Bell Buckle Mayor Dennis Webb (file photo) [Click to enlarge]

That town's board voted Tuesday night to raise the rates inside the city from $1,000 to $2,000 and from $1,500 to $2,500 for taps outside the town's limits.

Mayor Dennis Webb said the costs would be incurred by new customers, not existing ones, and will assist with higher costs for running the water system. The new rates will be implemented July 1.

Approval was given to make repairs at the water tank at Covered Bridge Estates, which has been experiencing soil slippage. Engineer Jim Patterson said last month that the last year's exceptional drought caused the soil to become very brittle and the heavy rainfall over the past few weeks has weakened the slope of the hill.

The engineer also stated that the hill where the tank is sitting is a bad site and "should have never been done as it is." The work will cost about $3,300.

Bell Buckle is still awaiting word from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) about getting a sewer moratorium lifted. Patterson said that he had tried to verify that TDEC had received all the necessary documents, but they were apparently "lost," TDEC officials told the engineer. Patterson sent new copies via e-mail and confirmed they were received.

A director's order against the town from TDEC was issued in March of 2005 that prevents the town from installing any new sewer taps until problems with its waste water system have been corrected.

According to the state order, there were 61 instances of bypass overflow with the system in 2004, which allowed an estimated 1.6 million gallons of partially-treated wastewater to enter Bell Buckle Creek.

In other sewer matters, a total of $16,500 was set aside from this year's budget for repairs to Bell Buckle's sewer plant. Water manager Ronnie Lokey also noted that Bell Buckle had a water loss of 32 percent last month.

The board passed the first reading of this year's amended budget and the 2008-09 anticipated budget. Expenses and expenditures for next year are expected to be $542,000 for the water and sewer fund and $111,255 for the general fund.

Webb said that any changes to this budget would have to be made after talks with neighboring Wartrace in regards to the cost of water, which will likely change if Wartrace signs an agreement with the Tullahoma Utilities Board for water service.

In other business, the board approved spending no more than $2,500 for a sign for the volunteer fire hall, and $80,000 from Tennessee Municipal League funding for work to begin on the amphitheater in Bell Buckle Park.

Webb announced that settlement had been reached in the town's civil suit against developer Roger Ritch. Ritch, doing business as American Value Homes, was served on March 7 with a suit demanding a total of $14,000.

The town's board had voted to move forward with collecting the unpaid sewer tap fees in November that had resulted from an accounting error. The taps in question are in Oakwood subdivision, built by Ritch. The city had been collecting fees on the water, but not the sewer charges until the error was discovered.

Ritch is to pay the full amount within 90 days, Webb said.

Webb also wanted to address and dismiss rumors that he had been "tearing up traffic tickets." He said the town's new officer had given warnings, but had written no citations and that he, Webb, would never interfere with that process.