Following over 18 months in discussions
and occasional action on a location for a proposed shooting sports
park, the Crossville city council voted to rescind a sales contract
it approved in February for a portion of the city tract of land off
of Albert Frye Road.
The project has became controversial in
the last few weeks as residents and property owners in the vicinity
of the property became aware of what the proposal may mean to their
use of their property and they expressed concern over possible
property values.
Council initially agreed to essentially
donate (sell for $1) 146 acres of the 217 acre site to the the
nonprofit corporation that has been formed to operate the shooting
sports park. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency would fund the
over $2 million for most of the construction costs. The group hopes
to attract tournaments and other competitions that would bring in
visitors from outside the area that would stay in local hotels and
spend money here.
Council considers rescinding contract on Albert Frye property
After numerous meetings since June of
2015, the council approved the sales contract on the land to the
nonprofit at the February regular council meeting and residents near
the property became aware of the project and the proposal. They
organized and began to contact officials to find out more and
circulate a petition opposed to the planned location.
The March regular council meeting
attracted a crowd of project supporters and those seeking to have the
project location moved. Council approved a motion requiring the
nonprofit hold a public hearing with property owners and area
residents after contacting them by mail. Before the group could get
much done on that action, the council called a special called meeting
barely within the 24 hours notification requirement to rescind the
the February action.
Because both parties had signed the
sales contract that said the property sale would close before April 1
there could be legal ramifications to arbitrarily ending the contract
but the resolution rescinding the contract prepared by city attorney
Will Ridley referenced section 3.2 of the contract that said,
“Purchaser understands that seller is a government and can only
purchase or sell land subject to the requirements of its charter and
state law. The seller understands and agrees that the contract is
subject to the successful completion of all requirements, including
but not limited to, advertising the sale of property without public
objection.” Councilman J. H. Graham read the resolution aloud at
the meeting, “Whereas during the March work session and March city
council meetings several members of the community spoke in opposition
of the land transfer and have further submitted a petition in
opposition and whereas public objection to the transfer has clearly
been set forth.”
Council members L-R J. H. Graham, Danny WYatt, Mayor James Mayberry,
Pamala Harris and Scot Shanks
Graham moved to approve the resolution
to rescind approval of the contract receiving a second from
councilman Danny Wyatt.
Councilman Scot Shanks asked how many
property owners who have homes in the area were affected by the
shooting sports park? Graham said that a petition by those opposed
to the site was signed by 42 people. Graham said that a “clear
majority” of property owners on Albert Frye Road were opposed to
the location for the shooting sports park.
Shanks sought further clarification
including a show of hands of who was present at the called meeting
who lived on Albert Frye Road. Some 7 hands were raised. After some
back and forth it was determined there were 5 homes in the immediate
vicinity with another two near the end of the road.
Albert Frye Road residents identify themselves to council
“I think the issue is noise, fear of
the unknown,” said Shanks, “but has there been any kind of
testing done to determine what the sound of these guns going off and
how loud that's going to be?”
One audience member said that they
could hear the other shooting range in their back yard and they are
over a mile from that location.
Mayor Mayberry addressed the issue
saying, “This discussion started June 11, 2015. There has been a
total of 7 either work sessions or council meetings in reference to
the shooting park. The members of the shooting park board, TWRA, US
Fish and Wildlife services, State Senator Paul Bailey, Crossville
city employees all have dedicated many hours in advancing to the
point we are now and where construction could begin. All the
environmental studies and surveys have been approved and secured a
highly sought after grant.”
Mayberry continued, “For years this
community has complained that there is nothing for our youth to do.”
Mayberry listed several ball sports, tumbling and cheering but added
there is a large group of kids that are interested in shooting
sports. He talked about an email he got from a mother who said her
son was unable to compete in other sports but he can shoot. “The
city spends thousands of taxpayer dollars to promote our community
for tourism. We wouldn't have to spend any on this facility's
promotion. When competitions are held here the local hotels,
restaurants and campgrounds will benefit greatly but the main thing I
want to emphasize is the positive effect this will have on our youth
and families. You can't put a price on that.”
Mayberry pointed out that the property
location is right by the Interstate and there is noise from it 24/7.
He added that he had gotten a copy of an email from someone at Deer
Creek who wanted the city to come up with a noise ordinance to quiet
down I-40. That comment got a chuckle from the audience.
“As far as I'm concerned, I feel we
have a valid contract that needs to be honored. It really bothers me
that this council will vote to approve and agenda item and expend
employee's time and effort and taxpayer's dollars on a project and
possible even receive a grant to later decide to abandon it,”
concluded Mayberry.
Ms. Harris said the situation was not
good and that it was not an easy position for the council to be
sitting in. Harris said she had weighed the issue seriously over the
past week adding, “I want this community to have a shooting park.
I think it is a wonderful thing for this community to have.”
Harris continued, “The whole thing,
in my opinion, was handled somewhat poorly from the front end. None
of us did our due diligence and homework as well as we should have
and that includes the nonprofit and the city. We all have to take
responsibility for that. There should have been a public hearing and
an opportunity for people to speak out.”
Councilman Wyatt made a short comment
saying, “We don't have zoning in the city or county. That's a bad
word around here. It would make it simple if we did (have zoning.)
Councilman Graham called for the
question and when the vote on rescidning the contract was taken,
council members Graham, Wyatt and Harris voted in favor and Mr.
Shanks and Mayor Maybery were opposed with the majority approving the
resolution to rescind the contract.
Following the meeting, Crossville
shooting Park, Inc board member James Wattenbarger described the
council's action as “a big loss for the kids.” He added that the
loss of the over $2 million grant would be a big financial loss and
there was an unknown economic impact if the project is lost. When
asked what was the next step, Wattenbarger said he didn't know yet.
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