The Soddy-Daisy Board of Commissioners honors the Lady Trojans softball team for winning the 2010 TSSAA softball championship. Mayor Geno Shipley, center right, awards Lady Trojans head softball coach Clifford Kirk, center left, with a plaque of recognition. The team finished the season with a 52-2 record.
Photo by Katie WardThe Soddy-Daisy Board of Commissioners is delaying passage of the city’s $7.2 million 2010-2011 budget due to a split vote over the Soddy-Daisy Police Department receiving an $18,000 motorcycle included in the budget.
Vice Mayor Bob Privett and Commissioner David Skiles voted against the motorcycle purchase, while Mayor Geno Shipley and Commissioner Shane Harmon were in favor of the expense. Commissioner Jim Adams was not present due to an illness, so he will be the determining vote June 17.
“It’s clearly a safety issue for me,” said Privett. “Usually wrecks and fatalities occur on motorcycles.”
Privett said the Soddy-Daisy Police Department has wrecked and totaled cars in the past.
“I think every police department should have a motorcycle,” said Harmon. “My vote is yes.”
Skiles said his friend Tommy McDaniel worked police patrol on a motorcycle and experienced a bad wreck that caused him problems.
But Shipley said the department could use a motorcycle for various traffic control.
“It could be used in traffic patrol,” said Shipley. “It would be perfect for funerals and city parades. We are one of the few municipalities without motorcycle traffic patrol. The police officer could ride the motorcycle on the shoulder of a road to get to a wreck too.”
City recorder Sara Burris said the Soddy-Daisy Board of Commissioners originally budgeted $25,000 for two used motorcycles May 24, but scaled back to purchasing one motorcycle for $18,000.
In other business:
• Johnny Johnson, of 9840 Dayton Pike, said the property behind his house has grass up to his wife Lori Johnson’s shoulders. He said a 20-pound ground hog emerged from the property one day. The Johnson family has trouble with mice and insects due to the tall grass.
Johnson, who also owns property between 109A Hamilton Avenue and 109B Hamilton Avenue, said the ditch overflows because it needs to be cleaned out. He said that the grass at 131 Hood Circle and 110 Igou Ferry Road is four feet tall and needs to be cut too.
• Commissioners voted unanimously to maintain the property tax rate at .686 cents for 2010-2011.
• Fireworks totaling $5,500 will be purchased by the city of Soddy-Daisy for the 4th of July event after unanimous approval.
• Soddy-Daisy Board of Commissioners voted to spend $14,400 for six fire hydrants in the Bakewell Utility District.
• Commissioners voted unanimously to give $5,000 to the new Soddy-Daisy Business Association to help it get started.
• Mark’s Toys owner Mark Leffew requested that he be put on district rotation for wrecker service. He would like to go on police calls to wrecks to pick up vehicles. Shipley said the Soddy-Daisy Board of Commissioners will consult with Attorney Sam Elliott to determine if Leffew can be put on the rotation.