I continue to brief our Councilmen and our citizens on the current status of the waste water treatment facility. I do so because of the immensity of the problem that we face and the expense that will be involved in accomplishing the required corrective action. And as I have stated many times in the past, it is the single largest problem that we have ever had to face as a town and it will almost certainly be the most expensive to resolve.
I earlier informed everyone that we have received approval of the final draft for the treatment plant but that we will be required to do much more in the way of rehabilitating our aging sewer system. I have recently received a letter from the office of Mr. Ron L. Graham, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, dated July 29, 1999 outlining what is to be done in phase II (phase I is the construction of the treatment facility).
According to Mr. Graham's letter, "Phase II is to consist of our sewer repplacement and rehabilitation projects. Project "A" consists of replacing approximately 5,200 linear feet (LF) of existing 8-inch gravity sewer with new 12-inch gravity sewer from McComb Street to the waste water treatment plant (WWTP); replacing approximately 1,800 LF of 8-inch gravity sewer with new 12-inch gravity sewer from the existing water treatment plant to the WWTP; and replacing approximately 2,700 LF of existing 8-inch gravity sewer with new 8-inch gravity sewer along Florence Street and South Main Street. Project "B" consists of rehabilitating approximately 9,360 LF of 8-inch gravity sewer and manholes and replacing associated service laterals in the downtown area. Project "C" consists of rehabilitating approximately 8,860 LF of 8-inch gravity sewer and manholes and replacing associated service laterals adjacent to the first project area in the downtown Jellico area. Project "D" consists of inspection of approximately 20,000 LF of 8-inch sewer in the Jellico Collection System, and rehabilitating approximately 8,000 LF of 8-inch gravity sewer and manholes and replacing associated service laterals in the Crouches Creek area".
Few towns our size have ever been required to condduct such an extensive sewer rehabilitation project in addition to the construction of a new treatment plant. But the great news is that we apparently have sufficient funding in place for the level of work required for compliance with the Commissioner of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Mandate. But more will be required in the future.
Numerous utilities around the country have experienced power outages due to the greatly increased demand upon the electric systems for air conditioning, fans, etc. brought on by the tremendous heat this summer.
We have not experienced any outages from over usage due to some timely conservation measures taken by the Tennessee Valley Authority and our Jellico Utilities Department. And I want to thank the employees of both for the job they have done in maintaining electric power because the heat has been life threatening and there have been numerous reports of deaths in several areas.
The dual-feed system that we have supplying our sub-station has been a tremendous help in that respect and when power is lost from one source, we can quickly switch to an alternate supplier. We are also trying to get that fact known to as many prospective employers as possible. It is a great selling point.
And we apparently still have a very ample water supply although several area towns have been enacting regulations to restrict water usage, E.G. prohibiting the watering of lawns, washing cars, etc.
The tile that was placed under Indian Mountain Road several years ago connected two ponds and greatly increased our water capacity and allowed us to utilize the inflow from the Proctor Branch. And when absolutely necessary, we can also pump water from Elk Fork Creek into our main pond. It's one of the oldest adages on record but it's still very very true - "We don't miss the water until the well runs dry". Right now our well seems to hold enough water to preclude that happening to us. But it never hurts to practice conservation with any resource.
I recently talked to Mr. John Harenza, Tennessee Valley Authority Engineering Department. That agency has now completed its study of several possible sites in Whitley County for the proposed industrial development including two that were not cited in the original list.
Mr. Harenza's department does not have anything to do with potential financing and that certainly will be the deciding factor if the prject is to become a reality.
I followed up the contact with Mr. Harenza with a conversation with Mr. Mike Patrick, County Executive, Whitley County. Mr. Patrick is optimistic that funding (possibly federal and state) will be located but feels that much more planning will be required before we reach that point.
But the surveys completed by the Tennessee Valley Authority Engineering Department can serve as the basis for that planning.
And the three county "Appalachian United Vision" committee (Campbell, whitley, Bell) that continues to meet can serve as the planning medium.
I have also spoken with Mr. Mike Ross, the developer of the proposed "Reserve on Jellico Mountain". Mr. Ross reports that the study that will include justification for the required interchange at the 155 mile marker on Interstate-75 should be completed by the end of this month. I again offered the help of our Council and our citizens in obtaining approval for the interchange that is absolutely vital to the future of the project.
Gary Owens has now completed the survey of 1.3 acres of railroad property that is to be transferred to the city of Jellico in exchange for an almost never used railroad crossing on McComb Street.
According to Ms. Vickie Smith, Norfolk Southern Representative, and the Owens survey, the fenced area will indeed be included in the property that we are to receive from Norfolk Southern. And that is good news. There are also piles of rails, cross ties, steel plates, steel spikes, etc. in that area. I have informed Ms.Smith that we would certainly appreciate a gift of those items if Norfolk Southern no longer needs and wants them.
Roy Price has served on our Planning Commission for nearly twenty years and has been Chairman of the Commission for several years. Roy has told me that he feels that it is time to move over and let someone else assume that role and I can understand his feelings. Serving on the Planning Commission is a thankless and unpaid task, but it is a vital one to our town's development.
But we will miss his expertise and experience. I doubt that there is another individual in our area who has acquired any more knowledge concerning a single subject as Roy demonstrates when dealing with development issues. I have had to call on him many times during the past sixteen months.
Almost every issue that comes before the Planning Commission is a controversial one with members having to make rulings based upon building codes, recommendations from the State Planning Office and the City Attorney, City Ordinances and various other rules and regulations. The regulations appear at times to be arbitrary and unfair and members may not always personally agree with them. But they are designed to protect the health and welfare of our citizens and consumers while allowing for planned and orderly development. Members are duty bound to interpret those rules to the best of their knowledge and belief and to enforce them.
It has been a very hot summer and we had one day of 102 degrees temperature. At least two other days registered 101 degrees and we have had several days in the vey high 90's.
Next year promises to be a very hot summer as well - but in another sense. The year 2000 will be an election year on the national, state and county levels.
County-wide offices to be elected include the Road Superintendent, Property Assessor and County Attorney. But School Board races in the 2nd and 4th districts promise to be very heated and draw a great deal of attention. There is already quite a bit of discussion in those districts (and in other districts as well) concerning possible candidates for those two board seats and getting organized for the races.
Former Jellico resident and my school classmate, Kenneth Veach, recently retired from the position of City Administrator of Oliver Springs - a position that he has held intermittently for several years. (Kenneth formerly lived on Florence Avenue and is the brother of Faye Veach Begliutti).
Kenneth will be replaced by my very good friend Scott Collins who has resigned his office as Mayor of Caryville to asssume that postion.
The "Good News Grannies" organization has asked me to announce that they will hold their annual "Grannies Day USA" at Cove Lake State Park (Caryville) this year. The event has been scheduled for Thursday, September 2nd starting sometime around 2:00 PM.
The group that was founded in the Clearfork area has as its goal the preservation of Appalachian Culture and customs -- many that otherwise seem destined to disappear.
The "Grannies" have received widespread recognition and have appeared on national television shows. They have also gathered quite a bit of state and local support.
(I entered the doubles competition in horse shoes last year during "Grannies Day 1998" and won a first place trophy. And I am relatively certain that the fact that I was paired with the Tennessee State Horse Shoe Pitching Champion had nothing to do with our winning the competition.)
The Tennessee State Planning Office has completed the identification of our "Urban Growth Area" (U.G.A.) and the map reflecting the area has now been posted in the City Council meeting room in the Municipal Building. Identification of the U.G.A. was required for all municipalities by the Tennessee State Legislature.
Our U.G.A. is very extensive and includes much of our surrounding territory. As I understand the legislation, no future expansion/annexation of any surrounding area(s) could take place without its inclusion in the urban growth projection.
Final Note:
People leave town for vacations all over this country and in other countries. But several of us take vacations every night and barely leave the city limits.
George Hackler, Sr. and Eddie Barton have purchased adjoining farms that total approximately 75 acres between them. A big pond separates the two that usually contains clear water and is filled with fish, muskrats, turtles, wild ducks, Canadian geese and any other number of species of wild life.
Eddie and his son Wayne, along with help from George Hackler, Sr., George Hackler, Jr., Tracy Creekmore, Doug Creekmore and several others have installed lighting, constructed a large stone fire pit, and erected three swings that seat three people each, a large picnic table and a big grill - all virtually at the water's edge.
After working in a big garden growing all kinds of vegetables, we usually build a fire in the pit each evening and swing and talk until 10 or 11 PM. And the view of Pine Mountain and the surrounding ridges that reflect into the pond in the moonlight borders on being indescribable. We had two views of the Fourth of July Fireworks - one in the sky and the other reflecting on the water.
Each evening, Eddie covers the section of pond in front of the swings with dog food and the fish love it - putting on a show by sometimes coming clear out of the water as they feed. Sizes of the fish range from one-half pound up to twenty pounds and we often see some that are larger. In fact there are fishermen present there most of the time and a twenty-two pounder was caught recently.
And the crowd continues to grow as special gatherings and cookouts are held. In addition to those mentioned above and their families, "regulars" and other visitors include Uncle Harold "Doc" Barton, Jack and Pearl Moses, Bill and Thelma Neely, Johnny Mays, Sr., Johnny Mays, Jr., Charles Bills, J.L. Davis and family, Hazel Boles, Sam Sharp and family, Joey Lindsay and family, Larry Stephens, Charley Lawson and numerous others. And people often come up the lane leading into the farm just to satisfy their curiosity as to what is taking place. In fact Eddie jokingly says that he is considering setting up guided tours for a fee.
I have applied for the job of Ranch Foreman and submitted my resume to Eddie for his consideration. Jack Moses has already been appointed Custodian of the swings and Uncle Harold will serve as Medical Consultant - prescribing an array of herbs and teas for whatever ails a person ranging from poision ivey to ulcers to a broken leg.
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