Volunteers lauded for Dallas Hollow cleanup; city hears recycling event details and hotel market study

Volunteers and organizers briefed the Soddy-Daisy Board of Commissioners on cleanup and recycling plans and the board received several local updates at its April 4 meeting.

Volunteer organizer Derek Kukura reported that on March 23, 18 volunteers covered roughly 3.1 miles of Dallas Hollow Road from Hixson Pike to Sequoyah Road and collected 66 bags of trash, 14 tires and four bulk items in about three hours. The board thanked the volunteers and city staff for disposal help and police assistance to improve safety during the event.

Nate and Cindi Sanden announced a Cleanup Challenge April 19–25 and a recycling event at Kids Park on April 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Cindi Sanden said Absolute Waste Management will transport up to 50 mattresses to Nashville for recycling and Franklin E Waste will collect commercial and residential electronics but will not accept TVs or appliances; she said the event will collect sneakers and batteries and that Sequoyah Recycling Center will be open April 22–24 with tire collection at $1 per passenger tire and $4 for larger tires (tires must be clean and rimless). Event parking will be behind the Community Center; organizers are coordinating with Public Works staff.

City Manager Burt Johnson said he has requested a market study from HVS to evaluate whether the city can support a hotel and to recommend size and quality; Johnson said the study should be ready in about five weeks. Commissioner Keith raised a code-enforcement matter concerning a shipping container on Dayton Pike; enforcement letters led the owner to move the container to the rear rather than remove it, and Keith urged consistent ordinance enforcement.

Commissioner Keith also asked the board to consider delaying purchase of a new fire truck and instead hiring three additional firefighters; Mayor Everett asked Vice-Mayor Coleman and Public Works Director Grant to bring information to the next workshop to help the commission weigh personnel versus equipment needs.

Other updates: Commissioner Shipley said building permits for the month were just under $1,000,000 and that Opening Day at the Kids Club will begin Saturday with 740 kids registered. Commissioner Penney raised resurfacing needs for pickleball courts and suggested increased police patrols as use increases.

The board announced a public workshop for Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. and adjourned at 7:32 p.m.