in 2003 from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis on journalism. Before coming to Chattanooga, he was a crime reporter with Hernando Today, a supplement of The Tampa (Fla.) ...
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