|
|
|
Smyrna residents who live along Lake Como will have an opportunity to repair their docks and bulkheads this coming fall.
Smyrna Town Council voted unanimously to lower the lake’s water level in the fall of 2010 during Monday night’s council meeting.
Town Manager Dave Hugg explained that town code includes a provision for the lowering of Lake Como for maintenance purposes every five years.
Hugg said the lake wasn’t lowered in 2005, and he asked council for direction on whether or not to proceed with it this year.
“It will have been 10 years at least since the lake has been lowered for this purpose,” he said.
Councilman Bill Raynor said he didn’t see any need for it unless people requested it.
“I’m asking for it to be lowered,” said Conrad Hebert of Lake Drive West in response.
“If it hasn’t been lowered for 10 years, there are probably people on the lake who don’t even realize their bulkheads need replaced,” said Councilman Bob Riddagh.
After discussion, council voted unanimously to lower Lake Como in the fall of 2010.
Hugg said the town will confer with the Division of Fish and Wildlife to determine a more specific timeframe for lowering the lake.
Stop signs approved for Bon Ayre
In other action, council approved a resolution to place two new stop signs on Bon Ayre Lane at the intersection with Saks Street.
Councilman Larry Thornton said that residents of the Bon Ayre neighborhood expressed concerns about driver safety to the Public Safety Committee.
Specifically, they requested two stop signs on Bon Ayre Lane at the intersection with Saks Street, making it a three-way intersection.
Due to problems with speeding, and a safety issue for people turning out onto Bon Ayre Lane from Saks, the committee recommended that council approve the stop signs, Thornton said.
Council approved the stop signs by unanimous vote.
Solicitors ordinance approved
Council also unanimously approved the third and final reading of the “peddlers and solicitors” ordinance.
This new ordinance prohibits soliciting at properties where signs prohibit it. It also requires solicitors to register at Town Hall before conducting business in town.
Good standing ordinance tabled again
Council continued to wrestle with a proposed “good standing” ordinance at Monday night’s meeting.
This ordinance would require individuals or entities to pay off any taxes or fees they owe to the town in order to receive a service from the town, such as a building permit.
Smyrna residents who live along Lake Como will have an opportunity to repair their docks and bulkheads this coming fall.
Smyrna Town Council voted unanimously to lower the lake’s water level in the fall of 2010 during Monday night’s council meeting.
Town Manager Dave Hugg explained that town code includes a provision for the lowering of Lake Como for maintenance purposes every five years.
Hugg said the lake wasn’t lowered in 2005, and he asked council for direction on whether or not to proceed with it this year.
“It will have been 10 years at least since the lake has been lowered for this purpose,” he said.
Councilman Bill Raynor said he didn’t see any need for it unless people requested it.
“I’m asking for it to be lowered,” said Conrad Hebert of Lake Drive West in response.
“If it hasn’t been lowered for 10 years, there are probably people on the lake who don’t even realize their bulkheads need replaced,” said Councilman Bob Riddagh.
After discussion, council voted unanimously to lower Lake Como in the fall of 2010.
Hugg said the town will confer with the Division of Fish and Wildlife to determine a more specific timeframe for lowering the lake.
Stop signs approved for Bon Ayre
In other action, council approved a resolution to place two new stop signs on Bon Ayre Lane at the intersection with Saks Street.
Councilman Larry Thornton said that residents of the Bon Ayre neighborhood expressed concerns about driver safety to the Public Safety Committee.
Specifically, they requested two stop signs on Bon Ayre Lane at the intersection with Saks Street, making it a three-way intersection.
Due to problems with speeding, and a safety issue for people turning out onto Bon Ayre Lane from Saks, the committee recommended that council approve the stop signs, Thornton said.
Council approved the stop signs by unanimous vote.
Solicitors ordinance approved
Council also unanimously approved the third and final reading of the “peddlers and solicitors” ordinance.
This new ordinance prohibits soliciting at properties where signs prohibit it. It also requires solicitors to register at Town Hall before conducting business in town.
Good standing ordinance tabled again
Council continued to wrestle with a proposed “good standing” ordinance at Monday night’s meeting.
This ordinance would require individuals or entities to pay off any taxes or fees they owe to the town in order to receive a service from the town, such as a building permit.
But council continued to discuss what approach to take with the ordinance, and considered the possible ramifications.
One question was whether to apply the ordinance on a property-by-property basis or on an individual basis, where a person or entity would be accountable for all of their properties.
Another issue was whether developers should have to pay taxes on all of their lots in order to obtain a building permit for one of them.
At one point, talk turned toward a possible exemption for residents seeking to do emergency repairs.
In the end, council once again decided to table the ordinance.
Assessor appointed
At Monday’s meeting, Smyrna Council voted to appoint Deborah Adams as a town assessor.
Mayor Pat Stombaugh said there still is an opening for an alternate position on the town’s Board of Elections. She requested contact information for anyone who might be willing to serve.
