Sewanee Community Council Takes Historic Vote

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

“This is a historic moment,” said Vice-Chancellor John McCardell at the March 21 meeting of the Sewanee Community Council. “To the best of my knowledge, this is the very first time this body has taken a binding vote to allocate taxpayer dollars for community purposes.” The council approved allocating $9,975 to fund seven community enhancement projects. In other business taken up by the council at the March 21 meeting, Duck River Electric Membership Corporation (DREMC) President and CEO Michael Watson addressed residents concerns about electric and magnetic field (EMF) radiation; and Adam Tucker presented an initial analysis of public safety expenditures.

In June 2014, the Sewanee Community Council approved increasing the municipal service fee paid by all leaseholders to generate $10,000 to be used by the council for physical improvements and amenities on the Domain. In an almost unanimous vote—one vote against and one abstention—the council voted to approve partial or full funding for seven community enhancement projects recommended by the review committee. See “Seven Community Enhancement Projects Funded” for details about the projects and disbursement of the funds.

Addressing residents concerns about EMF radiation from the Sewanee power station, DREMC’s Michael Watson said, “Concern about EMF radiation was a big issue 25 years ago. Subsequent research has shown the 60-hertz frequency we use has no adverse health effects.”

Peggy Bonds, president of the Sewanee Children’s Center, said the Center had a family withdraw its children from SCC because of concerns about radiation from the nearby power station. Struggling with comparing research statistics implying adverse health effects and World Health Organization (WHO) data using a different frame of reference, Bonds said, “What the center wants is a number that is comprehensible within WHO recommendations.”

“We’ll help you translate the statistics into data you can understand,” Watson said.

Steve Oden, DREMC director of member services, offered to meet with parents at the center, bring a meter to test EMF levels and help them interpret the results. 

Adam Tucker, chair of the Fees and Services Committee, reported on an initial analysis of the cost of municipal services in Sewanee compared to similar communities. Formed as a subcommittee of the University Lease Committee, the Fees and Services Committee wanted to determine “if Sewanee residents are getting a fair deal for the services they receive for what they pay,” Provost John Swallow said. 

Tucker’s preliminary report revealed some of the challenges in obtaining this information about other communities. He said that cities and towns often organize their budgets differently, making it hard to do an “apples-to-apples” comparison. Even determining the population of Sewanee is a challenge. 

Tucker pointed out that the parameters of the Sewanee community were defined in at least two ways: residents on the Domain, including students, and residents in the broader 37375 zip code area.

Council representatives pointed out excellent fire protection resulted in Sewanee area residents having lower insurance rates, and the municipal service fee paid by leaseholders is far less than what they would pay in municipal taxes.

Vice-Chancellor McCardell stressed this was only a preliminary assessment, and the council could expect future reports from the committee.

Fees and Services Committee Chair Tucker serves as a community representative on the University Lease Committee. The other Fees and Services Committee members are Stephen Burnett, Dennis Meeks, Barbara Schlicting, John Swallow and Nate Wilson. All except Burnett also serve on the Lease Committee.

The council’s next meeting is April 27.