The city of Tazewell is looking into ways to fix problem roadways within its borders. Two areas of concern were discussed last week during the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
One section involves a dangerous curve in the roadway that winds around the Claiborne Ambulance Service. The second area of interest is the intersection of Hwy. 33 and Lundy Lane, located at the Tazewell-New Tazewell Fire Station (TNT).
Alderman Ben Enix said TNT fire chief Josh Miracle had requested the city install a curb to prevent traffic from cutting the corner of the intersection and speeding down the alleyway.
Although Lundy Lane is considered a two-way street, it is apparently just wide enough to be within legal limits.
Enix said the city needed to do something about the routine parking of vehicles alongside the Fire Station facing Lundy Lane.
“What if someone was coming up the hill at the same time another was trying to go down. There’s only room for one vehicle to safely pass through there, because of the parked car,” said Enix.
The BMA briefly discussed just where a curb might best alleviate the concern. However, no motion was made on the matter.
Later in the meeting, the board discussed roadways in need of striping. It was decided during this discussion that the city would stripe the dangerous curve nearby the Ambulance Service. The BMA also decided that the problem intersection beside the Fire Station could be striped as a first measure to guide drivers along the proper lane of travel.
The board will apparently discuss with Fire Station personnel the need to stop the practice of parking alongside the building.
It looks as though the Tazewell City Hall will be getting some much-needed energy conservation via an energy grant. However, some $33,100 will need to be sliced from those costs covered by the city.
“How this started, about 40 percent of the heat in this building has gone into the attic. This goes back to 1989,” said Mayor Wayne Jessie, adding the entrance doors are actually non-insulated ones typically used inside buildings.
As it now stands, city officials will upgrade its heating/cooling system, replace exterior doors and insulate the building with the allotted funds.
The BMA unanimously approved the first and final reading of resolution 233, establishing and adopting a system of internal controls. The resolution was written in response to Tennessee Codes Annotated (TCA) §9-18-102, which calls for cities to draft their own guidelines to follow when safeguarding waste, loss, use or misappropriation of funds, property and other city assets.
The new controls also require guidelines for proper recording and accounting of financial and statistical reports, insuring all obligations and costs are in compliance with applicable laws.
In another matter, the board unanimously adopted on second and final reading Ordinance 305, which amends the M-1 Industrial District uses regarding pain management and rehabilitation clinics.
A public hearing on this issue was held just prior to the beginning of the regular monthly meeting. The hearing drew no response.
The bid to entice a Walmart Superstore inside the city limits has found new steam. Apparently, local land developer and realtor Roger Ball is in the process of contacting each alderman to discuss the matter.
Enix asked his fellow board members whether Ball had been in contact with any of them.
“He said he wanted to set up a time to talk with each one individually,” Enix said.
City Recorder Diane Widner cautioned the board that the matter would need to be discussed during a work session.
Tazewell and its sister city, New Tazewell, have been in stiff competition for the past several years to finalize the construction of a supercenter within their own respective border.
Reach Jan Runions at 423-254-5588 or on Twitter @scribeCP.