Jim Dennison

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen discussed several legislative and administrative items. Key topics included the second reading of an ordinance to amend the city's zoning map for a property on Parkway and the first reading of an ordinance regarding campaign sign regulations. Resolutions were considered for the transfer of city-owned real property to the Industrial Development Board. The agenda also covered financial approvals, including Fire Department expenses, police grant applications for DUI enforcement and community resource equipment, and purchases for low voltage wiring and police technology. Additionally, the Board reviewed a proposal for a one-year trial of a Drone as First Responder program and a request for a vehicle donation to the local high school's criminal justice program.

The meeting agenda includes consideration of a change order for the Fire Station 4 construction contract, approval of landscape materials for the North Sevierville project, and authorization of various expenses exceeding $10,000 for Fire Station 4, specifically for a communication system and exercise equipment.

The meeting addressed several key agenda items. During the public forum, a concern was raised regarding a land swap related to a road relocation project. New business focused heavily on Site Plan reviews: one request for a PUD condominium development on Caton Rd was deferred due to staff's incomplete review of a revised plan including additional parcels requiring rezoning, and another request for a warehouse on Dolly Parton Pkwy was deferred due to outstanding engineering and site comments, particularly concerning dumpster location. A Site Plan for a mixed-use restaurant and liquor store development on Dolly Parton Pkwy was recommended for approval subject to minor comment resolution. Two rezoning requests were handled: approval was granted to rezone property from Arterial Commercial (AC) to Intermediate Commercial (IC) to permit religious assembly and an education center. A request to rezone property from County R-1 to County R-2 for additional cabin development was recommended for denial due to the lack of public water and sewer access and the questionable quality of the access road. Finally, the Commission agreed to change the date of the April meeting to April 7th.

The meeting addressed several site plan requests. Final site plan approval was granted for the Sevier County Electric System Warehouse, subject to confirmation of adequate corner clearance. Final approval was also granted for the Evergreen Apartments project, contingent upon Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) approval and the recording of a plat consolidating lots. Conceptual approval was given for the Caton Rd. Condominium Development, which involved revising a previously approved site plan by removing a hotel and restaurant in favor of 30 additional residential units, along with planned road improvements. Preliminary approval was granted for a City-initiated road relocation request for Red Bank Road, intended to move the roadway out of the floodplain for improved safety and reduced maintenance, despite community concerns regarding timing and study details. Staff also reported on ongoing research concerning the use of concrete plants as standalone operations.

The agenda for the meeting included the Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation, followed by roll call. Key items involved the third reading and consideration for approval of Ordinance O-2025-021, which amends the fiscal year 2026 budget. The meeting featured a presentation on the Fiscal Year 2025 ACFR. Communications included reappointments to the Parks and Recreation Foundation and the introduction of a new Golf Course employee. New business covered multiple significant items: consideration for additional funding for the EDA Traffic Signal Project, requests for extensions for two Retail Package Stores (Tejas Patel - Zone 2 and Arjun Patel - Zone 4), various items related to the annual Health Plan Renewal (including a new consulting agreement with Barnes Insurance Agency, UMR for administrative services, and Prime Therapeutics for PBM), an agreement with Sevier County, acceptance of a donation from Tanger Properties, LP, and approvals for purchases including Civic Plus services, a Task Order/MOU from Ardurra Engineering, a Change Order from Judy Construction, a Liebert Cooling Unit, arrow boards, rooftop HVAC units, and a skid steer wheel saw attachment.