County seeks support from city for new restaurant tax to fund Expo Center-City to consider at June 12 Meeting

During the city council work session in preparation for the June 12 regular council meeting, several representatives of Cumberland County gave a presentation about the proposed expo center and one way to fund the project.

The presentation on the expo center was given by Donnie Moody, director of the Community Complex where the building is proposed to be constructed. The plans are for the construction of a 60,000 square foot multipurpose building with 45,000 square feet of open space plus a large commercial teaching kitchen.

Community Complex manager Donnie Moody speaks

to Crossville officials about County plans for the proposed

Expo Center.

The county got a rough estimate of costs about 6 months ago that totaled $3.8 million but recent increases in costs of steel and other building material will raise the cost by the time construction could start sometime next year.

Moody said the current 7200 square foot exhibit building is no longer big enough for events that people want to rent facilities to hold. The current exhibit building would fit inside the proposed expo center 4 times. The large space with 48-foot ceilings can also be divided into three smaller areas if needed. In addition a breakout room, hallway and several garage doors.

Because the financing for the project requires a large bond issue, the county is proposing a so-called restaurant privilege tax that essentially adds a 1 percent tax to all restaurant bills. According to County Commissioner Wendell Wilson that would at 35 cents to a $35 bill or $1.00 to a $100 restaurant bill. According to Wilson Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville have already put a similar tax into effect. The revenue from the tax would be earmarked for payments on bonds or loans for the expo center for the 20-year term.

Cumberland County Commissioner Wendell Wilson

explains the financial side of the County Expo Center

proposal.

County Mayor Kenneth Carey advised the council that having the city support the plan by a resolution would help to get the matter approved by the Tennessee General Assembly that would have to approve the private act for the institution of the tax.  Council could take action Tuesday. 

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Council discussed the pros and cons of taking a short section of Thurman Avenue that is currently one way and returning to two way traffic. The change has been requested by businesses along the one block stretch of road. Potential issues include the narrow road, possible loss of parking and the planning commission's recommendation that the change not be made. A decision may come at the council's regular meeting.

Section of Thurman Ave. that is currently

one way only.

Council advised Crossville city manager Greg Wood to move forward with plans for active shooter training for city employees. Crossville police chief David Beaty said due to concern about the safety of city hall employees and at other city operations, the 2-hour training session was recommended.

Council will put off taking action on proposed tournament perks and fee adjustments that have been worked on by the Sports and Entertainment Committee. There is still work that needs to be done on the proposal.

Dog attack incident sent one victim to UT hospital via helicopter-ownership of dogs involved in question

Reports of an incident Friday July 7 at a local pet training business that resulted injuries bad enough to send one of the victims to UT Hospital via helicopter ambulance came to our attention several days ago. After checking with numerous local law enforcement agencies Monday and Tuesday it became clear that no report related to the incident had been filed. The incident occurred at Rescue Training at 4668 Highway 70N near Creston Road.

Rescue Training location on Highway 70-N

The business, operated by Anna Lynch, posted information about the incident on their Facebook page Sunday July 9 saying, “I know there may be rumors or talk about an incident that happened Friday. I'm here to clear things up for anyone that has heard or is going to hear. Yes, something did happen at the office. Yes, we were taken to the ER via ambulance. But I am doing okay now. The other involved was airlifted to another location to receive proper treatment. They're now home resting and recovering. The event was a complete accident and it wasn't anything we could have predicted. Everything was done to the best of our abilities and for that we're thankful everyone's alright. No limbs were lost and we're both doing okay now.”

When contacted Wednesday by phone, Lynch said she couldn't identify the other victim but said she was an employee of the business and the medical bills would be covered under the business' workman's compensation insurance. In addition, Lynch said the dogs “didn't belong to anyone” and they were strays. 

“It was a situation that got a little bit out of hand, but everybody is recovering and well,” said Lynch. She could not explain why there were no law enforcement reports and indicated the county animal control was there.

The next call went to the animal control office and officer Ken Threet said that another animal control officer had responded but all they had done as he understood it was to transport the animals following the incident because two or three of the animals Lynch was working with came from the Cumberland County Animal Shelter. “The lady takes dogs in and tries to socialize them and I think two of them got into an altercation,” said Threet. He added they only had to transport the dogs that belonged to the shelter. According to Threet they didn't do a report because they had only been asked by the shelter Manager Andrea Gaskins to transport the dogs back to the shelter.

Threet said the incident was “kept in house” and he didn't think the sheriff's office was called. Threet stressed that he was not at the scene of the incident and his information was second hand. Threet did say that because the animals had been vaccinated they would not have been turned over to the Health Department. Also Threet also said there would not be a bite report because the dogs didn't viciously attack a person but “(The victims) were trying to break up a fight between the two dogs and got bit in the process.”

After several days trying to reach her, we spoke to the animal shelter manager Andrea Gaskins briefly on July 14, a week after the incident. Gaskins stated that she had not called anyone, contradicting information from animal control about how they got involved and when asked about the dogs involved, their names or what happened to them after they were returned to the shelter and the other inconsistencies in the information Gaskins only suggested either contacting Miss Lynch or county attorney Randall Boston.

After being unable to reach the shelter manager by Thursday calls were made to county mayor Kenneth Carey and the county attorney Randy Boston Thursday afternoon. After speaking to Mr. Boston Thursday evening and Mr. Carey Friday morning, neither man said they had heard anything about the incident previously.

County Mayor Carey called back and gave a statement saying that the dog involved was “fostered out through one of the organizations we work with so I don't think the county's got any liability at all.” Carey went on to describe the incident saying there was a chain link fence between the dogs “and they got to playing with each other and as they were playing, one bit the other on the lip and (the dogs) tried to fight through the fence.” Carey continued saying that the ladies were trying to pull the dog backwards and she fell and a chair fell on the woman and the dog and the dog bit the woman on the wrist.

Carey said that the facility where the dog and the incident happened is a licensed facility with a certified trainer all the proper insurance.

So far the victim of the more serious injury has not been identified.  

Shooting Sports Park remains in limbo with shooting demo planned for Saturday.

While the turn out was a bit smaller, the discussion was every bit as lively for a work session on the proposed Crossville Shooting Sports Park held at city hall Tuesday evening.

It appeared few minds were changed by the discussion that included statements from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Cumberland Co. Mayor Kenneth Carey who promoted the project, according to his statements, not as Co. mayor but as a private citizen interested in promoting a strong youth shooting program. Carey said that he had been a youth shooting coach and knew the benefits of the program.

Cumberland County Mayor Kenneth Carey addresses the council 

on the Shooting Sports Park

TWRA's Jim Bledsoe also addressed the matter of the $2.2 million grant 

being tied to the current property and any changes could possibly

send the funds to another county.

But the opposition remained to the project location. Several of those who spoke against the project said they supported such a shooting sports park, just not where is it proposed on city property off of Albert Frye Road just north of I-40. There appear to be between 5 and 7 residences along Albert Frye Road. Additional homes on Chestnut Hill Road near I-40 have also complained about possible sound issues.

Cabin that is adjacent to the city property proposed for the

SHooting Park.  The city property starts at the tree line. 

While no decision can be made at a city council work session, a proposal to hold a demonstration shooting on the site for property owners in the area to hear the effects of gunfire on the site was discussed and set for Saturday morning April 1, at 10 AM.

The next time that a meeting on the topic might be held is on April 4, the date of the council's next regular work session.

We will have more to report on the meeting including videos of some of the comments coming.

City council calls special meeting on rescinding shooting park contract

A special called meeting is set for 4:50 PM Tuesday March 21 at Crossville city hall.  The meeting has been called by council members J. H. Graham and Pamala Harris. 

The single item on the agenda concerns discussion and possible action on the rescindment of contract with Crossville Shooting Sports Park, Inc.

The contract calls for closing on the property sale to the nonprofit by April 1.  It is unclear if the nonprofit could take legal action if the contract is rescinded by the city.

The project has been discussed for just over 18 months and the city agreed to provide property that was originally purchased for use as a landfill.  37 of the over 200 acres remains as a former landfill and the city kept 40 acres along Albert Frye Road for possible industrial development.

The project was originally brought to the city by Co. Mayor Kenneth Carey but since the county is not involved in the project it is unclear if Carey was acting in his official capacity or as a private individual.  Carey holds a seat on the nonprofit board that plans to operate the park.

The funding for construction is $2.5 million from TWRA.

Another council called meeting is also set to follow for 5 PM on rehiring previously retired city employees and finally a work session on the city's capital improvement plan.

Residents near proposed Shooting Sports Park pushing to have facility moved from Albert Frye Rd.

Even though the Crossville city council had completed the scheduled agenda, a number of people remained in the meeting room and Mayor James Mayberry recognized council member Pamala Harris “to deal with some old business.”

Harris talked about the Shooting Sports Park, a topic the council has discussed several times over the last 18 months and said there were some property owners and residents around the old city land fill property proposed for the location of the facility who had some comments. Harris said she had gotten a number of calls about the proposed project and several had concerns about how the facility would affect their homes and property near it. For the next 30 minutes, property owners and representatives of the shooting sports park organization discussed the proposed operation, possible noise issues and other concerns.

City engineer Tim Begley, standing left, shows council and others a map

of the property for the Shooting Sports Park.  

Residents in the area expressed concern about the noise level from the operation of a shooting facility and concern about the fact that none of them had been contacted by either the city, the county or the organization that is proposing the facility.

The city council first heard about the proposed facility some 18 months ago in June 2015 when Cumberland Co. Mayor Kenneth Carey shared the possibility of the facility at a council work session. Carey told council that the majority of the funding would come from the TWRA and could be a draw for tourists and visitors to the community as well as hosting possible tournaments.

After a year, the topic came back to the council and more details were shared including a firm request for use of property between I-40 and Albert Frye Rd. that the city once used a portion of as a landfill. Final plans became clearer late last year when the topic was against raised at council meetings and the council approved the transfer of a portion of the city's 217 acres to the not for profit corporation that will operate the park during their regular meeting in February.

The blue area is the city's property where the shooting park will be located.

The red circles indicate where the closest houses are.

During all these discussions a few objections to the project were brought up, mainly about competition with private businesses. Former councilman Pete Souza had suggested a public hearing on the project be held but none took place. The city's involvement in the program is through the donation of the property and a small supporting grant applied for from the state.

The group opposing the project said they had some 40 signatures on a petition seeking a new location for the project. Their concerns include noise that would not allow them to use their porches or yards and the effect it could have on their property values. There was discussion about the possible number of shots that might be fired in a day and James Wattenbarger said that the numbers being shared were far above what was expected though he did say any tournaments would include a high number of shots.

At one point, mayor James Mayberry pointed out that zoning in the community would possibly solve some of the kinds of problems being discussed. Those opposed felt the facility should be located in the Catoosa Wildlife area but were told that TWRA had turned down that option.

City attorney Will Ridley said that the city had signed a binding contract on the land transfer but the property had not yet been conveyed. Ridley added that if both sides agreed it could possibly be delayed.

Councilman J. H. Graham asked when the next meeting of the non-profit board would be held saying he felt people needed information on the noise level and number of shots to be fired as the numbers from both sides were substantially different.

Mr. Wattenbarger, who identified himself as a member of the non-profit's board said he had been to the Carroll Co. facility and their shooting park was in the industrial park but there were “hundreds of homes within one mile of the facility.”

Questions about the organization to receive the property were raised and Mr. Ridley said he had received a copy of the organizations state charter and other documents before the agreement was signed.

A statement from the group opposing is expected to be made at the public comment time during the March 14 council meeting along with the presentation of their petition.

Story on Shooting Sports Park from June 2015

Contract for sale of property for Shooting Sports Park approved by city council

Crossville city council approved a sales agreement to transfer part of the city's Dorton area landfill property to the non-profit group that will operate the new shooting sports park once it is built.

City attorney Will Ridley and county officials have been working on the agreement for several weeks to try and put the deal together to allow the project to move forward with an attraction that proponents hope will attract tournaments and and shooters from Middle and East Tennessee.

City council video discussion on shooting sports park property sale

Council,man Danny Wyatt moved that the contract be approved with the provision that if the funding for the project is not received by December 31, 2017 that the property will revert back to the city. The contact already included a provision that should the property stop being used as a shooting park that the property would also revert back to the ownership of the city.

Wyatt's motion was supported by councilwoman Pamala Harris. With no calls for any further discussion, the motion was approved with four votes in favor. Councilman J. H. Graham was absent from the meeting.

The city charter requires a 30 day advertising period before the sale can become final. The total acreage to be transferred is 146 of the approximately 218 acres originally purchased by the city for use as a landfill. Some 37 acres was used for a landfill but was closed many years ago and remains under the auspices of the state environmental department for monitoring.

The shooting sports park has been under discussion for almost 2 years with funding coming from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency using money comes from the federal excise tax on ammunition.  

Previous stories:

December work session on Shooting Sports Park

First discussion by city council of the Shooting Sports Park in 2015

Co Mayor Carey talks to council July 2016 

City, County and TWRA continuing to move forward on Shooting Sports Park

The Crossville city council met in a work session to discuss the proposed shooting sports park proposed to be located on the city's Dorton landfill property with construction expected to take place in 2017.

The program was brought to the city some 18 months ago by county mayor Ken Carey who said that the TWRA would fund the construction and the land form the city was needed to locate the park on. The work session brought some additional details on the program and the need for the city to be willing to lease the land needed for the project to a non-profit group that is currently being established.

Cumberland County mayor Kenneth Carey, left, talks about plans for the

Shooting Sports Park while city council members Danny Wyatt, center, 

and Pamala Harris, left, listen

Carey started the meeting stating that he and the council were there to “take the old landfill site and make it a tourist destination.” Carey said the matter had been brought to the council several times and council had given their blessing. According to Carey, the funding agencies for the the $2.2 million including federal and state funds have decided that they would be more comfortable with a lease by the city to the non-profit entity that would revert to the city should the park cease to operate.

The funds for the project come from federal Pittman-Robertson funding generate by excise tax on ammunition and granted to states for conservation efforts, hunter's education and shooting projects and programs.

Preliminary plan for local Shooting Sports Park.

Council member Pam Harris asked about potential liability if the city retains ownership of the property and leases it. City attorney Will Ridley said they have discussed putting an indemnification clause in the lease requiring them to maintain a certain amount of insurance.

Councilman J. H, Graham asked about the budget for the non-profit operation and details on the kind of market they would be attempting to reach. Carey said that the budget would be determined once the facility was up and going. The market would include shooting sports such as trap shooting, skeet shooting, sporting clays and pistol competitions.

A large turnout for the city work session on the Shooting Sports Park plans

According to Carey the local facility is being modeled after a similar facility in Carroll County that has pistol teams come from as far away as Texas and Florida. The facility would also allow the hosting of regional and state competitions because of the size of the facility. Carey added that the teams here travel as far as Illinois and Ohio for competitions.

The facility would also benefit local law enforcement. Interim police chief Mark Rosser said that the city has a facility at Meadow Park Lake but they have not spent any money there lately based on the possibility of the new facility. Rosser said the facility includes a paved area and range house but any additions have been put off.

Questions on funding and staffing remain somewhat of a question. Carey said they would determine if a full time position was needed or if all employees would be part-time. The grant requires that the facility be open at least 20 hours a week. According to Carey the plan is for the range to be open more then that and open to the public. He added it is not a membership type facility and that anyone can come a shoot.

Carey said that local shooters have done well in competition and some has aspirations to be on the Olympic team. He pointed out that some of the shooters have to go as far as Nashville to practice one type of discipline now and the practice required make that kind of travel difficult.

According to city attorney Ridley, the plan is for a draft of the agreement to be on the agenda for the January council meeting.

Mayor Carey said in addition to attracting tourists and having a place for locals to enjoy that his ultimate goal is to hopefully attract a gun related industry to locate near the shooting sports park such as a firearms manufacturer.

Link to complete discussion on the topic. 

Kerry plant Expansion announced for Mayland operation

Local officials with the Horizon Initiative and Kerry announced the expansion of the plant in Mayland that most locals know as Hickory Specialties.

Announced under the banner of the Horizon Initiative, Chamber of Commerce president Brad Allamong pointed to the Horizon logo saying, “When you see this sign something good is behind it.” The Horizon Initiative is a partnership of local government, education and industry to promote the community's economic development.

The expansion includes an investment of some $13.3 million for the addition of 18,000 square feet, new state of the art equipment and 10 new employees.

The facility currently employees some 50 workers and has been a part of the community since 1972.  Freddy Conley, plant manager said the company had recently purchased a competitor and plan to move additional production to the local facility.  Conley added that Kerry was "going strong."

“The future's bright for Kerry's investment, the synergies are great, the resources are here,” added Conley. “We make a food product derived from sawdust, which is pretty unique in the industry and we maintain the highest of standards.” Conley also said he would be strongly advocating to hire locally for the new positions.  

Kerry plant manager of the Mayland TN operation Freddy Conley

explains the expansion of the plant, located here since 1972. 

Video of the Announcement

Crossville city council to hold work session on shooting sports park Wednesday Dec. 21 at noon.

A work session has been set for the Crossville city council on Wednesday December 21 at noon.

The work session is for discussion of the proposed shooting sports park proposed for the city's old landfill site off of Chestnut Hill and Albert Frye Roads. The major funding of the project is from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the city is providing the property.

While the project has been in discussions between the city and Cumberland County mayor Ken Carey for some 18 months. The council's first discussion of the proposal was in June 2015 with Mayor Carey bringing the proposal to the council. A similar park has been built in Carroll County. The local park will include shooting ranges for handguns and rifles as well as trap and skeet shooting and 1 or 2 sporting clay courses.

According to the information released with the work session agenda, construction is estimated to start in the second quarter of 2017. Recently the city applied for a $50,000 grant to fund some additional facilities on the site including pavilions, bleachers and a public address system.

The council is expected to discuss a proposed lease and operating agreement between the city and Crossville Shooting Park LLC a non profit that will manage the operation. County mayor Carey and county attorney Randal Boston are expected to attend.   

Cumberland Co. Mayor Kenneth Carey speaks to city council on shooting sports park & dispatch salary increases

Cumberland County mayor Kenneth Carey addressed to topic with the Crossville city council during their called meeting on July 22 including a proposed shooting sports park and the status if dispatcher salaries in the emergency communications operation.

Cumberland Co. Mayor Kenneth Carey

Mayor Carey told the council that the shooting sports park was moving forward slowly. (The project was originally approved just over a year ago would include funding from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency TWRA.) He said the plan had gotten through most of the environmental process including a check for endangered bats. Carey said no bats were found.

The next step is working with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology to get some drawings and plans. Carey said if they can get those items completed by next month, the project will be submitted to the TWRA board for a funding decision.

Story on Shooting Sports Park from 2015

Mayor Carey also addressed the issue of dispatch salaries explaining to the council that the county had done “a fairly extensive salary wage scale” adding that the city and county share the costs of the operation. Carey added, “The dispatch pay has been so low that literally, we've had a revolving door with training folks and then they go somewhere else to work for quite a bit more money. They wanted me to pass that along to you folks.”

According to Carey, the new wage scale was adopted by the county commission budget committee. He added it still had to go through the full county budget adoption. He said the ball park numbers would add about $20,000 more each year for the city and county to fund the additional salary.

“Our emergency services are only as good as the information they get before they go to a call,” stressed Mayor Carey. Carey said he would get a copy of the study to the city for their review.

Co. Mayor Carey addresses Crossville city council on shooting sports park 

and dispatch salary increase.