COUNCIL APPROVES ANNEXATIONS AND METH CONTROL ORDINANCE

It may soon be more difficult for those who manufacture methamphetamine to
purchase some of the necessary ingredients after Crossville City Council
passed first reading of an ordinance regulating display, sale and delivery
of cold medicines used.

The ordinance restricts the sale of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and
phenylpropanolamine. The regulations require products containing those
ingredients to be kept off of public consumer accessible shelves and also
require a purchaser to sign for the product and show a valid ID and address.

A committee appointed last month by Crossville Mayor J.H. Graham III
reviewed the ordinance and how it would affect businesses and the
community. The committee included several pharmacists; Jim McMakin,
Cumberland Medical Center administrator; Assistant District Attorney Gary
McKenzie and others.

The group recommended two changes in the ordinance as originally presented,
including a reduction from three to two as the maximum number of packages
that can be purchased at any one time. The other change does not allow
anyone under the age of 18 to purchase a product that contains the drugs.

"Methamphetamine is an epidemic in our community," said Graham. He added,
"We are not alone. Other communities face similar problems and are looking
at adopting similar measures."

Councilman Carl Duer, who is also a medical doctor, said that DA Gary
McKenzie told the committee that the state laws also needed to be changed
to help control the meth problem in Tennessee. Duer explained that the
roots of the Crossville ordinance came from a bill that State Senator
Charlotte Burks tried unsuccessfully to get passed by the General Assembly
with similar regulations.

Council approved second reading of annexations of the Looney farm off of
Hwy. 127 South and Dave Kirk's property on Old Jamestown Highway. The
Looney property is to be developed into an exclusive residential
subdivision while Kirk's property is planned for a used car sales
operation. No comments were made at the public hearing on these items.

Council also passed the first reading of the ordinance annexing two acres
on Red Dog Saloon Road under development for a hotel and an International
House of Pancakes Restaurant. The property is owned by Joseph Armes. One
question raised at the public hearing was over a right-of-way through the
property.

No action was taken on a proposed annexation of several lots in Rolling
Hills subdivision. The property owners have requested the annexation, but
the letter signed by the owners was not received until the day of the
meeting. The ordinance is expected to be on the next council meetings agenda.

The council approved a motion to move forward with preliminary engineering
and design on the first leg of the Northwest Connector. The project would
widen Interstate Drive between Genesis Road and Hwy. 127 North. Council
will direct that federal surface transportation funds be used for the
preliminary work on the road. The city will also request help from the
Tennessee Department of Transportation to begin work on the second leg of
the road between 127 N and Hwy. 70 N along Northside Drive.

Councilman Boyd Wyatt pointed out that the connector between 127 N and 70 N
would relieve a substantial amount of traffic on Elmore Road. Crossville
Mayor Graham swore in Gladys McNeal as a member of the Crossville Housing
Authority Board of Commissioners. McNeal's term will expire May 30, 2006.