[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6612361,"mediaKeyId","2891556-04dd4bb4efd5c5e5271f65fc73e58f74","parentId",2891556,"title","Sweetwater council approves annexation, downtown alcohol rule, hotel-motel tax increase and wide set of resolutions","audioSeconds",248,"startMs",1273000,"endMs",1521000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2891556-04dd4bb4efd5c5e5271f65fc73e58f74&start=1273&end=1521","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2891556-04dd4bb4efd5c5e5271f65fc73e58f74/thumbnail_1273000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6612361/Sweetwater/Monroe-County/Tennessee/Sweetwater-council-approves-annexation-downtown-alcohol-rule-hotel-motel-tax-increase-and-wide-set-of-resolutions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6612361-0cec160c4e64d6e6a7fd6aac19cf74f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448088&Signature=V6g-omvNvszpbFnv8ifiTuxV85-T8sC0JeUK5niMmOAzTIXAjvC30497GKwwyi35FOlSI6IHFABBqt6LNgArEXGyUAvWVsgkfYndshol1D78xLgvc1AOcuLfOWO3aEO2A~ZOrzsRcrOk-7pRKGnWyap-O1zBsxwey2lY-KHBoze2DXFGxbbiVY0gU0JBbyQBZPHBOXAcIihyFVx-BVOjLut3tzx3lWvQlVz6HqGuHj04LKYpwofMVyUZgSaj-Okff4gjlbd7R6gYCyrgt545zKd~M-0KhvOmRCcN55yanTGLwrtK1j9HvtBTs~TmVSMTq3T3cqWnWyi6v0sEbhOBIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Sweetwater, TN","date","2025-04-07T00:00:00Z","article","The Sweetwater City Council approved several ordinances and resolutions and took related procedural votes at the meeting, including annexation, downtown alcohol rules, a hotel-motel tax increase and intergovernmental and technology agreements.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 10-47 (amend Title 8 regarding alcohol beverages: add square-footage requirement for downtown district): adopted on second and final reading. Roll-call recorded: Commissioner Hughes — Aye; Commissioner Mosher — Aye; Commissioner Richardson — Aye; Commissioner Jenks — No; Commissioner Stutz — Aye. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution to annex 2.49 acres on Englewood Drive and adopt related plan of service: motion moved and seconded; council approved by roll-call/voice vote. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution to continue the Adventure Tourism District (three-year renewal required by the district process): motion approved by voice vote. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution approving the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for fiscal years in draft: council approved the CIP in a single resolution (one reading required for resolution). Outcome: approved.

- Ordinance 10-48 (amend privileged acts to increase hotel-motel tax from 2.25% to 4%): council voted to approve the ordinance. Staff and the council discussed timing: because pending state legislation may set a new cap effective May 1, the council instructed staff that the ordinance must receive second and final reading at a called April meeting to be effective before that deadline. Outcome: motion carried; second reading to be scheduled.

- Interlocal agreement for Fire & Rescue mutual-assistance outside city limits: council approved a formal interlocal agreement and authorized the mayor to execute it. Fire department staff described the scope as limited, initial life-saving responses outside city limits where volunteer departments would take longer to arrive; staff said responses would be limited to an initial two-person, one-truck deployment for immediate life-threatening situations and that crews would turn operations over to volunteer or county units on arrival. The geographic area described included territory west of Sands Road and areas described as Christianburg, North Monroe and Tri Communities District.

- Emergency communication vendor authorization: staff proposed contracting with TextMyGov for an unlimited messaging package (quoted at $5,500/year) and keeping HyperReach on a lower-tier plan during a one-year overlap to permit data migration and testing. Council authorized staff to proceed with a one-year overlap of TextMyGov and HyperReach; staff said HyperReach billing for the next year will be $2,500 for the lower tier and TextMyGov would be $5,500/year (three-year contract term noted in the proposal). Outcome: authorized.

- Sweetwater Beer Board approvals (meeting reconvened as the Beer Board): the board approved a liquor-store license in Plaza 68 (on- and off-premises permit to allow tasting) and an on-premises license for China East; the fire chief reported inspections and background checks met local requirements; the board approved both applications by voice vote.

Councilors asked procedural and timing questions on several items. On the hotel-motel tax, staff said the East Tennessee tourism director indicated the state bill could be effective May 1; the council therefore plans a called meeting in April for second and final reading if needed. On the interlocal agreement, the fire chief said the policy is narrowly tailored to immediate life-saving assistance outside the city and that the department would return to the city once the volunteer or county units arrive.

No motions failed at the meeting; recorded roll-call results were included for at least one ordinance (10-47).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Sweetwater TN Mayor & Board of Commissioners monthly meeting 2025-04-07","oneSentenceSummary","The Sweetwater City Council approved a package of ordinances and resolutions, including an annexation, a downtown alcohol-square-footage ordinance, a hotel-motel tax increase and a new interlocal fire-and-rescue agreement.","taxTitle","Sweetwater, Monroe County, Tennessee","taxId",71280,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6612366,"Auditors report no findings; Sweetwater reports $27.5 million in assets at June 30, 2024",139,670000,809000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2891556-04dd4bb4efd5c5e5271f65fc73e58f74&start=670&end=809","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2891556-04dd4bb4efd5c5e5271f65fc73e58f74/thumbnail_670000.jpg","/articles/6612366/Sweetwater/Monroe-County/Tennessee/Auditors-report-no-findings-Sweetwater-reports-275-million-in-assets-at-June-30-2024","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6612366-46d1c11ff32b18ec4ee0a5cd0fa8314d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448088&Signature=A42pkViw0DEL41MurmEVovxAn8MTQ3TVqc~LD5e7B3WMNHj~Fiu16OhCmFvLIzgzsPEDNheuf6X5ndxCe59O8K7P~8Soh2VMBrnkpFm~ldZ6hhEKEBV0QqDtdmkscmuvViZD~D2rsBf17yrNAluTwWiV35H2MgHh635dOLkQyhK46v90wCd1dTr4U2EsnJl4TL9cJ9pVU8DkoGcxVbhH7fnRRk5s6Tv6zhoAbunT4pdXw7DYE1wzTZdKpNW4IAjpvFqWAIo90TolCDOUa9jUngEBANRO1sCVhh8sgzJgtn7bA~34j24WWbjDNbzmNJtSA5C4H5DEIWYWKk-uj1CzEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mitchell, Emmitt & Hill partner Richard Hill presented the independent audit for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, to the Sweetwater City Council.

Hill summarized the audit at a high level. He said total assets for city and school funds at June 30, 2024, were \"well over $27.5 million,\" and the combined fund balances were $23,000,004.97. For the year, Hill said total revenues were a little more than $31 million and expenditures were about $27 million; Hill added that a substantial portion of the variance is in school funds and their funding model. He told the council the city received approximately $6.8 million in state and federal financial assistance for the year ending June 30, 2024, in addition to state-shared revenues and sales tax.

On internal controls and compliance Hill said the audit included tests of internal controls and compliance with laws and regulations and that they had no findings to report for the city funds reviewed.

Council members had no additional questions and thanked the auditors for the presentation. No council action was required on the audit at this meeting.","Independent auditors presented the fiscal year 2024 audit showing the city and school funds had more than $27.5 million in assets, roughly $23.0 million in fund balance, and reported $6.8 million in state and federal assistance; auditors reported no internal-control findings in the areas reviewed.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6612370,"Sweetwater council approves February distributions, reviews contract and training items",288,238000,526000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2891556-04dd4bb4efd5c5e5271f65fc73e58f74&start=238&end=526","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2891556-04dd4bb4efd5c5e5271f65fc73e58f74/thumbnail_238000.jpg","/articles/6612370/Sweetwater/Monroe-County/Tennessee/Sweetwater-council-approves-February-distributions-reviews-contract-and-training-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6612370-993eb98d7bfe24583462115b1237e49a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448088&Signature=lGNW5mYRayJCe5AVAn8DBSAASJAO3l7Pd2S6wdQesIJ4G4hAw84nFcN8sGFdmojNPPlLzaNg-nFwYwuBiVT32HRYT5k5ix5MJUth6gKiT378iHEVYh-9KfemewWYKZr4NJHcbgJNuTiT28TpAGtTdF7FYmrlcuWbYspkbp7HhczHKyvooiS-eVniYXJRF8TdMUfnRzUEyLOSE1fsb9iD2DXrRdAkHz4MhUndNy9GBGASfgwhS9xgufF~-4RGI9DHwYv~NGeIQGeltWNj1U6QF3aKxkF2Ehe1P5P~ufKUg9BAGDhA3FEJ5zHXVQNer8knY6US~0vN3K4JbCu8iUOyhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sweetwater City Council approved the city's February distributions and heard staff questions about solid waste services and employee training.

City Recorder Jessica reported the key payments on the February distributions: Blue Cross (dental and vision) $4,995.57; Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System contributions $34,767.07; Axon Enterprise charges for body cameras, tasers, cloud storage and licensing (contracted replacement every three years); Boys & Girls Club of the Ocoee Region appropriation $5,000; health insurance (CHLIC) employee and employer portion $58,849.19; Monroe County Emergency Communications $20,675 (noted as a quarterly payment that includes a $9,011 installment); a 50% deposit on the fireworks vendor Pyro Shows $7,087.50; Sweetwater Board of Education annual appropriation $250,000; Tennessee Fire Equipment charges $43,519 tied to a FEMA grant (staff said there is a 5% local match); Westview Cemetery appropriation $5,000; gas billing/fuel purchases $11,334.57 (staff said that amount includes a school reimbursement); Judy's ELDT CDL training $4,000 for two street department employees; Star Mountain Outfitters boots $3,960 for police; a property tax refund to Tommy Reynolds $1,074; suite utilities $37,087.09; Canon & Canon engineering fees $18,900 and $5,906.25 for TAP and multimodal projects; and the solid-waste monthly contract payment $25,641.08.

Council members asked for clarifications on several line items. Jessica confirmed the FEMA-funded purchases carry a roughly 5% local match. She also said the gas billing figure included the school's share, and that the $7,087.50 payment was a 50% deposit on the city's fireworks show.

Councilors discussed the solid-waste contract. Staff reported the contract with WCI renewed April 1 and that a 190-day notice would have been required to terminate; the city decided to remain with WCI because a competitor would have needed to hire staff and buy equipment to start fresh. Staff said the current manager has improved service but that missed pickups still sometimes occur when a new driver is assigned. The council did not record a separate formal vote on changing providers during this discussion; staff described the decision to stay with WCI and noted the contract term is five years.

Council members also questioned the CDL training: Jessica said the state changed legislation last year and that much of the course cost is driven by that change; the city paid for the class and retest fees for the employees. Staff clarified a commercial driver's license is not required for the particular street positions but the city wants multiple employees with CDLs.

A motion to approve the distributions was made and seconded; the council voted by voice and the motion carried.","City council approved the city's February distributions including payroll-related payments, school appropriations and grant-funded purchases and discussed the waste contract renewal and CDL training for street employees.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sweetwater council approves annexation, downtown alcohol rule, hotel-motel tax increase and wide set of resolutions

Auditors report no findings; Sweetwater reports $27.5 million in assets at June 30, 2024

Sweetwater council approves February distributions, reviews contract and training items