Dear Oak Hill Neighbors and Friends,
The next meeting of the Oak Hill Board of Commissioners (BOC) is Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 6 pm at the City office. The meeting will also be live-streamed at the link on the City’s website. Remember only those physically present may make public comments. Either way, we hope you will attend.
Recap of August 27 Meeting. The first order of business was the biennial Organization of the Board, beginning with newly re-elected Commissioners Winston Evans and David DeMarco taking the oath of office administered by City Judge Tom Lawless. The BOC then opened the floor for elections of Mayor, Vice Mayor, and BOC representative to the Planning Commission. The BOC elected Dale Grimes as Mayor (4-0-1, Grimes abstaining), Winston Evans as Vice Mayor (4-0-1, Evans abstaining), and Winston Evans as Planning Commission member (4-0-1, Evans abstaining).
The BOC received a revised version of the Stormwater Master Plan from Adrian Ward of Barge Design Services. This version included a revised Scoring Criteria to Prioritize Needed Stormwater Projects identified in the Master Plan. The BOC engaged in a lengthy discussion with Mr. Ward about the recommended priority projects and whether the scoring criteria now reflected the BOC’s sense of the best use of the limited funds available. No vote was taken.
The BOC adopted on second reading (5-0) an Ordinance to Comply with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit and to Exercise Powers Granted by Tennessee Law for Storm Water Discharges. As described in previous emails, adoption is the final step necessary for the City to comply with the TDEC Audit of January 2023. That audit found significant non-compliance by the City with a previous 2018 TDEC Audit that required numerous corrective actions that were never undertaken. Prior to BOC adoption, a public hearing was held on the ordinance at which no one sought recognition to make comments. With adoption of the ordinance, all steps have now been taken to comply with the 2018 and 2023 TDEC audits.
Next, the City Manager reported to the BOC on two Detention Ponds that the City has identified as needing maintenance. One is located on the north side of Otter Creek Road and the other is in the Peach Orchard subdivision. The City will send letters to responsible owners to initiate clean-up efforts.
The City Manager also reported on Improvements in the Codes Department that will allow contractors to request inspections using the City’s online website portal. This should streamline the inspections process, which has previously been the subject of many complaints from those involved in the building process in Oak Hill.
September 24 Meeting. The City put the Garbage and Recycling Contract out for bid in August and has received three bids for the work. The current contract expires at the end of February 2025. In anticipation of a cost increase, the bidding process was begun early to allow the City time to determine how best to implement a needed resident price increase, since residents’ annual payments that are due in November are not aligned with the beginning of the new contract. The BOC’s primary business at this meeting will be discussion of the bids, how to structure the anticipated increased fees, and communications with residents of the timing and amount of the price increase.
Please let us know if you have concerns about the above or any other matters affecting Oak Hill. Attend the meeting and speak during Public Comments, or send an email. Your participation helps preserve what we love about living in Oak Hill.
Best regards,
Dale Grimes
Mayor