The City of Alcoa Utilities has added a $3 fee to resident's water bills to cover the EPA stormwater Phase II program requirements.

Permit requirements include system-wide erosion and sediment controls, pollution control, and public education initiatives. The stormwater utility will serve as an alternative to increasing taxes to meet the added expense of funding these requirements set by the federal government.

Probably a good thing and I suppose I don't mind paying the extra $3. However, keeping in mind I have not studied this in depth, I hope not that many businesses get credits while I, a resident, am not able to get credits.

Update: I called the City of Alcoa regarding residents that have two water meters, one for the house and one for watering the lawn. It sounds like they made a mistake in charging this fee on the second meter for watering the lawn. It sounds like they should have this handled and not charge this fee next month on the second meter.

Cool new feature found on the City of Alcoa web-site, GIS Mapping.

The City of Alcoa GIS Mapping is currently promoted for businesses to "review your property boundary and mapped impervious area".

However, you can use it to look up individual property information as well. Check it out at this City of Alcoa Stormwater Utility site.

So when Nike came calling, offering incentive money if the school would buy their new uniforms, shoes and equipment from Nike, it was an easy decision for the coach.
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He won't say how much extra stuff the incentive money will buy, only that it will make a difference.

They learn so young how important it is to be influenced by corporate America. Is it any wonder most of our young players have such attitude when they move on to the next phase of their lives?

Blount Countians Unite! Let's start a campaign to do one little thing to save the planet. When you go to fast food restaurants, banks, whatever, park your car and go inside. Do you realize how much gas you use? Do you realize how much money you waste? Do you realize how much pollution is released in the air when you spend the 5-10 minutes at the drive-thru?

Now, obviously there are times when it is not practical. For me that might be when it is hot outside and the pupster is in the car. Maybe, at those times I could just forgo the stop all together.

What do you say? Can you do it for a week? A month? Forever?

Think about it. Try it. Save the planet one step at a time.

This is exciting. There are now, apparently, enough voters in Blount County to justify a second (2nd I say) early voting location.

According to the Maryville Daily Times,

There is a new early voting satellite location at the Everett Recreation Center, 318 S. Everett High Road. The early voting hours at the Everett location will be from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The courthouse hours will be 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Early voting will be held through Jan. 31.

And no snow to show for it. Glad I covered my palm trees.

Congratulations to the Maryville High Rebels for an unprecedented fourth consecutive 4A State Championship.

According to the MDT, The Rebels have won 60 consecutive games, 99 of 100 and 113 of their last 115; they last lost during the regular season in September 2001.

Coming soon to the old Atlanta Bread location in Alcoa, near Hall Road on Associates Blvd. Saw a sign, nothing else to report.

Hope it's a good replacement. Many of us have really been missing Atlanta Bread.

My bad. I have not been following the CAPPE issues real closely. Yesterday I watched a news report on local TV regarding the proposed PPE. I was surprised to see two options for the PPE. It was a graphic, not well explained, but appears there is one option with a direct route to 321 and a second option with a curved route. Interesting, I thought. What is this about? Thus, I decided to review the previous BlountViews post regarding the TDOT public meeting held October 25th.

In reading the post I was stopped cold.

CAPPE (Citizens Against the Pellissippi Parkway Extension, Inc.) must NOT pit one bad project against another.

From the CAPPE post here at BlountViews:

Alternative (1) is preferred, as there are other higher priorities for transportation improvements in our county. The Alcoa By-Pass will do much more to address safety and Level of Service, as will the Montvale Road improvements.
...
Let’s use our limited highway funds for projects like the Alcoa Highway By-pass that will ensure safety for many, not for a project that will exacerbate our transportation problems.

(Emphasis added by the author.)

The Alcoa Highway By-pass is a horrible idea. It will add a scar to a unique, "planned" community developed nearly a century ago with direction toward community and green space. Has anyone seen what the James White Parkway has done to South Knoxville? I guess it is now time for the citizens of Alcoa to create their own corporation to fight not only TDOT and whatever other government organizations looking to add an Alcoa by-pass, but we appear now be forced to fight an organization that was trying to do good things for the community. I am appalled!

Oh, and by the way. CAPPE's statement regarding the proposed R&D park off Maryville Pike, "The campus-like atmosphere of the Research & Development Park at the Jackson Farm will be disrupted by building an interstate highway through it. Give us a break. The R&D park was plannned with the knowledge of the proposed PPE. If the planners thought it was a bad idea, they should not have invested in it.

More to come.

According to the KNS, Maryville and Alcoa have ended mandatory restrictions on water usage. Can't seem to get my MDT. Hope it starts back up soon.

In addition, the KNS article goes on to say, "A preliminary study estimates that the total reduction of water use by all customers in both cities led to a 30 percent drop in water withdrawals from the Little River." Good job!

Interesting tidbit from the City of Alcoa. We receive a newsletter with our bill. Alcoa included a chart this time outlining who uses City of Alcoa water.

Inside City Residential Customers = 7.4%
Inside City Commercial Customers = 10.3%
Outside City Residential Customers = 12.0%
Outside City Commercial Customers = 7.1%
Aluminum Co. of American= 45.3%
Tuckaleechee Utility District = 17.9%

This Friday's Blount County Democrats luncheon included a presentation on Blogging 101. Our gracious BlountViews host was the presenter.

The meeting was quite fascinating. This is the first one we have attended. Fridays are very busy for us. Customers!

Little River water levels continue to drop, 23 cubic feet per second (cfs) for Aloca and 38 for Maryville.

Maryville public information officer Pam Arnett reported Little River water levels have stayed consistent at 38 cfs. Whereas, Alcoa's level has dropped from 25 to 23. Does this mean Maryville is not conserving enough water?

According to today's Maryville Daily Times, Phase III of water restrictions are in effect and the water usage restrictions are getting tougher, no car washing at all, nurseries, landscape facilities must stop using city water for irrigation.

How low will it go? Shall we start a pool?

No rain for several weeks and no rain predicted. We are now required to conserve water.

Update: City of Aloca and City of Maryville Press Release for Phase II Mandatory Water Restrictions.

Link

According to Maryville City Manager Greg McClain, the water level of the Little River has dropped to 40 cubic feet per second, forcing authorities to ban watering lawns or gardens as well as prohibiting car washing and filling swimming pools. Residents with automatic sprinkler system also are being asked to completely turn off their timers.
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“I think both cities will take a soft-handed approached at first,” Wiggins [City of Alcoa] said. “If a homeowner is found to be watering a lawn the first call may be a warning. Maybe they don’t read the paper or watch the TV.

“But if there are a numerous violations they could be cited, with each day being an additional citation.”

What a magnificent day in the foothills of the Smokys.

Lots of bluegrass music.

… with crafts, demonstrations of sorghum making, quilting, weaving, antique tractors, and more.

Hope you visited. Sorry if you missed it.

If you did miss the Townsend Heritage Festival, you can still make it to the Nawger Nob Arts and Crafts Festival in Townsend today, September 30, 2007.

More photos after the jump...

On September 24th, the Cities of Maryville and Alcoa are once again requesting residents to voluntarily conserve water.

At this time, the cities are asking their customers and those of Tuckaleechee Utility District (which purchases its water from Alcoa) to voluntarily conserve water. Reducing water use will help ease the demand on each of the water systems which, in turn, eases the demand on the river. Specific suggestions include:

• Stop irrigation of plants, trees and landscaping
• Refrain from washing cars
• Fix all leaky plumbing fixtures, including outdoor hoses
• Run washing machines and dishwashers only with full loads
• Use a broom instead of a water hose to clean sidewalks and driveways

For now, water conservation is still voluntary. However, if the area does not receive any rain in the next few days, mandatory restrictions may be implemented.

Link

I attended the second of four Streams Done Right Seminars presented by the Little River Watershed Association and the University of Tennessee Environmental Landscape Design Lab. It was a wonderful seminar held on a magnificent day in the park.

This is a result of a project of the Blount Soil Conservation District, supported by Blount Parks and Recreation as well as the Little River Watershed Association, the University of Tennessee Environmental Landscape Design Lab, the City of Alcoa, TVA, and the ALCOA Foundation.

The project is to return some stream banks to a native habitat. It is a pleasure to see all of these organizations working together to better our environment. UT helped out with providing students on “service learning” projects. In addition, a UT intern was retained to maintain the new plantings through the summer.

The seminar was held along the stream in Springbrook Park where a portion of the stream is in the process of being restored to a native habitat. Apparently the project has already been in progress along a portion of the Blount County Green Belt bike trail. The next project is in Farragut.

This is a sad state of affairs and, so far, no one is listening. Except for, of course, the residents of the mobile home park being subjected to the loud noises of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle owners.

What I find fascinating is McSpadden, the owner of the mobile home park (trailer park as written in the paper), is trying to get assistance from the City of Maryville and Blount County to alleviate the problem. Kudos to Mr. McSpadden.

According to The Maryville Daily Times,

...a loud public address system and music, smells and the “toxic” smoke from the recent burnout the Harley dealership sponsored.
...McSpadden said. “I had one lady come out during the event and she thought her house was on fire. The whole house smelled liked burning rubber ... her clothing and everything.”
...Some residents are elderly, some already have respiration a problems and some have young children. They don’t need this. The more people that are there, the higher the noise. It’s getting worse every weekend.”
... noise is not only on weekends but through the week. He told council sometimes he has to get up to go to work at 4:30 a.m. after being kept awake by motorcycles being revved up until 1 and 2 a.m.

McSpadden said “sometimes people can’t even hear their TVs in their houses.”

How did this happen? How is it the City/County governments did not consider the surrounding area when approving the dealership in the first place, then allowing loud, obnoxious parties nearly every weekend? Why can't/don't those governing Blount County/Maryville think before they act? Haven't they heard of zoning? Haven't they heard of noise ordinances? Apparently they've heard about them, they are just not sure what to do about them.

There was this weird substance dropping from the sky yesterday afternoon. It was wet and cool. The plants seemed to reach up and embrace the substance. What a pleasure.

According to The Maryville Daily Times and the National Weather Service, 1.91 inches of the substance accumulated at the Knoxville airport. Living about a mile away from the airport, as the crow flies, we only received 1/4 inch. We are still happy and our plants are happy.

What is it, though, with the people that continue to water their yards every day? Do they not read the paper? Do they not care about the community?

Sunday they asked us to voluntarily conserve water.

There has been no significant reduction in water use since Sunday when Maryville and Alcoa called for voluntary water conservation because the water level in Little River has reached historical lows.

“We are on the verge of a mandatory ban of nonessential water usage. This is a very serious matter, and we all need to conserve water in any way we can,” said Maryville Mayor Joe Swann on Tuesday.

Please people, pay attention. Conserve water. Do a rain dance.

As reported in the Maryville Daily Times, Maryville and Alcoa are asking that citizens voluntarily curb water usage because of the low level of Little River due to drought conditions and high temperatures.
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The best way to reduce water use is to cease irrigation of plants, trees and landscaping, according to a press release from Maryville public information officer Pam Arnett.
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For now, water conservation is still voluntary.

However, if there is no rainfall in the next few days, Phase II could be ordered soon, Arnett said.

Having lived in Florida for many years, we are used to having water shortage issues. I don't believe the citizens of TN are all that familiar with the concept.

There are some people who, I am not sure which, are oblivious, just don't care, or believe their lawns are more important than the community. Please don't be one of these kinds of people. Heed the warning, help out, conserve water. Don't water your lawn every day or even every other day!

The "24th Annual National Night Out" (NNO), a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 7, 2007.

Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs; Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

The cities of Alcoa and Maryville and Blount County are not listed as registered participants. However, according to the City of Maryville Public Information Officer, Pam Arnett, they are having an event (6 PM) in downtown Maryville at the Theater in the Park, across the street from the courthouse. Hot dogs, drinks, information available. As our Blount County communities grow, it is a good idea to get the citizens and law enforcement together to keep our neighborhoods safe!

August 4- Watermelon Day - Drawings for watermelons; watermelon samples; children's activities; Seed spitting contest beginning at 9:30. The Rhythum Pick Ups with Bluegrass.

The market is located in the heart of downtown Maryville on Church Ave. near CBBC Bank.

Ya'll come!

It is important to note the market is open 9 AM to sell-out. Sometimes they sell out early and they are gone, many times before noon.

In the August, 2007 issue of Southern Living magazine's Tennessee Living section, there is an article about Capitol Coffee and the owner, Heath Claiborne. The article is not on-line so run out and purchase the current issue.

Capitol Coffee is in the old Capitol Theatre building in downtown Maryville. The building still has the theatre sign. Apparently, you can book the theatre for private functions.

Claiborne is an artist with a coffee shop to support his art.

We've been to Capitol Coffee and enjoyed our visits. We will return. Thanks to Heath and his wife, Benita, for selecting downtown Maryville!

Photos after the jump...