Somerville Board selects new alderman to serve

By: Carolyn G. Rhea,
Staff Writer

     The Somerville Board held a special called meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 6 to consider the three applications to fill Alderman Position 5 on the board for the remainder of the term that ends on Dec. 6. It was previously filled by the late Judy Accardi. The three applicants are Ryan Bramlett, Amanda Moore, and Patricia Powell.
Mayor Ronnie Neill asked if any of the applicants want to address the board. Speaking first was Patricia Powell who asked what is expected of this position besides attending the meetings. Neill said you will get a packet for the meetings and might need to study what is coming up. Amanda Moore stated she has lived here her entire life and she would like to protect our small town, that our values are represented, and we are fiscally responsible with our dollars. Alderman Mike French thanked the three applicants for participating.
French then nominated Amanda Moore and with no other nominations, a vote was taken and she was selected unanimously. Next Monday at their regular meeting, she can take her oath of office and then participate in the meeting.
Workshop Meeting
     There are no votes taken at the workshop and is discussion only. The board reviewed their financial reports. City administrator Bob Turner stated the Karcher Road sewer project is almost finished and next they will start on Warren Road. This is a $3 million project. Sales tax is running lower than expected. February is usually the biggest month that contains the December sales tax.
Ordinances
Ordinance 2026-001 is repealing the speed limit in town to 30 mph on highways and if there is no sign, it’s 20 mph on streets. It also includes changing the speed limit on Highway 64 to 55 mph where it’s currently 65 mph as requested by TDOT. This is on second reading. Turner said the speed limit will not change until the state actually installs the signs.
Ordinance 2026-002 is to amend the International Building Code on first reading. This would be adopting the 2021 code rather than the 2024 one. The town is currently on the 2018 version and cannot be more than seven years out.
Resolution 02-2026 is to establish the annual gas PILOT payments from 2025. This is a payment in lieu of taxes for the town’s gas lines that run in Somerville, Oakland, and the county. The PILOT payments for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 for each taxing jurisdiction shall be as follows: Town of Somerville $25,244: Town of Oakland $54,823: Fayette County $61,799.
Retreat Agenda
     The town is planning a retreat on Feb. 21 starting at 8 am. The tentative subjects for discussion are as follows: Economic Development in West Tennessee; Zoning Ordinance: Updating the current Zoning Ordinance and examining the reasons why it must be updated for easier use; Comprehensive Plan: Review of the draft version of the new State of Tennessee funded Comprehensive Plan; Future of Development: A look at available sites for potential development; Property Taxes: Discussion regarding the continued funding of the Town government; Funding Future Projects: A review of the approved projects in the pipeline and discussing the funding for these projects.
Neill said these items may change. Alderman French commented on his concern of the economy and with inventory of vehicles sitting on the dealer lots. We should prepare if the economy turns down and if we should consider attrition. It was commented that the stock market is up currently.
Public Safety
     The board reviewed the fire department and police department reports. The fire department reported for December a total of 81 calls in the city and county, with 56 being medical, two structure fires, and four vehicle crashes. The police department reported for December 154 calls for service, 38 incident reports, 19 arrests, and 144 citations.
Planning
     They reviewed the building permits and inspections reports. Some building permits have been pulled for Hedge Rose Phase 4 subdivision, along with some other building projects. There were 17 violations on the code enforcement list with 14 taken care of.
Community Development Director Mendi Donnelly went over her report for December, stating they had a successful Christmas parade with nice weather. There will be a new show opening this Thursday at the Somerville Art Gallery. She is working on grants.
Public Works
     Jeep Stanford of Public Works stated they have had a high number of 811 calls, for utility locations, at 440. The renovation at UT Martin Somerville is underway. The speed limit signs are being put up around town. They are still working on the ARPA sewer projects, he stated.
French asked for an update on the lagoon project. Stanford stated several years ago we met with TDEC and we all agreed on what was needed for Somerville. If we hadn’t asked then to update the permit limit to two million gallons, we wouldn’t have been able to ask later. This would have killed any future development 20 years down the line so we made that request. We also needed to make some changes in the current treatment system for the two million gallons. Their city engineer, Alton Hethcoat, came up with a good plan and since presenting it to TDEC, they have asked for different things many times. Hethcoat is trying to get the original project through now.
Emergency Purchase
     Public Works had to purchase a 25 HP turbine water well motor from Fayette Well Service for $7,750. Stanford said they were able to get the other motor reworked for a backup. This will come before the board next week for approval.