The town of Signal Mountain, Tenn., began its monthly meeting in October with discussion of the town management position. Town Manager Boyd Veal announced his retirement, effective in December. Honna Rogers, municipal management consultant with MTAS, the organization that assists municipalities in the state of Tennessee, gave an overview of the process recommended for the search of a new town manager, which typically takes three to four months.

The Municipal Technical Advisory Service will assist the town in interviewing employees and department heads, as well as Mr. Veal, to develop an updated job description and advertise the position. It will also grade the resumes received to help narrow the number of applicants. City manager professionals at an assessment center will look for qualities that cannot be put on a resume and will give recommendations. The council will interview the narrowed field both as a group and individually. An online test can also show qualities that do not show up in a standard interview. The council asked Ms. Rogers to move forward with the interviews of city employees and the job description. She will also put together a timeline for the process.

Ms. Rogers, who was the Signal Mountain town manager for five years, said, “I am so appreciative of Mr. Veal and for all he has done for the town. He taught me more about leadership than most people in my life. He’s done a great job as police chief and as town manager.” Mayor Charles Poss said, “Boyd has been an amazing servant to the town for most of his adult life, including as the town’s police chief. He has done so much for this town and added stability.”

Ms. Rogers also gave advice about streamlining government operations so property tax increases will not be needed in the future. Discussion about everything will be on the table, such as which services residents of the town value and which are dispensable. At no charge to the town, MTAS will conduct departmental reviews, and consultants in each specialty will look for efficiencies. It will take three to five months to review each department.

Stormwater manager Cliff Fite updated the council on stormwater projects, saying there is a five-year capital improvement plan that will be continually changing to focus on the most pressing needs. Currently, rusted corrugated drainage pipes are causing road failures from sinkholes. Both the pipes and roads will have to be replaced. Only five of these pipes can be replaced each year, and some of them will be really big projects; if the pipes are long and set deep, they are expensive to replace.

The stormwater department also wants to purchase a street sweeper with a special arm that will assist in cleaning catch basins and piles of leaves that the leaf machines cannot reach. Stream restoration is necessary on the mountain, and the department needs a camera system that would be used to evaluate pipes. For just the initial assessment of the restoration of Bee Branch, the cost will be $90,000. Grants may be available after the studies and design are done, he said, but none cover 100 percent of the cost.  Some roads need hydrology studies for drainage issues, and some utilities must be relocated before roads can be repaved. The recently approved stormwater fees will help move us forward, Mr. Fite told the council, adding that some issues will have to wait until money is available.

The council discussed the Mountain Arts Community Center board that now is empty. All the former members resigned to join the Signal Mountain Elementary Preservation Fund, which now is in charge of operations. The council members decided to leave the board vacant for now and revisit it again in May.

The current mask policy at the public town meetings will remain in effect for the time being. If COVID-19 infections drop, the issue will be reviewed at the next council meeting, and staff members will be consulted about their individual offices and departments before making any changes.

In regular business, the council approved the purchase of a Bobcat tractor for the water company at the price not to exceed $27,334.
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The next meeting will be on November 8 at 6:00 p.m.

The Walden Board of Mayor and Aldermen met a week later than usual in October. Fern Lockhart reported that for the month of September, the town collected $25,480.40 year to date, adding that the CPA report for 2020 will be issued shortly. 
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Bill Ford with the Walden Rescue and Emergency Services gave the monthly report for October. WRES responded to 32 home alarms and 35 emergency calls. The dedication for the new station is set for November 14 at 2 p.m., and the station will host tours until 5 p.m.

Eastern hemlocks at McCoy Farm and Gardens are benefiting from several volunteers who are treating the trees for woolly adelgid infestation. Mary Claire Nimon recently led a group of GPS and Baylor students in treating over 20 trees, and Dan Reynolds, Mickey Robbins, and Wesley Nimon are continuing the effort. In all, over 70 trees have been treated so far, and MFG is very appreciative of this conservation effort. 

Kevin Calhoon, from the Tennessee Aquarium, and Baylor student Luke Thompson led a bird walk in September. The event was well attended, and the group identified 49 species of birds and at least 13 different species of warblers. eBird, an online bird observation database created by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, lists MFG as a hotspot for bird activity, with more species observed there than anywhere else on Walden’s Ridge. 

McCoy Farm and Gardens recently hosted events for the Mountain Education Foundation, the Chattanooga Civitan Club, and the Little Brown Church, as well as several weddings. Several dates are still available for rental between now and the end of the year. Anyone interested in scheduling holiday celebrations may contact Cynthia Pennington at cynthia@mccoywalden.org. 

Bachman Community Center is partnering with the Chattanooga Community Kitchen. During November, BCC will be a collection site for donations of critical supplies needed by the CCK to support the homeless population, including razors/shaving cream, brushes/combs, hair ties/clips, lip balm, reading glasses, windbreakers, ponchos, rain/snow boots, sleeping bags, umbrellas, towels/washcloths and rope/twine. These items can be dropped off anytime at Bachman, either just inside the back door or in the covered bin on the front porch. 

The Mountain Fellowship Church, a longtime tenant of BCC, plans to make improvements in the auditorium, including new paint and stage curtains. Bachman Bargains continues to exceed its goals with its organized and welcoming second-hand shop. Open Fridays and Saturdays from 9 until 2, Bachman Bargains will host a holiday open house on Friday, November 12, and The Give Shop (a holiday shopping experience for kids) will take place Saturday, Dec 4. 

 Karen Stone, president of The Walden’s Ridge Civic League, announced A Very Opry Christmas will be held on Saturday, December 11. Volunteers Angela Cassidy, Margha Davis, and Michele McNeill will decorate the grounds with Roxie Thornton, committee chair. Mayor Lee Davis will light the Christmas tree at sundown, and Santa will be there for pictures with the children. Musicians from different genres will play in the auditorium, and folks can roast hot dogs and melt s’mores at the fire pit or warm themselves at the bonfire.

In support of Mayor Lee Davis’s request that civic organizations and citizens send in pictures of their front doors decorated for fall, WRCL board members enthusiastically dressed the WRCL front porch for the season, as well as asked Walden residents to send pictures of their decorated homes to the Town Hall for the website.  Stone urges folks to sign up for the Family Holiday Photo, which will take place by the handsome fireplace in the McCoy home or on the beautiful grounds. Schedule your session November 6 or December 4-5. Reservations are necessary for this WRCL fundraiser. There is no limit on the number or people or pets in a 15-minute session. Cost is only $150 for a set of five digital photos. Contact Amy Slovak at (757) 645-5337 or email waldensridecivicleague@gmail.com.

The Pumpkin Patch recently launched a new website, www.pumpkinpatchplayground.org, where the community can register for upcoming events, volunteer to help maintain and improve the playground and also hosted  a pumpkin painting party! Consider the Pumpkin Patch for holiday gifts such as naming rights for pickets, picnic tables and benches with naming rights. Your tax-deductible donation both preserves and improves the Pumpkin Patch and leaves a lasting legacy for your family.

The next town meeting will be on 12 November at the Walden Town Hall at 6:30 p.m. ​

The town of Signal Mountain opened its September meeting with discussion of procedure and timeline for replacing former councilmember Dan Landrum, who resigned. The council met later in the month to address this issue.
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The town’s personnel committee met on September 7 to discuss the consultant’s recommendation to give town employees a 4 percent pay increase. With just three of five members present, the decision about a pay plan and the amount of raises was postponed to allow members more time to review the information. A vote will take place when more members are present.

The two citizens who spoke at the meeting, Dan Landrum and Anne Haygood, both were in favor of giving employees a 4 percent pay increase. “Everybody is on the same side,” said Ms. Haygood. “We all want good services, and we have wonderful town employees who want to do a good job.” Mr. Landrum said the raises would keep services strong. Mayor Poss said that Town Manager Boyd Veal and the personnel committee “will work things through.”

In regular business, an ordinance passed that amends the stormwater fee for property owners. Mr. Veal said MTAS, the consultant who advises municipalities in the state, conducted a study and recommended a 100 percent increase in these fees. Instead, he said the council decided to raise the fees more gradually, this year starting with a 30 percent increase in both the minimum fee and the per square foot fee. The total recommended increases will be made incrementally in subsequent years.

A new annual stormwater report was completed, said Mr. Veal. The 130-page report details the town’s stormwater projects that were finished in the last year, and it will be submitted to the state. An agreement for engineering the design for stormwater improvements on Mississippi Avenue and James Boulevard was approved for AD Engineering at an amount of $12,500, with a contingency fund of $1,250 if there are added costs.

The council also approved the purchase of an incinerator for the amount of $136,777. The town manager said this will replace a chipping contract of $45,000 yearly. This piece of equipment is also needed because there is no more space to store the debris, he told the council. The council also authorized an application for a property conservation grant with Public Entity Partners, the town’s insurer.

The council discussed an agreement with TDOT regarding with roadwork coming up the front of the mountain. The Tennessee Department of Transportation takes care of the road, and Signal Mountain must take care of the right-of-way. Some assistance will be provided to the town from the state because of the unique nature of the road, said Mr. Veal. Signal Mountain also will provide the small areas of right-of-way needed for new drainage, at no cost to TDOT. A vote on this agreement will take place at a later date.

Mayor Poss, the council’s representative to the planning commission, reported that members recently discussed zoning issues about minor subdivisions. He said the goal is for the lot sizes to be consistent throughout town.

The mayor said he is already thinking about next year’s budget and the need to put a plan in place, adding that it is necessary to either find ways to save money or increase revenue. He would like public participation so that citizens will be apprised of the situation. The town will consult MTAS about streamlining operations to be more efficient. The consultants will review each department to identify ways to make improvements. Town manager Veal suggested also going through the budget department by department, looking for efficiencies. Mayor Poss proposed the possibility of using public relations to both let the taxpayers know what they are getting from their 6-cent property tax increase and to see which services are most valued by the residents.

Until the COVID-19 situation improves, the requirement to wear masks in Signal Mountain’s public buildings will continue. Mask are effective, said the mayor, and the council needs to do whatever it can to help control the pandemic. The mandate will be discussed again when and if improvements are seen.

The town of Walden met for its monthly meeting in September with Mayor Lee Davis, Vice Mayor Lizzy Schmidt and Alderwoman Sarah McKenzie constituting a quorum. Fern Lockhart served as town recorder, and Sam Elliot served as town attorney. 

Ms. Lockhart gave the financial report, telling the board that for the month of August, the town collected $25,316.60. The CPA report for 2020 will be issued shortly. 

Bill Ford with Walden Rescue and Emergency Services reported 35 responses, 16 emergency calls and 12 fire-related calls, which included downed trees. 

Mickey Robbins said that the new equipment sheds at McCoy will soon be completed and will house equipment that includes the antique tractor, hay wagons and lawnmowers. The original farm sheds west of the barn will be a part of an educational lawn that will demonstrate the operation of a small family farm in the early 1900s.

The pace at McCoy has picked up in recent weeks with various weddings and events. The Halloween festival is cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns. There is a need for volunteers, and anyone interested can go on the McCoy website, mccoywalden.org or contact Melissa Nimon at (423) 598-1658.  

Alderwoman McKenzie reported that two trees came down at the dog park due to the bad weather and were removed. The dog park has two sections, one for dogs below 35 pounds and the other for dogs above 35 pounds.

Karen Stone the president of the Walden’s Ridge Civic League (WRCL) gave the monthly activity report. There is great interest in the return of both old-time music on Fridays and the Mountain Opry’s bluegrass on Saturdays. Due to COVID-19 these events were cancelled for August and September, and a decision for October will be made before October 4.  

Two professionals joined the WRCL board of directors, Steve Daugherty and Ben McGowan. Steve has served on many boards and is especially valuable because of his knowledge of music and his connection with artists. Ben is an attorney with Summers, Rufolo and Rodgers, and his first job will be to adapt the by-laws of the WRCL. Amy Slovak is the new media chairman. Amy and her dad, Gary Slovak, are in the process of setting up the WRCL’s traditional Christmas and photo opportunities. These photo sessions were well received last year and scheduling will begin in October. 

The Walden Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the professional services agreement letter and scope of services with KCI for the multimodal access grant application. The total labor fee and expenses came to $7,830. The board also approved the request from the Chattanooga Track Club to hold the 45th Signal Mountain Road Race on October 23, 2021. The race will start at Pruett’s on Taft Highway. 

The board approved the final reading of Ordinance 2021-33, setting the tax rate for tax year 2021 at $0.5315 per $100 of assessed value of all real personal property. At this rate the amount of property taxes will not increase. 

Resolution No. 2021-549, disclaiming any interest in the right-of-way of Northern Avenue between Sawyer Road and Wilson Avenue, was also approved. 
The next meeting of the Walden Town Council will be October 12 at the Walden Town Hall at 6:30 p.m.  

Members of the Signal Mountain Town Council heard special presentations about problems with the wastewater infrastructure within the town at the December meeting. Mike Patrick, executive director of WWTA, and engineer Scott McDonald reported that the condition of the system that collects and treats wastewater is unacceptable, hard to fix and very expensive to repair. It is ranked one of the worst systems, Mr. Patrick told the council.
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Most of the underground lines and pipes were installed before the 1970’s, when many sewer lines and manholes were positioned in creek beds and ravines, making problems both hard to diagnose and repair. Some of these locations would never be approved today, he said. To move them now would require tearing up the creeks and a lot of clearing, with a staggering cost and impact to the environment. To repair the entire system would be in the “eight figures,” said Mr. Patrick. The WWTA is now working on the concept and the economy of making repairs. The current estimate to repair the county-wide WWTA system for making it conform to the anticipated consent decree is $240 million over 20 years.

The system is made up of a collection system on top of the mountain, which includes a network of sewer mains and the lines from buildings to the mains, and a wastewater treatment plant at the bottom of the mountain. The entire system is in a moratorium because of violations, mostly overflows, Mr. Patrick said. The problems occur during periods of rain when stormwater inflows and infiltrates the system. During dry weather, the treatment plant for Signal Mountain receives about 468,000 to 757,000 gallons per day. That amount can peak at up to 5 million gallons per day during periods of heavy rain.

During dry weather, the plant works pretty well, said Mr. Patrick, despite its age and with very few improvements ever having been made. But rain changes everything. Extra water gets into the system and into the pumping station through large inflows and cracks in underground pipes. The best solution, he said, would be to eliminate the inflow and infiltration and keep it out of the pump station and treatment plant.

The extra $8 per month charge on residential WWTA bills is meant to take care of a sewer line problem involving the home’s service line to the main line, but that charge does not begin to cover the cost of fixing the whole system, said Mr. Patrick. There are also a lot of failed septic systems on Signal Mountain, which further contributes to pollution of the streams.

Signal Mountain stormwater manager Cliff Fite shared a Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation report on the condition of streams on the mountain. They are directly affected by runoff and seepage from septic systems. The TDEC lists four streams on the mountain as having impaired conditions, including Shoal Creek, Bee Branch and Short Creek. These three are all polluted with E. coli, and Bee Branch is also impaired due to sedimentation. Fruedenberg Creek is considered impaired from mining.

Finding a way to repair septic system problems and replace them with hook-ups to the sewer is needed in the Town of Signal Mountain, said Mr. Fite. Because of the underlying bedrock, caves and residential lots without enough room for adequate septic lines, a solution is not simple. Large leaks are easy to identify, but problems are also caused by an accumulation of multiple small leaks in many septic systems, all contributing to runoff pollution. A five-year improvement plan for stormwater problems puts the cost of capital projects in the stormwater system at $300,000 each year. “Our revenues don’t support that kind of spending,” Mr. Fite said.

Councilmembers also discussed improving the Town’s website. Town manager Boyd Veal said that the department heads suggested changes for making the site more functional for both the user and the departments. Mayor Charles Poss would like to engage residents to hear what they want regarding the website. Residents can email suggestions to Sam Guin, special projects and compliance manager, at sguin@signalmountaintn.gov. Mayor Poss also would like to add a direct link on the website for anyone who would like to access the town meetings. Another suggestion is to implement a search tool to find a topic that has been discussed in various meetings.

After much discussion, the councilmembers did not finalize guidelines for the various committee liaisons. Most councilmembers view the liaison position as an observer, not a member of the committee, who would join in the deliberations or vote. Their job would be to report back to the council about decisions made by the committees, councils, and boards. “We’d be an information conduit,” said councilmember Andrew Gardner. The liaison would also communicate to the committee about what the council wants. The mayor also believes that it is everyone’s responsibility to recruit applicants for these bodies when there is a vacancy. Councilmember Dan Landrum would like the liaisons to be able to participate in discussions in the capacity of a private citizen of the town.

Councilmember Vicki Anderson was appointed as a member of the Library board, and Mayor Poss and Vice Mayor Susannah Murdock were appointed to the Municipal Planning Commission.

A salary survey relating to fire and police salaries has been done by the respective department heads and compares Signal Mountain to other local municipalities.  The Town also participated in a professional survey conducted by Burris, Thompson and Associates. Once the statewide data from that survey is received, the information will be sent to the town’s personnel committee for recommendations and will be given to the council.

Brian Wright with Johnson, Murphey and Wright gave the annual audit presentation. Signal Mountain received an unmodified opinion, the best opinion you can get, he said. Councilmember Landrum pointed out that the Town has received clean audits for the last four or five years. Mr. Wright stressed that such an accomplishment is rare. Mr. Veal credited the Town’s staff and thanked them for the excellent work they do throughout the year.

Walden Mayor Lee Davis, Alderwoman Liz Schmidt and Alderwoman Sarah McKenzie constituted a quorum at the December meeting of the Walden Board of Mayor and Aldermen. The meeting was held according to the rules for public meeting during COVID-19 established by Gov. Lee.  

Former Mayor Bill Trohanis was recognized by current Mayor Davis for his dedicated service to the Town of Walden from 2012 to 2020, when he served as alderman and mayor. Mayor Davis noted the former mayor’s efforts in improving McCoy Farm and Gardens, opening the new Dog Patch and building the new fire station.  
Mayor Davis welcomed Lizzy Schmidt to the board after her election in November. He also thanked Fern Lockhart for organizing and setting up the town’s Christmas tree and creating the two wreaths in front of Walden Town Hall. 

The November finance report showed a balance of $142,223.  

Mr. William Thornton reported that WRES responded to 14 emergency alarms, six EMS calls and eight fire alarms. He thanked Bill Trohanis for his dedicated effort during the design of the new station, as well as his support during construction. Mr. Thornton said that once the pandemic is over, WRES will invite the public to an open house to view the new station. 

Mr. Frank Robbins told the board that McCoy Farm and Gardens had a great year, with many improvements and events. The MFG board plans to hire a part-time director and plans to expand fundraising. 

Mr. John Barlew thanked the volunteers who worked on clearing leaves at the Pumpkin Patch and noted that things have been busy at the playground, adding that social distancing and all COVID-19 protection protocol has been observed. Plans for 2021 include updating the website and raising funds for improvements and fun activities.   

The council voted to name Lizzie Schmidt as the vice mayor. It is the responsibility of the vice mayor to represent the town when the mayor is not available. Angela Cassidy and Steven Bush were appointed to the land use study committee. 

The board passed resolution No. 2020-539 appointing Herbert Thornbury as municipal judge for a two-year term. Judge Thronbury previously served in this position. 

The council voted on appropriating $5,000 to Bachman Community Center and $5,000 to McCoy Farm and Gardens, both nonprofit civic organizations whose services benefit the general welfare of the residents of the Town of Walden. 

The council authorized $70,000 for financial aid to the Walden’s Ridge Emergency Service.

The board discussed forming advisory committees and initiatives, as well as a parks advisory committee and an infrastructure committee. The infrastructure committee would study speeding issues and potential solutions, including enforcement and speed bumps.  

The board will conduct a search for professional web design firms for small towns.

Regular town meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. At this time the meetings are aired on Zoom due to the pandemic.