Tuesday, June 16th

From The Chattanoogan- The Bradley County Commission on Monday voted 7-6 against a proposed 10-cent property tax increase to fund new construction at Lake Forest Middle School. Several members of the commission articulated their opinions that the proposed tax increase was unnecessary until next year, if necessary even then, and that no real benefits would be seen from that increased revenue until that time.The vote tabled discussion for now, but also allows the issue to be revisited next Monday, if and when a commissioner brings the issue back.  The commission also voted to examine the possibility of providing county pickup service for stray animals. During the Animal Control Committee meeting which preceded the regular commission meeting, Commissioner Thomas Crye said it is becoming increasingly evident that the county is going to have to address the issue of stray animals and, in all likelihood, begin providing pickup service, though that is not an obligated county responsibility.  He said the options available to the commission were to either reach an agreement with Cleveland city to provide these services for the county, provide additional funding to the SPCA, or assign the role to law enforcement. He also made the point that in any case the sheriff’s department should begin to issue citations for non-compliance with the leash laws. According to Commissioner Crye, the county received 558 calls in the last year regarding animal control issues, while Cleveland received 1,312. The commission also voted to begin taking action concerning what some have deemed an inappropriate usage of the county crest by local firefighters in an ad they ran in the Cleveland Daily Banner on June 7. Also from The Chattanoogan- Cleveland City School officials announced Monday that if May’s enrollment numbers hold with the state’s Basic Education Program, they may be able to expect a $532,000 surplus which could go toward raising the salaries of all faculty and staff by three and a half percent. The board had previously approved a two percent salary increase for all faculty and staff which will remain regardless, but the surplus could add an extra one and a half percent. The unexpected increase can be attributed to conservative budgeting this year on the part of Cleveland City Schools and increasing growth in enrollment, officials said. The school board also received an update on the ongoing construction of Cleveland High School’s Raider Arena, a multi-purpose gymnasium.     . Officials expect to see serious progress on the roof in the next several weeks while the roof, windows, and doors should be in place by the end of September.  Board members also unanimously approved the hiring of another one and a half nursing positions. With these hires, both Cleveland Middle School and Cleveland High School will be able to enjoy full-time nurse coverage. In an attempt to address traffic congestion issues both within the school and on Mouse Creek Road NW, the board also approved up to $75,000 to be used for the construction of a short, two-lane connecting road on campus between a parking lot and main road as well as a turning lane on Mouse Creek Road. From Channel 3- A head-on collision left one person dead a little before noon on Monday.  The accident happened on Highway 64 near the Olympic Whitewater Center in Polk County. The accident involved a car and an 18-wheeler.  The fatality was the passenger in the car.  It happened around 10:45a.m. A 2015 Volvo tractor trailer, driven by Behroz Saneie, 53, was traveling westbound on Hwy 62.  A 2003 Chevy Cavelier, driven by Brent Ledford, 20, was traveling the opposite way on Hwy 64.  The Chevy was reportedly swerving, according to witnesses, when it crossed the center line and hit the Volvo head-on.  The passenger in the Chevy, Blake  Millsap, 23, was pronounced dead at the scene.  Ledford was taken to the hospital with life threatening injuries.  The THP report shows that Ledford was allegedly drinking while driving.   Charges are pending.