County Mayor Jim Coppinger said he sees problems if developers proceed with multiple on-site septic systems in locations that are not sewered.

Engineer Mike Price told the County Commission that the Hamilton County Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority stands ready to accept an on-site system planned at a controversial development at 10444 Ooltewah-Georgetown Road.

However, County Mayor Coppinger said he has spoken with WWTA director Mike Patrick "about the drawbacks of such systems. There is a lot of liability on the county if we keep putting these systems in."

Mr. Price said an on-site system is working well at a Signal Mountain property and others are under consideration in other parts of the county. He said, "We are looking at developing others as well."

He said each home would have a septic tank that would collect the solids. He said the "gray water" would go to a larger septic tank and will be spread out in field lines on a section of the property to be left as "green space."

Mr. Price said the system would have to be approved by WWTA and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). He said, if approved, WWTA would take over operation of the system. County Attorney Rheubin Taylor agreed that if the on-site system meets all the standards that the WWTA would be liable to take it over since it is in its service area.

Commissioner Warren Mackey said the panel should have approved an earlier plan to build a sewage treatment plant at Savannah Bay to handle that portion of the county. Instead, he said a number of large sewage holding tanks are going in.

Commissioner Tim Boyd said those tanks "cost $20 million each." He said a series of them "are now being designed and built, including one at Brown Acres Golf Course." He said, "I'm not a big fan of building holding tanks for somebody else's crap." 

The commission is to vote next Wednesday on whether to approve an A-1 Planned Unit Development for developer Karim Jooma at the 95-acre farm that is in a district with a string of large family farms and is several miles from the nearest subdivision.

Mr. Price said if the commission turns down the PUD request, the developer can still get 174 home sites on the former farm. He said the PUD would allow 184 home sites and would set a number of conditions on development of the property.

Community leader Dean Moorhouse said, "They say they are going to build $300,000 homes 10 feet apart that are far from any amenities. I don't see how they can sell them."

Commissioner Mackey said homes 10 feet apart "are selling every day" throughout the county. He said, "We are getting back to socialism - people on this dais trying to tell other people what they can do with their property."  

Rep. Greg Vital, who has nearby farms, also spoke against the PUD request. He said the project is not compatible with the growth plan or the character of the area. He said, "If they want to try to build 174 houses, let them try. Half of the property is up the mountain." He said he "stands with the farmers who have been here for generations." 

Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report: BALTAZAR, ALEX PEREZ 3700 3RD AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37407 Age at Arrest: 21 years old Arresting Agency: Tenn Highway Patrol DRIVING UNDER ... (click for more)

A man and a woman on Givens Road said their neighbor had threatened them earlier, which they already talked to police about. They said the neighbor had an item that was shining a laser into their ... (click for more)

A 75-year-old man was struck and killed near the Golden Gateway on Battlefield Parkway in Fort Oglethorpe. He was identified as Donald Wayne Warren. The incident happened shortly before 7 ... (click for more)

Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report: BALTAZAR, ALEX PEREZ 3700 3RD AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37407 Age at Arrest: 21 years old Arresting Agency: Tenn Highway Patrol DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE BARBER, HOPE JESSICA ANN 74 CRABTREE ROAD ROSSVILLE, 30741 Age at Arrest: 23 years old Arresting Agency: Hamilton ... (click for more)

A man and a woman on Givens Road said their neighbor had threatened them earlier, which they already talked to police about. They said the neighbor had an item that was shining a laser into their house and it was making them feel uncomfortable. The man said he just wanted to document what was going on. Police turned the device off and left. * * * Two young women live at ... (click for more)

The recent talk and push to make businesses who employ more than 100 people, responsible to do the government’s job, is confusing to me. Why are we going to force the large businesses, which make up only 1.9 percent of all employers responsible to vaccinate their people, at their expense? Yes, I said “their expense.” While the vaccine is ‘free’ the administration, production interruption, ... (click for more)

I fully intended to devote today’s story to the ‘Birth of Christ,’ using the second chapter from the Bible’s book of Luke and also from Matthew to reacquaint some who haven’t read it in a while. Every year until 1990 my grandfather would read it loud and long to family gatherings, which endeared it to me every Christmas. It is my warmest Christmas memory, his voice carrying the ... (click for more)

On a night when he matched the program record for games played, super senior John Fulkerson posted a double-double to lead 19th-ranked Tennessee to a 77-73 victory against No. 6 Arizona in front of a raucous crowd at Thompson-Boling Arena on Wednesday. The Kingsport, Tennessee, native scored a season-high 24 points and grabbed 10 boards while adding two assists in 30 minutes ... (click for more)

The Chattanooga Mocs have now concluded their pre-conference basketball schedule and what a great way to do it. Facing the Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders at McKenzie Arena before the second-largest crowd of the season, it took the Mocs a little while to get over the hump, but once they did, they never looked back. Taking advantage of a spirited 18-2 run midway ... (click for more)