| County tackles bicyclist issue
“I thought about this a lot until last Wednesday,”
Henry Cullen, commission chairman, said. “I was on my way to the
county building and there were three bikers that started out on
Davis Ferry and went on to Vonore Road heading to (Highway) 72 and
two of them were out front and one behind in the lane, and I don’t
blame them, they couldn’t get over to the side because it was a bad
section of the road, so thank God I’m retired and got nothing to do
and all day to do it. I just followed behind them.
“But I got to tell you, I understand they want to
ride their bike, but the roads as narrow as they are make it a
difficult situation,” he added.
In the resolution, Shaver points toward Tennessee
Code Annotated 55-8-172, which notes traffic laws apply to
bicyclists and may be a Class C misdemeanor if violated.
“Our hope is that enforcement of existing state laws
will discourage bicycle riders from riding their bicycles on Loudon
County roads that are far too narrow, winding and dangerous and will
improve the safety and welfare of the traveling public on Loudon
County roadways,” the resolution reads.
Hurley took issue with the resolution, noting a
similar situation in Blount, Anderson and Knox counties at the
state level eight years ago, to which she said lawmakers in the
House and Senate ultimately sided with bicyclists.
“So gentlemen, I appreciate your resolution, I’m
sure the sheriff appreciates being told how to do his job,
absolutely, but if this is a fight you want to pick this
probably will go straight to the state House like it did the
other three counties and I don’t know where you’re going to come
up with the extra money to add bike lanes, but if it were up to
me I would leave it alone. But that’s just my opinion,” Hurley
said.
“The state’s not going to make us put any bike
lanes in, and we’re not telling the sheriff to do anything,”
Shaver added. “We’re just asking, it’s an in-kind resolution of
support.”
Duff questioned which roads Shaver was asking
the LCSO to enforce the traffic violations on.
“Wherever they enforce any of Loudon County
regulations,” Shaver said. “... We can’t make them get a
license plate. We can ask the sheriff to enforce existing
laws on the roads for bicyclists the same as he does for
cars. We have every right to do that, and he has every right
to enforce it.”
In other news, Loudon County Commission:
• Recognized Darlene Russell for 42 years of
service with Loudon County.
• Moved forward with eliminating a $100
fee to appeal to the Loudon County Board of Zoning
Appeals. Commission’s approval overrules Loudon County
Planning Commission’s recommendation to keep the fee.
Commission tabled allowing accessory structures in the
front yard and not requiring a building permit or fee
for construction of any structures under 500 square
feet.
• Appointed Shaver and Waller to an
ad-hoc Planning and Zoning Study Committee.
• Approved a resolution accepting
settlement in Deutsche Bank LIBOR Ag Settlement and
authorized Rollen “Buddy” Bradshaw, county mayor, to
execute necessary documents for receipt of the
settlement fund. The county will receive about $150,000
from the settlement with the bank. Deutsche Bank
provided security on one of the county’s bond issues
several years ago.
• Approved a $2,500 contribution to
Loudon County Education Foundation for the Run
Loudon County marathon.
• Passed application and acceptance
of a no-match $5,000 Governor’s Highway Safety
Office High Visibility Enforcement Grant.
• Amended County General Fund 101,
Public Library Fund 115, General Purpose School Fund
141, General Capital Projects Fund 171 and Education
Capital Projects Fund 177.
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11/12/18