The Sweetwater Mayor and Board Commissioners during the regular monthly board meeting Feb. 1 will tackle several issues discussed at this week's regular workshop.
In addition to the proposed residential historic overlay district guidelines, commissioners will vote on the first reading of Ordinance No. 845.
The proposed ordinance would amend the city codes pertaining to carnivals, particularly the for-profit carnivals that come to town.

Police Commissioner Bill Stockton said he believes the $500 application fee is too small and he said that the Street Department often has to go clean the site where the carnivals set up.
Commissioners are studying an ordinance used by the City of Maryville to regulate carnivals and Stockton said he would be for raising the application fee to $2,500.

Carnivals must already pay a $50 vendors fee set by state law and they put up a $1,000 bond with the city.
Stockton said carnivals that benefit churches and other non-profits, such as the Lion's Club, should not have to pay the higher application fee.
The carnival ordinance must be approved on a second reading and after a public hearing and some tweaking of the current proposals could take place.

On Monday, the commission will take up the second and final reading of Ordinance No. 845, which is designed to better regulate permits for peddlers in town and give the city time to do background checks.
Commissioners will vote on a resolution to apply for the Tennessee Downtowns or Main Street Program.
During the Jan. 25 workshop, City Recorder Jessica Morgan gave an overview of the city budget, now halfway through the fiscal year.
Morgan praised city department heads for controlling their spending.

She said revenue, such as sale tax, which was budgeted low because of the economy, has come in about as projected.
The sales tax revenue is running about on par with last year's sales tax revenue, which struggled compared to previous years.
Morgan said the city is applying for a bond rating, something it has not had in years.

Morgan said Tuesday the city has used about $135,000 of the tax anticipation note taken out to help the city with cash flow until property tax payments come in next month.
During Monday's workshop, commissioners agreed with Street Commissioner Buster West's recommendation the city not enter into a contract to maintain state roadways within the city limits.
The state reimburses cities for such work, however the Street Department determined the money would not offset the cost and workload for the city.

Commissioners seemed open to putting $300 with a $500 grant the Sweetwater Heritage Museum received.

tommy.millsaps@advocateanddemocrat.com |337-7101