Bell Buckle makes sign rules clearer

Those wanting to put up signs in Bell Buckle, whether it's a business sign or a yard sign for their favorite politician, need to check with the Town Hall first. Bell Buckle Board of Mayor and Aldermen, meeting Tuesday night, approved an ordinance that will let sign owners know what is acceptable where.

Nothing has actually changed from the previous ordinance -- it's just been clarified.

"This was just a housekeeping measure," said Mayor Dennis Webb at the study session prior to the public hearing and regular meeting. "Cleaning up the language."

Included in the amended ordinance is a detailed description of different kinds of signs, from the small, temporary yard signs to permanent structures.

The board also voted to increase the size of the water line on the proposed Fosterville Road project from 4 inches to 6.

"Not because there's some subdivision planned out there," said Alderwoman Jenny Hunt.

She said it would be cheaper to lay the 6-inch pipe now than to put in 4-inch now and have to replace it later. She also told the board if town labor put in the meters instead of a contractor, the savings would probably cover the difference in cost between the two pipe sizes, and that with a 6-inch line, a fire hydrant could be installed.

Water superintendent Ronnie Lokey said a hydrant requires at least a 6-inch line, but because the water line on Fosterville Road would be gravity flow instead of pumped, there would not be enough pressure to be able to use the hydrant directly. The fire department would, however, be able to draw from it to fill up the pumper truck.

Lokey told the board that the cold weather had caused some problems.

"We had a few frozen meters but we lucked out and have not had any frozen mains like BCUD and Shelbyville did," said Lokey. "As far as I know, no one is out of water right now."

Lokey gave same end-of-year numbers, saying the town had 12 overflows in the past year due to several issues, including the equalization basin and the heavy rains experienced in 2009.

"We're under a self-imposed sewer moratorium," said Webb, adding that the ban on new sewer connections would remain until the overflows were limited to no more than five a year.

Hunt expressed concern about Wartrace's upcoming conversion to the Tullahoma Utility Board as a water source and what it will mean for Bell Buckle water customers. She suggested sending out notices to the customers, advising them to buy pressure valves for their homes. Lokey told the board he didn't think that the pressure would be a serious issue by the time the water gets to Bell Buckle, but that he would confer with the town engineer and the Wartrace engineer to make sure. The conversion has been tentatively set for the first week in February.