Hamilton County Commissioner Jim Coppinger said the county may see a little downturn in sales tax revenue.

“It may be a bit tighter for us,” he said Monday to the Hamilton County Pachyderm Club, a Republican group.

The county has budgeted for no sales tax growth for fiscal 2009, he said, and it may see a shortfall. Still, he said, sales tax accounts for a small part of the county budget.

Mr. Coppinger also said the number of building permits the county has issued is down, but noted that the county has not been as hard hit as other parts of the country.

He was ultimately optimistic about the county’s economic prospects, with the coming Volkswagen plant and other expanding businesses.

“We do have a lot of diversity in our businesses,” he said.

searching for the path

City Public Works Administrator Steve Leach told members of the City Council’s Public Works Committee on Tuesday that the city is hoping to receive a grant to help put sidewalks and a bike path on Highway 58.

Councilman Dan Page noted that the sidewalks seemed to be planned for Councilman Luther Shockley’s district.

“The other side is my district,” Mr. Page said. “Can you put it on my side?”

“You’ll be gone by the time it’s built,” Councilman Leamon Pierce cracked.

Mr. Page, whose term ends in March, has announced that he will not seek re-election.

Mr. Leach went on to say that the sidewalk would be on the northwest portion of the street.

“Wait a minute,” Mr. Page said. “That is my side.”

To discuss or not To discuss ... that is the question

While going through the City Council agenda Tuesday, Dan Johnson, chief of staff for Mayor Ron Littlefield, ran over a resolution about amending the master plan for John C. Wilson Park.

Mr. Johnson mentioned that the resolution had not been talked about last week, then went to the next item.

Councilman Dan Page stopped him.

“If it wasn’t discussed last week, I’d like to know what it is,” he said.

“But if it wasn’t discussed last week, you don’t care,” City Attorney Randy Nelson deadpanned.

bredesen awards 55 grants

Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen last week approved 55 grants worth more than $23 million for sewer, water, housing and community improvements throughout Tennessee, according to a news release.

“The projects funded by these grants result in necessary improvements that bolster growth and development at the most fundamental level,” Gov. Bredesen said.

Among the counties receiving funding for waterlines were Rhea and Polk counties, which received $500,000 community development block grants. Grundy County was awarded a $1 million grant for its water system.

Clean fuel coalition holding meeting

The East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition will hold its bimonthly meeting at 11 a.m. Friday in the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority conference room, officials said.

The meeting will discuss the growing availability of biodiesel and ethanol according to a news release.

The CARTA conference room is located on Market Street, next to the Chattanooga Choo-Choo.

Public meeting set for zoning study

A public meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at Orchard Knob Elementary School to gather input for a zoning study, city officials said.

Richard Beeland, spokesman for Mayor Ron Littlefield, said the study is to determine if existing zoning in the Orchard Knob and Churchville neighborhoods supports physical development in the area.

Mr. Beeland said the study will look at residentially zoned properties from Citico Avenue to the north, Dodson Avenue to the east, McCallie Avenue to the south and Orchard Knob to the west.

The City Council adopted a resolution in April directing the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency to conduct the study.

wutc raises $120,000

Listeners pledged more than $120,000 during WUTC-FM’s fall pledge drive, according to a release from the National Public Radio news and music station.

“Though these are serious financial times, listeners have matched the giving level of fall 2007. They have shown that they continue to be committed to maintaining quality public radio programming,” station manager John McCormack said.

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