A busy August regular council meeting to discuss the Snodgrass building, retail development, downtown sidewalks and more

The Crossville city council's August regular meeting will be Thursday August 11 and includes a possible decision on the future of the Snodgrass building, hiring a retail consulting firm and more on the downtown sidewalk project.  The council meeting starts at 6 PM in the council chambers at city hall and is preceded by the audit committee meeting at 5:30 PM in conference room 317.

In addition, councilman Jesse Kerley wants to discuss a possible splash pad at Centennial Park and councilwoman Pamala Harris want to discuss succession planning and a policy on press releases.

At the council's recent called meeting, the subject of the lease by Downtown Crossville Inc. (DCI) of the historic Snodgrass building for office space behind the courthouse was on the agenda. DCI had sent a letter asking the city to approve the 3 year extension that was in the lease and outlining the work the group has done downtown and to the building.

Historic Snodgrass Building currently leased by DCI. 

Instead, following a brief discussion, a motion by councilman Danny Wyatt was approved by three council members to give notice of terminating the lease that would automatically renew if no action was taken by the council. Mayor James Mayberry opposed the motion.

DCI pays $75 a month for the building and the city covers utilities. Wyatt's motion include putting the matter on the agenda for the August meeting to further discuss the matter and decide on the future of the building that could continue with DCI or some other use.

A few months ago, the council interviewed three firms that provide retail consulting as a way to recruit new retail and restaurant chains. Ms. Harris has requested the matter be out on the agenda to more forward with a selection of which firm the city will contract with.

Once again the downtown sidewalk program is on the agenda but the main subject is the project to improve the traffic signals at the bottom of Watertank Hill at Main Street and Lantana Road. The current signal light pole is too low.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has not approved the sidewalk project because of the problem and require the city to fix the problem or take the intersection out of the project. The estimated cost of the signal upgrade is $276, 242.50.

The city can use so-called surface transportation funds that are already allocated but would have to use other funds for improvements planned for the intersection at Fourth Street and West Ave. Council will also consider a $579,500 budget amendment for the sidewalk crew, equipment and supplies necessary for that action taken last month.

Ms. Harris agenda items include discussion of a succession plan to be in place when long time city employees retire and a policy on press releases. No additional information was released with the council's agenda on the details of these matters.