“I don't know why we wait til the
very end on projects and decide to not do them,” commented
Crossville Mayor James Mayberry during a discussion of the next steps
on the redevelopment of Garrison Park.
“We've already executed the
contract,” pointed out Mayberry after councilman Danny Wyatt sought
to delay the project with a motion for the city attorney to review
the contract and report back to the council at their next meeting.
Councilman J. H. Graham seconded Wyatt's motiuon for the purposes of
discussion.
Council discussing Garrison Park. L-R J.H. Graham,
Danny Wyatt, Mayor James Mayberry and Scot Shanks
City manager Greg Wood advised the
council that the things in the grant would have to be done but there
was some flexibility on matters of sidewalks and fencing.
Mayberry stated, “I've got it on
pretty good authority they will use common sense in our disucssion
request on the fence” and the city has sent a letter in reference
to that.
Wyatt said his questions came up
“because we wasn't told all this on the front end.” Mayberry
said that the city could keep Field A at Garrison Park because the
planned “multi-use field” is part of phase 2 of the plan and
currently the funding and plans were only for Phase 1.
The motion failed in a tie vote with
Wyatt and Graham voting in favor and Mayberry and councilman Scot
Shanks opposed.
Council discussion on Garrison Park and
Centennial splash pad.
Mayor Mayberry moved that the city
approve the contracts with Community Development Partners, the grant
administrator and Lose and Associates, the engineer firm to design
the work. Mayberry's motion also included first reading of a
necessary budget amendment. Mr. Shanks gave a second for the motion.
With no further discussion, the vote
included yes votes from Mayberry and Shanks. Wyatt voted no and
Graham abstained. With councilwoman Pamala Harris not yet at the
meeting and the abstention counted with the yes votes, the motion was
approved.
Council moved then moved to discussion
of the addition of a splash pad at Centennial Park to match the one
planned for Garrison. Mr. Wyatt moved that the city put out a
request for proposals for the design and construction of a splash
pad.
Discussion revealed that the council
had previously requested Hart Freeland Roberts to prepare a design
for such an installation but no contact was ever brought back to the
the city. Manager Wood has recommended that the previous action be
rescinded and a new request be circulated. Mr Wyatt amended his
motion to rescind the previous action.
Manager Wood suggested the city might
be able to have to the two splash pads done together and be able to
save some money on the work.
Wyatt's motion passed unanimously with
yes votes from all four council memebers present. Ms. Harris arrived
at the meeting following these actions.
Crossville city council could not come to a consensus on downtown sidewalks again, leaving the project where it stood from a motion last July to do piecemeal repairs as the street department can get to it.
A motion to follow a recommendation from city manager Greg Wood and engineer Tim Begley received 3 votes but failed as changing a previous action it required 4 votes to pass. That recommendation was to bring all the corners downtown up to ADA standards and install new LED street lights including conduit. Because the plan would include some "bump outs" into side streets and a few in Main St. that project would have to be done prior to TDOT paving the road through downtown.
City engineer Tim Begley, standing, explains the
sidewalk plan to members of the city council.
Manager Wood said he hoped he was working on an objective that the council can all agree on. Wood explained that for the last week he, Tim Begley and Kevin Dean had been working on "What will it take to get everything prepared to get the corners to ADA standards so that we can go ahead and get TDOT to get 127 paved." For that plan to work, the city would have to do all of the corners, run the conduit and because in several places the existing street lights interfere with the proposed plan, installing the new LED street lights is included in the plan with street light material expected to cost $270,000.
Looking over plans that did not pass.
The total project would cost about $1 million and according to Wood "would get this thing off of dead center." Additional work on sidewalks that need repair between the corners could be done after the paving as well as paving work on the side streets that need paved due to the water line work done last year.
Mr. Begley went over design items with council including bump outs into Main Street and side roads in order to make the ramps compliant. The bump outs seemed to confuse some of the council. WHen asked about the staff to allow the city to do the work, Mr. Wood said that the two part-time positions approved by council for the street department would have to be full time. Wood said the city was not getting applicants for the part-time positions anyway.
Mr. Begley, center, discusses plans with council members
Wyatt, left and Harris, right.
Wood continued that once the current light poles were removed, they would be adapted and used to replace wooding light poles at Warner Park that have been attacked by woodpeckers. Mr. Begley also said that the city would do the curb and gutter around any new bump outs that were built.
"It's not going to be Nirvana but it's going to get us down the road and get the road paved," quipped Wood.
The matter of budgets came up next with councilman Danny Wyatt asking about the 2017-18 budget. Wood explained that $800,000 would be budgeted for the coming year and the balance in the following budget year. A question from Mayor James Mayberry drew clarification for Wood that that was the cost of materials and the work would be done by city crews but that costs was not part of the estimated costs. Mayberry also asked about the timeline and the discussion began to break down.
The length of time to complete the work was not something anyone could estimate precisely. Council spent some time discussing the project and other work that the street department has to do.
Mayor Mayberry said that the recent report on Crossville from the Austin Group on how site locating companies look at the area and the report specifically said that the downtown area is vita to the impression companies get of Crossville. Mayberry also shared a survey of 450 people by the Chamber, a high percentage who felt downtown revitalization was important.
Cracked and worn downtown sidewalks and a
problem streetlight base near a corner.
Councilwoman Pamala Harris asked Mayberry how many of them were in favor of a tax increase saying the original plan for sidewalks could have meant a 9 or 10 cent tax increase. Harris talked about her own survey and was interrupted by Mayberry.
Is that how you got the answers to your survey? Telling people it would be a 9 or 10 cent tax increase? Harris said "That's what it would be." Mayberry said, "That's what I thought." Mr. Wyatt said it could even be higher. "I've got three businesses (car washes) without sidewalks. I'd love to have sidewalks in front of them." Wyatt suggested a way to settle the matter was with a referendum.
Mayberry responded, "How long have we been talking about this? How long do you want to kick this down the road? Vote your conscience people, that's all that I can say."
Councilman J. H. Graham moved that the recommendation as discussed be approved. Ms. Harris supported the motion. Because the action superseded another previous action by the council 4 votes would be required for the motion to pass. Voting in favor was Graham, Harris and Wyatt. Councilman Scot Shanks and Mayor Mayberry voted no and the motion failed.
As council tried to figure out their next move, councilman Wyatt moved that manager Wood contact TDOT and tell them to come pave Highway 127. Sidewalks would then be dealt with after that. Graham gave a second. The motion was approved with Wyatt, Graham, Harris and Mayberry voted in favor and Shanks voted no.
It is estimated that TDOT would not do that work until sometime in 2018.
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.
A tabulation of the top 6 candidates
for the position of Crossville city manager was discussed by the
Crossville city council with plans to start the interviewing process
to start as soon as next week.
So far a total of 43 candidates have
submitted information to the city seeking the position. The deadline
for applicants is Monday January 16.
During the discussion at the council
meeting several possibilities were discussed but the motion finally
made was that the council will make initial contact with the top
candidates through some type of video conferencing. The initial
interviews are expected to lead to a second round of interviews that
will be in person in Crossville.
Councilman Scot Shanks said he hoped that the council would be able to make a vote on the new city manager at the February council meeting.
Councilman Scot Shanks, right, leads a discussion on the process to select
the next Crossville city manager. Also pictured left to right are J. H. Graham,
Danny Wyatt, Mayor James Mayberry and Pam Harris.
Each council member sent in their top
picks and Human Resources manager Leah Crockett tallied the picks
into the top 6 candidates
Dennis Sparks of Hopewell Virginia has
experience as various city/village managers from 1999 to 2005 in
several different states. Sparks is currently a management and
aviation consultant as well as a pilot and flight instruction. Sparks
has an MBA.
Mark K. Reeter of Bristol VA has 20
years experience as a county administrator in Virginia at Washington
Co. followed by Bedford Co. He also served as assistant administrator
for Washington Co. before he was named County administrator there. He
also has a Masters of Public Administration from UT-Knoxville.
Greg Wood of Baker Florida has a
masters of public administration from the University of Florida. From
2013 to 2016 Mr. Wood has served as the county administrator of
Harris County Georgia. From 2010 to 2012 he served as the county
manager for Jasper County Georgia and from 2007 to 2009 as the county
administrator of Holmes Co. Florida and similar experience back to
1984.
Cary Colaianni of Eagle Idaho holds a
masters in public administration as well as a Doctor of Jurisprudence
(Law degree). Mr. Colaianni has 20 years of experience in municipal
government including from 2004 to 2014 as the city attorney and law
department director for Bosie Idaho. The department had 51 employees.
From 1991 to 2004, he served as the Ada County prosecuting attorney
in Bosie Idaho.
Steve Foote of Dunwoody Georgia serves
that community as the Director of Economic and Community Development.
He has served in that capacity as the employee of a contractor
starting in 2014 and now as a direct employee of the city. Previously
Foote served as director of planning for Mt. Juliet Tennessee from
2009 to 2014. Foote's education includes a BS in Geography and
Biology and graduate work toward an Masters in Geography.
Tina Tuggle of Kingston Tennessee is
currently a municipal finance trainer and previously served as the
city manager of Oliver Springs Tennessee from June 2012 to November
2014. She also served as Oliver Springs' city recorder from 2010 to
2012. She holds an associate degree in legal science.
UPDATE: According to interim city manager Steve Hill, Blue Cross has approved insurance for both positions to be added to the group health plan and the insurance will be effective January 2017.
The only city council action from the
December regular meeting that was not a unanimous vote was the
proposal to provide health insurance benefits to city judge Ivy
Gardner and city attorney Will Ridley.
The matter was brought to the council
by member Danny Wyatt who moved that the resolution be adopted to
request that the city's health insurance provider consider the city
judge and city attorney as a special category for health insurance
coverage. Wyatt said that if the motion passes, the city won't know
if they are accepted until the company gets back to the city.
Wyatt's motion received a second from
council member Pamala Harris.
Council member Scot Shanks asked for
clarification about the action saying that currently only employees
who worked over 30 hours a week were eligible for health insurance.
Mayor James Mayberry said that the decision to cover or not would be
up to Blue Cross.
Crossville city attorney Will Ridley
City attorney Will Ridley said that the
resolution classifies the two positions differently then any other
contract appointed employee or board member. Ridley stressed that
the action would affect him but he was not lobbying one way or the
other on the council's vote.
Mayor Mayberry said, “I've seen the
attorney's bills and I think he is doing fine and can afford his own
insurance.” Mayberry continued that there were several who applied
for the judge position and a pay scale was posted at the time. He
also pointed out that the pay had been increased with the new new
term appointment from $15,000 a year to $20,000 a year.
Crossville city judge Ivy Gardner
“I think the compensation is
satisfactory,” added Mayberry, “and I'm not supporting this.”
A roll call vote was called with
Mayberry and Shanks voting opposed to the measure. Council members Wyatt, Harris and
Graham voted in favor and the motion passed.
The new Crossville city council went to
work less then an hour after two new members were sworn in, taking
part in a work session to discuss business coming up on the regular
December agenda Thursday.
Crossville city council discusses business in work session.
One of the items discussed during the
work session was the reinstatement of the monthly work sessions prior
to the regular monthly meets as a way to better understand the
subjects to be decided during the meetings. It appears that the work
session will return based on the discussion during the meeting and
the council will also consider returning the regular meetings to
Tuesdays again.
Council spent a lot of time discussing
the application to the state for a site development grant to help pay
for a construction ready pad for a building up to 200,000 square
feet. Council heard from the Chambers Brad Allamong and city
engineer Tim Begley on the finer points of the project.
City engineer Tim Begley goes over the site plan for the proposed building pad.
The site proposed is a 20 acre space in
the Interchange Business Park on the north side of the park. The
property fits the needs well for a 200,000 square foot building with
loading dock and necessary parking. A company employing some 300
would be expected to use the property. The grant application is due
Friday December 9 the day after the council meeting to approve the
application and some of the decisions may need to be made after the
application is submitted.
The grant provides $500,000 of the cost
toward the project with a minimum match of $214,000. The cost of the
project is estimated at $914,000 and additional match gives more
points in the grant competition. A geotechnical study will be part
of the project to help determine if any issues with the site may
change the cost estimates.
New councilman J. H. Graham suggested
that a turn lane into the industrial park was needed and thought the
city should begin the process of requesting such work from the
Tennessee Department of Transportation. Graham also wanted to see
the interest of the county in working with the city on the project
that would benefit both governments.
The council spent time talking about
the process to hire a new city manager and appeared split over a
quick decision versus pushing out the decision into the new year and
even seeking additional applicants. Mr. Graham called the decision
one of the most important we will make for a couple of years,” but
added that the holidays would be a busy time and make it difficult to
spend the time necessary reviewing the applicants.
Councilman Scot Shanks said he felt the
longer the city waited the more candidates they would lose to other
jobs or lost interest.
A decision could come during the
regular meeting.
Mr. Graham is proposing a special
census of the city to increase the amount of revenue from so called
state shared taxes that are paid based on population. The city has
done several such special census over the last 20 years and they have
been cost effective. Mr. Graham said that while such a census could
cost $40,000 to $50,000 to have done, the city could gain $500,000 in
additional revenue before the next census.
City staff will be studying several
ways to try and determine how many new residents are in Crossville
including water connections, voter registrations and building permits
since the last census.
Councilman Graham is also wanting the
city to look at the possiblity of a tax freeze ordianace as allowed
under state law. The rule allows those who are 65 and older and who
have income within the limits to freeze their tax bill at the time
they apply even if tax rates and assessed values increase. The
benefit must be applied for each year.
Councilman Danny Wyatt discussed the
possibility of city provided health insurance for the city judge and
city attorney. There are some possible issues with the proposal that
may have to be worked out if possible.
City attorney Will Ridley briefly
discussed changes to the city's sign ordinance. According to Ridley
recent legal rulings have changed some of the things the city can do
but the rulings have not given specific rules for the city to follow.
A new sign ordinance will be worked on over the next couple of
months.
Mr. Ridley also talked about a number
of cases the city is involved in through the administrative hearing
process. A number of buildings have been boarded up and secured by
city codes staff and fines have been assessed. According to Ridley
the process of cleaning up derelict and dilapidated properties is
expensive and it sometimes difficult to recover the money the city
uses.
Ridley said the council may have to
decide how much funding they want to invest in cleaning up some city
properties and other legal actions that may be needed to recover
their costs.
