By Emily Dilbeck

Complaints about a house on Spruce Street were aired at Thursday night’s Ducktown City Council meeting. Mayor James Talley and Commissioners Doug Collins and James Cearley were all present.

The City has received several complaints thus far about the house, which is currently occupied by renters. One citizen voiced his concerns about several dogs locked in the house or left in the yard that could be heard barking throughout the night. The citizen said his concern wasn’t just about the noise, but for the welfare of the dogs, who he said were left out in the rain, snow, and cold to fend for themselves. He asked the Council if there was anything they could do if this was an animal abuse case.  

Mayor James Talley said he had spoken to the man living in the house and had told him the dogs had to be moved somewhere else. Talley said the problem first began when around 5 or 6 hounds were brought to the house and left in the yard.

City Recorder Marty Fowler added that there had been some complaints about the tenants at the same house bringing in trash from outside of the city limits and dumping it in their yard. The City of Ducktown has a trash pick-up service; it is not offered outside the city limits. Talley said he would look into finding out who the owner of the house on Spruce Street was and see if they would be willing to help resolve the issue with the renters.

Mayor Talley also announced that the City had applied for a TDEC grant to replace the streetlights on Highways 68 and 64, as well as making energy efficient upgrades to the City’s lampposts. Commissioner Collins asked if they could just simply downsize the lamppost bulbs, rather than replacing them with the new energy efficient style.

Talley responded that they could technically, but the grant might be better for State regulations.

Talley proposed the signing of a pro bono agreement for Farmer & Morgan Architects, who drew up plans earlier this year for the Main Street Project. Ducktown hopes to receive a grant in order to complete this project. He explained that this agreement would basically say that the firm could write off their expenses on their tax return, since they had done the work for free. The City of Ducktown would not receive a bill in return.

Commissioner Collins said the idea sounded great, but last time the firm said there would be no bill, the City still got one.

Mayor Talley said this was because the previous project had involved the Fire Hall, which was no longer to be built.

Collins joked that they could approve the project, but if they got a bill then James (Talley) should have to pay it. Collins motioned to approve the pro bono agreement and Commissioner James Cearley seconded. The motion passed.

Ducktown holds its monthly meetings every 1st Thursday of the month in Ducktown City Hall at 7 pm.