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Cleanup, Fall Festival and Pioneer Days: community updates at Soddy‑Daisy meeting
Summary
Volunteers and event organizers updated the board on a Big Soddy Creek cleanup, a Fall Festival Oct. 15 with 100+ vendors and a 260‑entrant Great Pumpkin Chase; staff also announced Poe’s Tavern reserved for Pioneer Days and the new permanent fire chief.
Community volunteers and event organizers briefed the Soddy‑Daisy commission on local activities at the Oct. 6 meeting.
Jim Stewart of Keep Soddy‑Daisy Beautiful said 40 volunteers assisted a Big Soddy Creek Gulf cleanup and described an in‑progress mural at Wimpy’s Restaurant. He announced the Fall Festival scheduled for Oct. 15 with more than 100 tent vendors; EPB will install park Wi‑Fi for the event. Stewart said the Great Pumpkin Chase has 260 registered participants ranging in age from 1 to 79; he noted the Army National Guard volunteers originally slated to assist were dispatched to Florida for hurricane response, leaving a need for 12 additional volunteers and opportunities for student community service hours. Vice‑Mayor Cothran asked whether local JROTC units had been contacted; Stewart said fall break affected that outreach.
City Manager Johnson said Steve Smith of the Soddy‑Daisy Montlake Historical Association and Museum requested reservation of Poe’s Tavern on Nov. 5 for the annual Pioneer Days celebration; the board gave consensus approval and the city’s insurance will cover the event although it is not city‑sponsored. Johnson also announced that, effective Sept. 16, Dusty Morgan is the city’s permanent fire chief after serving as interim for about six months; Fire Chief Morgan told the board he had submitted written support for a proposed Parkridge Emergency Center on Harrison Lane.
Public Works Director Steve Grant reported crews are digging holes for bridge piers in the Gulf. Commissioner Coleman raised a request from a senior citizen to use the Durham Street ballfield parking lot monthly for a retirees’ flea market; Johnson said the city attorney would be consulted on allowable restrictions.
Commissioner Everett noted the September building permit report totaled over $3 million due in part to townhomes on Ducktown Street and discussed proposals for expanded litter pickup, including using individuals with unpaid fines if legal and administrative issues (liability, judge agreement) can be resolved. Commissioner Shipley said the first concert at the lake went smoothly and that the proposed Parkridge Emergency Center will be considered in Nashville on Oct. 26, inviting public comment.
The meeting adjourned at 7:29 p.m.
