Wednesday, November 16th

Polk County Schools dismissed four schools early on Tuesday, It all stems from an issue at South Polk Elementary in Old Fort. Smoke was entering the building and setting off the fire alarms. They evacuated and fire officials confirmed there is no fire in the building, but each time they turn the alarm on it continues to go off, so they dismissed early yesterday. Polk High, Chilhowee Middle and Benton Elementary did not have those issues, but since all the schools run on the same bus routes, all schools are dismissed students. As for today South Polk Elementary is the only school effected with no school at South Polk Elem. all other local schools is back to normal today. The Cleveland Daily Banner- Bradley County commissioners heard from the man in charge of TDEC field operations Monday, and he said exactly what they wanted to hear. Jonathan Burr, deputy director of TDEC’s Division of Water Resources, said the department is aware of the problems which have plagued the septic tank permit program in Bradley County and they are going to be fixed. “It came to my attention several weeks ago there were some concerns and problems [with] groundwater service being provided for this county,” Burr said. ” Burr had a list of eight items which are either in progress, will be done or will be done at the county’s request. The first of these is the hiring of a new inspector for Bradley County. Burr said interviews were going to start this week; however, a currently certified inspector had asked for family reasons to be transferred to the Chattanooga area. He said once this person fills the position, they would be “spending all of their time in Bradley County.”Burr also said field tablets have now been ordered for all TDEC staff. He said TDEC is also beginning to digitize all of its groundwater files, which would mean easier access. Also Mayor Davis also reported that at the next commission meeting a proposal will be made to move forward with finalizing the financing for a 20-year note. After working with financial advisors and the county trustee to help estimate the expected interest rate for next year, 1.375 percent was agreed upon. The loan will have an adjustable rate that will be re-set each year. The money will be used to finance quality of life needs for county residents such as building walking trails, greenway improvements and libraries. The next Bradley County Commission voting session will be Monday, Nov. 21, at noon. The Cleveland Daily Banner- Cleveland’s new City Manager Joe Fivas had an extensive update for the City Council Monday, including plans for the formulation of a three-year strategic plan for the city. The plan will hopefully be compiled with assistance from residents in the city’s five districts through community meetings and a survey to be provided. Fivas also discussed prospects for the Downtown Initiative, resolving an issue with a property owner’s fence at 3811 Woodcrest Circle, a planned showcase by the Cleveland Fire Department for prospective employees, the Cleveland Police Department’s response to a protest last week in front of the Cleveland Daily Banner building, and thanked the administration of Cleveland City Schools for sponsoring a meal last Friday for city employees. Much of the focus of his discussion was on the strategic plan. According to the city manager, this process will be ongoing until February, when all of the feedback and additional information will supplement the compilation of a three-year plan. “In March, April and May we will be tabulate all of this information and compile a report,” added Fivas. He said the city’s staff is trying to come together with this process as a community, and hopes to have a final plan by July, 2017. In other Council action: — Council approved the purchase of gasoline and diesel for September, October and November. — Council approved recommendations from the Cleveland Municipal Planning Commission for property on Harle Avenue, Emmett Avenue and a sign update at Exit 25. At 933 Harle Ave., property owner David Ellis is planning to restore the home. There are no plans to alter the appearance of the exterior, other than general repair, restoration and cleanup. Owners of property at 306 Emmett Ave. were asked to provide a plan of action for maintenance of the structure. They responded to the request by saying they have been conferring with a contractor, but there is yet no repair project scheduled. Work is anticipated in the spring. Regarding the Exit 25 sign off Interstate 75, a representative of Ortwein Sign has agreed to meet with staff members Friday. They will be discussing letter types, lighting/electrical options and wall mounting feasibility. — Council approved a motion from Dale Hughes to grant easement for a fence along a pathway at 3811 Woodcrest Circle. City Attorney John Kimball explained that the options were to grant the easement, or have the property owners remove the fence. — Council approved two street light recommendations. The first from Councilman Bill Estes is at 174 Sheeler St. S.E. This will include two 30-foot poles, and a 51-watt fixture. This project may require some tree trimming, but Cleveland Forester Dan Hartman will determine if this work can be done in-house. The second street light approval is by Tom Cassada for Reuben Drive NW and Moore Place N.W. It will include a 30-foot wood pole and 51-watt fixture. Items on the consent agenda, which were approved: — Rezoning of 4.81 acres along Peach Orchard Hill Road N.E. from General Commercial to R2 Low Density Single and Multi-Family Zoning. — Rezoning of 1.84 acres at 601 and 607 20th Street S.E. from Heavy Industrial to R2 Low Density Single and Multi-Family Zoning. — Amending the permitted uses and development standards within the area currently zoned PUD1 on Paul Huff Parkway and Mohawk Drive. — Zoning 7.5 acres at Freewill Road and 22nd St. N.W. from unincorporated county to R1 Single Family Residential. — Zoning 19.9 acres at Tasso Lane and North Lee Highway from unincorporated county to R2 Low Density Single and Multi-Family Residential. — Authorized Mayor Tom Rowland to sign a grant with the Tennessee Department of Transportation concerning MPO Multimodal Transportation Planning funds. — Accepted Kings Cove Court as a city street. — Authorized the mayor to sign a subrecipient agreement with the United Way of the Ocoee Region regarding the TVA Extreme Energy Makeover Project, and approved policies and procedures for the program. — Approved four street light replacements at 21st Street and Georgetown Road N.W. — Declared vehicles provided by Animal Control, Codes Enforcement, and the Cleveland Fire Department as surplus property to be sold. — Received a bid report on a diesel fuel exhaust system for the CFD. Times Free Press- More adults in the U.S. use prescription painkillers than use tobacco, the latest milestone that highlights an opioid abuse epidemic sweeping the nation and particularly Tennessee, where there are more opioid prescriptions than people living in the state. A survey released in September by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that 37.8 percent of U.S. adults used prescription painkillers, compared with 31.1 percent who used tobacco products last year. Tennessee has seen a surge in opioid use in recent years. The state ranks second in the nation for the number of per capita opioid prescriptions, with an average of 1.18 prescriptions per man, woman and child of medications such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine and codeine. Only Alabama has more prescriptions per person. In 2014, the latest year in which data is available, at least 1,263 Tennesseans died from opioid overdoses — more than those who died in car accidents or from firearms.