Mobile homes may be limited in Copperhill, but structures could be taller. The Copperhill Council is considering several changes to the Zoning Ordinance, as recommended by the Planning Commission.

At Monday night’s meeting, Keith Ballew presented the changes, which had been discussed at workshop last week. One proposed change calls for removing the section allowing mobile homes in the R-2 high density residential district. Mobile homes would only be allowed in mobile home parks developed under that ordinance, with no mobile homes older than 7 years from manufactured date. Existing mobile homes would be allowed to remain but could not be moved to another lot or replaced by another mobile home. Ballew said mobile homes keep coming in and they never seem to leave.

The second proposal would change the height limitation, currently 2.5 stories or 35 feet. The change would allow buildings to be six stories or 80 feet in height. Ballew said the Zoning Ordinance was written when the fire department could not handle a taller building, although there were already a number of taller buildings in the city. He said the city fire department now has a ladder truck that can reach 100 feet. He pointed out that limited land means the city will have to grow up, noting that buildings in the flood area would have to have parking on the lower level and usable floors areas higher. Arp suggested leaving the ordinance as is and approving changes as needed; Ballew said there’s no reason to leave it. Arp said they could discuss it further at a workshop on Thursday, 10 a.m.

In other business:

• City worker Jerry Gilliam got a round of applause for passing the state test for water distribution, making him a Grade 1 operator, so the city will not have to pay someone else for duties requiring a certified operator.

• Mayor Cecil Arp assured the council that there was nothing wrong with the $150,000 loan to jump-start the wastewater treatment plant renovations. He said the loan will be covered with promised funding for the renovation, although the city may have to make a few payments before that money arrives. He said the funds will be used to clean out the ditches and install aerators. He said the engineering firm will choose the contractor. Bill Standridge asked if the contractor would be bonded and Arp said they would. Bob Barclay recalled that Arp had said he would not take out the loan if it was not unanimous; Barclay and Standridge voted against. Arp said he did not know the law at the time, but he broke the tie to approve the loan, which has been approved by Nashville. He said he hopes the work can begin as soon as the loan is approved but he was not sure if the engineering firm had completed the blueprints.

• Kathy Stewart said they had discussed uniforms for the city workers whose clothes often get muddy when they have to work on water or sewer lines. She said the employees will pay half the cost and the city will pay half.

• Stewart also suggested hiring another worker for the summer months, when there is more work to be done. Arp said he had just learned that part-time employee David Hughes had joined the Army, adding they can look at applications. He said there are student workers this week but not all can operate a weedeater.

• There was discussion of the possible need for new water meters. Arp said the city should pay if the meters are not working properly but customers should pay if the meters are working. Stewart said there have been a lot of requests to change meters after the water bills went up.

• Arp told Dr. Richard Adler there is a problem with patients using the city’s flower planters as ash trays. He said one planter had to be moved because it was in a spot where visitors take pictures and it was always full of cigarette butts. He also asked if patients could be scheduled to avoid crowding outside. Adler said the patients do have appointments but often show up early and overflow the waiting room. He said he understands Arp’s concern, adding he would ask the girls to encourage the patients not to show up too early. He said he had put out a receptacle for cigarette butts but patients still use the planters. Keith Ballew suggested the police chief begin giving tickets for littering, adding the area in front of the post office also had a lot of litter. Adler said a few littering tickets might make a difference.