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Be sure to check next week’s Signal Mountain Community News for a more in-depth look at the MACC situation, and the following week to see what the candidates think are the biggest issues facing the town as well as hear from Walden’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen, who are all up for re-election.Early voting runs Oct. 19-Nov. 3.
As the date for the November elections grows nearer, local attention has turned toward the three candidates running for the three open seats on the Signal Mountain Town Council and the issues they will face.
After serving six years and 10 years, respectively, Vice Mayor Bill Wallace and Councilman Bill Lusk are not seeking another term.
As part of the next council, nominees Amy Speek, Dan Landrum and incumbent Robert Spalding could oversee the town’s coming centennial celebration and the construction of a new fire station. Current officials said the new councilmembers will also inherit several more pressing community concerns from their predecessors.
Water System
One of the issues coming down the pipeline is the future of the town’s water department. The matter was thrust into the spotlight last year when Tennessee American Water Company offered to buy the town’s water system, promising to keep the current staff and work to improve the infrastructure.
Many locals, such as Eugenia Allderdice, who recently dropped out of the upcoming council race, have voiced opposition against the bid, citing expected rate increases among reasons not to sell.
“Both our sister towns of Walden and Lone Oak have recently ended their agreements with Tennessee American,” Allderdice said in a statement released in August. “A simple Google search of the American Water Company should end that discussion.”
While town of Signal Mountain officials have acknowledged the offer, as well as another offer from Walden’s Ridge Utility District, they have not yet accepted, nor are considering proposals, said Town Manager Boyd Veal.
For now, Veal said the council is looking into various options for the water system, such as retaining and operating it as the town has been, contracting operations but maintaining the system, or considering bids to sell after a formal request for proposals has been issued.
“There really hasn’t been any change or movement on it in the last few months,” said Veal. “But we’re still working on that, and we’ll be moving forward with it shortly.”
MACC
Arguably the most pressing decision awaiting new councilmembers is what to do about the Mountain Arts Community Center.
In December 2015, the discovery of mold in the historic building led to an investigation that revealed numerous issues with the facility, such as water damage underneath the building. Since then, the council has spent countless hours debating what the best solution might be to keep the MACC’s many programs alive.
Some councilmembers, like Lusk, have refused to abandon the historically significant treasure, while others, like Chris Howley, have criticized the $2.7 million-plus cost it would take to restore and maintain.
Inquiries in the community have revealed a similar duality, officials said, with some residents eager to keep the MACC’s programs in the former Signal Mountain Grammar School building that currently houses it, and others hoping to preserve the programs by moving them to another suitable facility.
Though councilmembers are still far from a final decision, they are considering the cost of reconfiguring the Town Hall building to house MACC programs and then constructing a new Town Hall.
“The ultimate question is,” said Howley, ” is this council or the next council going to be willing to spend $2 [million] to $6 million on a project that maybe 15 percent of our population uses?”
Recreational Space
The need for more recreational space to house Signal’s growing sports leagues is no secret to locals, who have expressed their concern to town officials in recent months.
Though the council is currently looking into the possibility of building a baseball field on a 14-acre, county-owned property across from Nolan Elementary, America’s favorite pastime isn’t the only sport on the mountain reaching maximum capacity.
With more than 400 kids playing in Signal’s basketball league, Howley said the town needs another gym.
“If we don’t get another gym,” he explained, “then we start turning a whole age group of kids away from basketball.”
Email Myron Madden at mmadden@timesfreepress.com.