Mayor’s Commission Summary, March 2019
The Blount County Commission held their March meeting last night, March 21, 2019. There were 10 items of new business. I will summarize a few items:
Boy Scout Troop 285 opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, and Pastor Greg Long with Pleasant Grove Baptist Church opened in prayer.
The Commission confirmed my reappointment of Geneva Harrison to the Planning Commission.
A couple of Grants were on the agenda:
$20,000 was approved for application for our Health Department, so that they can apply for a State 2019 Access to Health through Healthy Active Built Environments Grant Program. This grant will be used for partnership to assist the City of Friendsville in their plans and expenses for the All-Inclusive Playground and Pavilion area, which will be ADA compliant, and more.
Another Grant was approved that has been received by the State for Used Oil recycling. This will be used to continue the used oil recycling efforts at our Blount County Recycling Center located at 331 Levi Street next door to our Blount County Operations Center off McArthur Road.
The Commission approved a rezoning request from Blackberry Farm for around 18 acres along and adjacent to East Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Old Walland Highway, and E. Millers Cove Road, all in Walland. This request was voted on and sent to Commission with a recommendation from the Planning Commission. The resolution was amended to remove Parcel No. 15.0 at the request of Blackberry. A Blackberry representative at the meeting stated they could accomplish the revitalization of “downtown Walland” without rezoning Parcel 15.0. He also reported to the Commission that the plans are for the benefit of the local community to be enjoyed by guests of Blackberry and by the local residents. He described the plans to include a general store in the Chilhowee Inn, and a bicycle shop and eatery on the river, where a restaurant was located many years ago.
The Commission voted to move the date of the Commission Workshop for October to Thursday, October 3, 2019, instead of October 8 which is Blount County School’s Fall Break and will impact attendance.
Complete minutes from all items on the Commission Agenda can soon be found at:
http://www.blounttn.org/1462/Meeting-Packets-January-2017-to-Present