Bell Buckle water rates rise

Alderman James Anderson gave the dozen visitors to the meeting a brief outline of the issue.

"The water and sewer has run at a deficit for the past three years," he said. "The state won't allow that to happen."

In previous meetings, Anderson said the state can assume control of the water and sewer system if it continues to run in the red.

Another reason for the rate hike is the recently increased rates from Wartrace, Bell Buckle's primary provider, because Wartrace's own water cost has increased. Those increases are, in turn, related to that town's upcoming connection with the Tullahoma Utilities Board, a move made because Wartrace received a mandate from the state on April 1, 2008 to either improve its water source through a new or rebuilt plant, or to find another water source.

"We're at the mercy of two suppliers," said Mayor Dennis Webb. "Another thing that's killing us is depreciation. We put that EQ basin in out there. That equipment took us from $50,000-60,000 to $105,000-106,000."

Bell Buckle artist Russell Faxon asked if there was a way to cut the leaks in the system that were costing the town money. Webb said Bell Buckle water and sewer supervisor Ronnie Lokey and his department were working on that, replacing old meters and lines.

"We call him the leak whisperer," joked Webb.

In the study session, Lokey said his team had discovered and repaired four service line leaks and one main line leak after the reading in February, dropping the water loss to less than 18 percent for the billing cycle. The average water loss is about 22 percent, he said.

Resident Betsy Humphrey, a business owner, asked if there were plans to separate the water and sewer aspects of the bill.

"Some cities have been sued and had to put in separate meters," she said, adding that the cities were sued because they were charging for services not rendered by basing the sewer outflow on the water inflow and not taking into consideration people watering plants or filling swimming pools.

"As we go along, if we have to raise more money, we may have to separate that," said Webb.

The resolution to raise the water rates passed unanimously, and with less discussion from the citizens than the proposed historic overlay district and historic zoning commission.

In the zone

"We're taking about an overlay -- not changing zoning," said Rodney Simmons, chairman of the Bell Buckle Planning Commission. "For C-1 -- the commercial district."

An historic overlay district would require a historical zoning commission to oversee it, and that commission would determine what criteria would have to be met by the property owners in that district when changes were made to the property. Simmons told the audience that Rob Crawford, the certified local government coordinator with the State Historical Commission, gave a presentation to the planning commission the previous Thursday and reassured those present on one important factors.

"We set the rules," said Simmons. "What our historic overlay district is what we make it."

Several of those present at the Tuesday night board meeting stated their concerns with over-involvement, citing bad experiences they knew of with historic commissions in other towns, where property owners were even told what kind of furniture they had to have inside the building to meet the requirements.

"We're not going to be involved with the interior," said Simmons. In fact, he said, the HZC would largely be acting in an advisory capacity, and its primary goal would be to protect the integrity of the town character.

For instance, said Webb, right now, if a building came down in the downtown area, it could be replaced with a metal pre-fab and there is nothing the town could do to prevent that.

Resident John Anderson asked if there would be a residential historic overlay as well, and Simmons said that would be considered if enough residents expressed an interest in being included,

Alderwoman Annie Rooney made a motion to have Crawford bring the presentation back to Bell Buckle for a public showing so more people could see it and understand what the overlay district is and what powers and responsibilities the HZC would have.

No more warnings

The part-time police officer Bell Buckle employs will soon be taking off the kid gloves when it comes to traffic violations. Tommy Wiley, who works 15 hours a week, wrote 15 citations and 36 warnings last month. John Anderson told the board that the town had been divided on having a police officer, but one unifying aspect was that there be "draconian anti-speeding" efforts on behalf of that officer.

"The word on the street is that he's been told by city hall to issue warnings and not tickets," said John Anderson. "I think the time for warnings is over."

Webb said the board may have told the officer to issue warnings at first as the town grew used to having a police presence and not be "too draconian," but he agreed with Anderson that it was time to start "stepping it up."

Some citizens questioned the visibility of the officer, an issue that will be resolved soon, thanks to a new police car.

"Brentwood is donating a 2002 Impala with full cage and lights," said Alderwoman Jenny Hunt. She said the town has also received grants for mobile radios and a gas mask. The car, she said, has about 93,000 miles on it.

Tap approved

The water tap for Dr. Bill Jones' Happy Valley Road property was approved by the board, with the understanding that Jones knows he's responsible for costs incurred in running the lines under the road to his land, where he plans to build a single-family residence.