Collegedale commission affirms certified tax rate, approves sewer-rate increase, library contract amendment and leases; framework plan deferred

The Collegedale City Commission on July 7 approved a set of routine and budget-related items including confirmation of the certified property tax rate, a sewer-rate increase tied to Chattanooga charges and to pay debt service on a new pump station, an amendment to the city’s library contract, and a technical lease cleanup with Sky Boss HQ LLC. The commission deferred action on the Collegedale Community Framework Area Plan to the first meeting in August to allow more public review and discussion.

The commission voted 3-0, with one abstention, to approve minutes from June 16 before moving into substantive items. Commissioners and city staff emphasized the items reflected operational needs and prior planning rather than new policy directions.

Why it matters: The tax-rate confirmation maintains the certified rate for property taxes. The sewer-rate increase passes through higher charges from Chattanooga and creates a revenue stream to service a bond for a new pump station; the library contract amendment adds one-time materials funding to reduce long holds on popular titles. These items affect city finances, utility bills and local services for residents.

Property tax rate (Ordinance 1163) First reading of Ordinance 1163 confirmed the city’s certified property tax rate. Commissioners asked whether City Hall had received citizen calls; staff said there had been few concerns. The first-reading motion to confirm the certified tax rate passed on roll call (Commissioner Baker: yes; Commissioner House: yes; Vice Mayor Sadler: yes; Mayor Lloyd: yes).

Sewer-rate revision (Ordinance 1164) The commission approved first reading of Ordinance 1164 to revise sewer service rates. City staff explained the increase is partly a pass-through of charges assessed by Chattanooga’s wastewater authority (WWTA) and partly to cover debt service on a bonded pump-station project. Staff said the pump station will enter construction after a preconstruction meeting and is expected to have a 6-to-9-month construction window; the debt service is expected to span about 12 years. Commissioners asked about irrigation meters and were told irrigation meters are installed and billed by Eastside Utility; only water through a separate irrigation meter avoids sewer charges. The first-reading motion passed on roll call (Baker: yes; House: yes; Vice Mayor Sadler: yes; Mayor Lloyd: yes).

Library contract amendment — Library Systems & Services LLC (second amendment) The commission approved a second amendment to its contract with Library Systems and Services LLC to add $25,000 for materials, raising the materials line from $55,000 to $80,000. City staff and the library director said the funds are intended primarily to reduce electronic holds and long wait times for e-holds; some additional physical copies may be purchased to shorten queues. Commissioner House and others asked that materials purchased under the additional allotment be chosen locally by the city’s library director and staff rather than solely through the LSNS consortium. The commission approved the amendment with the condition that the additional money be allocated specifically for holds and be approved by city staff (roll call: Baker: yes; House: yes; Vice Mayor Sadler: yes; Mayor Lloyd: yes). Staff said the city will review the contract relationship toward the end of the year and may request bids or change direction at that time.

Sky Boss HQ LLC lease ratification (Resolution 551) The commission approved Resolution 551, a first-and-final reading ratifying a lease with Sky Boss HQ LLC. City staff described the measure as a technical cleanup required under the Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) to formalize a lease the commission had previously approved; the lease term discussed in the meeting is 40 years. Staff said the lease had already been considered by the planning commission as part of the original lease process and that the changes were technical (roll call: Baker: yes; House: yes; Vice Mayor Sadler: abstain; Mayor Lloyd: yes).

Collegedale Community Framework Area Plan (Resolution 552) — deferred Commissioners discussed Resolution 552, an advisory framework plan intended to guide long-term strategic planning and inform zoning cases. Several commissioners said the packet lacked an exhibit and that residents should have more opportunity to review the plan. Staff and one commissioner emphasized that the document is advisory, not legally binding on individual parcels, and that TDOT would not review proposed road changes without a formal submittal. The commission voted to defer the resolution to the first commission meeting in August and to upload the plan documents to the city website for public review. Roll call on the motion to defer: Baker: abstain; House: yes; Vice Mayor Sadler: yes; Mayor Lloyd: yes.

Public works vehicle purchases The commission approved purchases of replacement Public Works vehicles included in the adopted budget: a new Ford F-150 supervisor truck and an F-250 with a utility body to replace older, high-mileage vehicles (examples cited included a 2002 Chevrolet with about 220,000 miles and a 2001 F-350 with about 188,000 miles). The items were approved on roll call (Baker: yes; House: yes; Vice Mayor Sadler: yes; Mayor Lloyd: yes). Staff said older vehicles will be routed to the shop and some will be surplus or auctioned.

Other items and administration reports During public comment, a resident praised public works and the police department for cleanup and operations after the July 4 festival. City administration and police reported generally positive after-action feedback on the festival but noted the event stretched city resources and required assistance from Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Lookout Mountain and Southern Adventist University. The police chief reported zero calls for service or crashes during the event and said many staff worked extended shifts.

Staff also briefed the commission on pavement repairs needed at Edgemont Road and other localized sub-base failures; staff said they will excavate and rebuild deficient sections. The commission was told that a portal submission to TDOT about compression (traffic) signs was routed to the proper TDOT contacts and staff is awaiting a response.

Votes at a glance - Approval of June 16 minutes — Approved (Baker: yes; House: yes; Vice Mayor Sadler: abstain; Mayor Lloyd: yes). - Ordinance 1163 — Confirm certified property tax rate (first reading) — Approved (Baker: yes; House: yes; Vice Mayor Sadler: yes; Mayor Lloyd: yes). - Ordinance 1164 — Revise sewer service rates (first reading) — Approved (Baker: yes; House: yes; Vice Mayor Sadler: yes; Mayor Lloyd: yes). - Resolution 551 — Ratify lease with Sky Boss HQ LLC — Approved (Baker: yes; House: yes; Vice Mayor Sadler: abstain; Mayor Lloyd: yes). - Resolution 552 — Collegedale Community Framework Area Plan — Deferred to first meeting in August (Baker: abstain; House: yes; Vice Mayor Sadler: yes; Mayor Lloyd: yes). - Library contract (Library Systems and Services LLC) — Second amendment: $25,000 materials increase (to $80,000 total), conditioned on staff approval that funds target holds — Approved (Baker: yes; House: yes; Vice Mayor Sadler: yes; Mayor Lloyd: yes). - Public Works vehicle purchases — Approved (Baker: yes; House: yes; Vice Mayor Sadler: yes; Mayor Lloyd: yes).

What’s next The community plan will return in August after a July workshop and city staff will post the plan documents on the city website for public review. Staff said a decision point on the library contract relationship and potential bidding will be discussed at an August workshop. City staff also noted planned construction of the pump station and the timeline for debt service that the sewer-rate revision is intended to cover.