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Pigeon Forge city officials have formally approved a recommendation that the city’s former vice mayor Bill Maples serve on the Sevier County Economic Development Council (SCEDC).
“A letter of recommendation came down to us from Larry Waters and also from Allen Newton asking us to ask our former Vice Mayor Bill Maples to serve and to represent our city on this particular development council,” said City Manger Earlene Teaster at a meeting of the Pigeon Forge Board of Commissioners Monday night.
The SCEDC, whose mission “is to create, retain, and invest wealth for the creation of quality job opportunities” for Sevier County, deals with certain businesses prospects interested in locating in the area as well as many other on-going projects. The council was recently appointed the management responsibilities for the county fairgrounds as well as the 2006 County Fair. They’ve also helped put together a low-cost health care plan in partnership with Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center and Cariten Healthcare.
“We would be thrilled with Bill’s appointment,” said SCEDC Executive Director, Allen Newton.
“The council members provide guidance and leadership to the staff and Bill is certainly very well qualified to do so,” said Newton. “I look forward to his help.”
In other business, the commissioners approved a change order for BWSC for work done on the first phase of the Greenway project. The change order asks for an additional $5,590 for work on the project. “We had to make some revisions in the storm drain system because of some interference with some existing utilities,” said BWSC representative, Ed McHugh.
Commissioners also accepted a grant in the amount of $429,391 to purchase new trolleys or other items which would assist the operation of the trolley department.
“We had an offer that came down to us from the Tennessee Department of Transportation,” said Teaster. “Usually we get one about every year or every other year,” she said.
The grant money could be used to purchase new trolleys, and also other equipment like radios and electronic signs, according to Teaster.
Other items on the commissioners’ agenda for Monday night include:
• Consideration of application of architectural contract with SRA, Inc. for design of Pigeon Forge Tourism administration building. Approved.
• Consideration of proposal doing topographical map for proposed Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism administration building. Approved.
• Ordinance No. 793—an ordinance amending City Ordinance No. 503, the Pigeon Forge “Municipal Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance.” Approved.
• Ordinance No. 794—An ordinance regulating City Court conduct, attire and safety. Approved.
• Ordinance No. 795—an ordinance to provide the licensing and regulation of adult-oriented business establishments. Approved.
• Approval of bid on uniforms for trolley department per annual budget. Approved.

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