NEWPORT-The Newport City Council approved a certified property tax rate when it met Tuesday at City Hall.

The new rate of $1.7452 per $100 assessed value of a home is down from last year's rate of $2.04 per $100 assessed value.

Before the Council voted, Alderman Luke Goddard asked City Administrator Scott Collins, "That means a no net increase in taxes, right?"

Collins agreed with Goddard's comment, that there would be no net increase in taxes with the new rate.

By Tennessee law, a municipality cannot take in more property tax revenue than the total amount received the previous year. However, revenue from new construction not counted in the current assessment can be added to the city's tax revenues. New construction will have the same tax rate of $1.7452.

Resident Dan Proffitt, who lives on Martine Street below KFC on the Cosby Highway, showed photos he said he had taken over the last 35 years that show severe water damage to him home due to flooding caused by rain trapped on Cosby Highway near the area of several fast food restaurants.

"It comes from KFC," Proffitt said. He added, "The more concrete and asphalt (is laid down), the more water we get."

He said his home was flooded when the Cosby Highway was a two-lane road, "but got much worse after the four-lane" was built.

Kendall Williams, of Williams Lawn Care, who lives on Martine Street across from Proffitt, said, "People have promised and promised the problem would be fixed," but haven't done so.

Williams also said, "I think the city needs to be less about, 'Let's do this so we get more tax money,'" and more about fixing current problems, such as the flooding.

"Restaurants are what caused this problem," Williams said.

Alderman Johnny Bugg agreed the problem needed to be fixed.

"We can fix this. I saw the pictures (of flooding); it's horrible. (However), the Lord said to be anxious about nothing."

"I think we need to fix it," Alderman Kenny Morgan said.

Morgan asked the city administrator to look in a loan or grant, "or whatever we need to do," to stop the flooding of homes on Martine Street. Collins said he would do that.

Municipal Judge Bill Myers informed the Council that a new driver's training program for offenders with their first traffic violations has been set up.

"The state has set up the system," Myers said.

"It won't affect fines and court costs," Myers said. He added, "We're implementing the course at the discretion of the court."

He said the four-hour courses are held in six locations in the region, which does not include Newport. Myers said Newport did not have enough traffic violators to warrant a course be held locally.

The board also approved Newport Utilities to apply for a $2.6 million loan from the Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund.

The board also approved two roadblock requests.

The Long Creek Volunteer Department will have a fund-raising roadblock on Oct. 9.

 "Friends of the Animal Shelter" will have a roadblock Dec. 11.

Newport Police Department Chief Maurice Shults said "effective last Saturday (Aug. 7), people participating in the roadblock must be 18 years of age and wear a safety vest."

Shults said, "We feel strict enforcement of this policy" is needed.

The Tanner Community Action Initiative presented a plaque to an evidently surprised Collins for being a friend of the African-American community.

The city administrator was called "a friend of a friend".

The term refers to the Underground Railroad in the 19th century when African-American slaves escaped to freedom.

The slaves would go to designated spots and hide. When someone came by, they would say, "Who goes there?" If the response was "a friend of a friend," then the slave would know it was safe to come out.

Shedenna Dockery of the TCAI presented the plaque to Collins.

In addition, four proclamations recognizing their achievements were approved:

• For City of Newport firefighters who helped raise almost $2,000 for Muscular Dystrophy Association outside Walmart on Aug. 6 and Aug. 7;

• For the Lunachix 8 and under coach softball squad, which won fourth place in the state tournament and fifth place in the USSSA World Series; and

• Separately, for Eagle Scouts Shaun Scott Shelton and Richard Andrew ("Andy") Hooper.