The City of Crossville handed out some 3500 tree seedlings as part of recognizing Arbor Day by the city, the Crossville Tree Board, the Master Gardeners and others.
Crossville Mayor James Mayberry read a proclamation recognizing the Tree Board and Crossville's continuing recognition as a Tree City USA and the benefits of planting trees.
Crossville Mayor James Mayberry, flanked by members of
the Crossville Tree Board, city staff, and volunteers
William Garrett Graham was named the Student of the Month at Martin Elementary School for
The month of October for his representation of the character trait of responsibility.
Crossville Mayor James Mayberry, left, presents William
Garrett Graham with his award. William couldn't attend
the council meeting and the presentation was made at
school. (Photo submitted)
William is in the Fourth Grade class of teacher Leslie Smith and was nominated because “ he sets a fine example of being responsible at school. Garrett is also a responsible school citizen in his treatment of his fellow classmates. He takes responsibility in helping others both in and out of the classroom setting."
The annual Crossville Memorial Airport Open House and Fly-In was very well attended Saturday, September 30 with great weather, lots of planes, and a great crowd of visitors.
As part of the ceremonies, 5 men were recognized for their impact on local aviation history. A permanent memorial has been built in front of the airport's main building and more names are expected to be added in future years.
Aviation recognition monument at Crossville
Memorial Airport.
Honorees this year include Ken Burnett, Cosby Harrison, W. E. (Bill) Mayberry, Curt Watson and James Whitson, Sr. Boyd Wyatt Sr. was the first recognized at last year's fly-in.
Honoree's names on
the monument.
Ken Burnett was a long time member and chairman of the Crossville Airport Committee before it was disbanded. Burnett became a licensed pilot in 1969 after serving in the Navy during WWII and Korea. Mr. Burnett was very active in Crossville and served on the Cumberland Medical Center and Highland Federal Savings and Loan boards. Cosby Harrison was a very long time Crossville businessman who started the world recognized Trade A Plane publication that was a national classified service for pilots. Harrison had a plane, the first one in Crossville, that he crashed in 1935 and needed parts to repair it. When he had difficulty finding what he needed, it gave him the idea for the Crossville based publication that he started with his wife on their kitchen table. The explosion of interest in general aviation following WWII with a growth in military trained pilots who still wanted to fly. W.E. Bill Mayberry, Jr. was a WWII veteran who also served in Korea. Mayberry returned to Crossville and operated Mayberry's Furniture, still open on Main Street. He was very active in the community and was elected mayor at age 28, was active in the Chamber of Commerce and many other local boards. His son James currently serves as Crossville Mayor. Mayberry a licensed pilot and spent 40 years on the Airport Committee.
Curt Watson was a local football standout who went on to be a standout for the UT Vols, played two seasons in the NFL. He then joined the Navy, went to flight school and before his military career was over spent 4 years flying with the world famous Blue Angels. After leaving the Navy Watson continued flying for FedEx. Watson's father, another Crossville mayor Dr. James Watson was also a pilot and Watson and his sister Trish both got the flying bug at the Crossville airport. Watson helped his alma mater CCHS get a jet mascot painted with Blue Angel colors. James E. Whitson Sr. became the fixed base operator for the Crossville airport in 1960 and he served the local airport for 30+ years. The airport is now known as Whitson Field in his honor. It is estimated that he taught 1000 people to fly, He had well over 15,000 hours of flight time. Whitson had a touch and could bring planes other thought beyond hope back to the sky.
Crossville Mayor James Mayberry, his brother William
Mayberry and former Blue Angel Curt Watson.
Watson and the Mayberry brother's dad were 2 of those
recognized in a morning ceremony.
Dave Kirk at the podium handed out the awards. On the
right are members of the Whitson Family.
The crowd was large, the weather was great and everyone enjoyed looking at the plans and watching the takeoffs and landings.
US Constitution Week has been proclamed as September 17 through the 23 by Crossville Mayor James Mayberry. The proclamation was read during the city council's regular September meeting.
Members of the Crab Orchard Daughters of the American Revolution sponsor the annual celebration locally and were present and received the proclamation.
This celebration of the Constitution was started by the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1955, DAR petitioned Congress to set aside September 17-23 annually to be dedicated for the observance of Constitution Week. The resolution was later adopted by the U.S. Congress and signed into public law on August 2, 1956, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The aims of the Constitution Week celebration are to:
Emphasize citizens' responsibilities for protecting and defending the Constitution.
Inform people that the Constitution is the basis for America's great heritage and the foundation for our way of life.
Encourage the study of the historical events which led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787.
The Crossville city council finally
approved the third and final reading of a budget amendment needed to
approve payment for work already done and paid for as part of the
Garrison Park redevelopment project. One council member opposed the
measure based on the project requiring that the fence around the park
be removed.
The council started second guessing the
project after discovering details that had been previously provided
to them in agenda materials including that the fence around the park
would be removed. The other controversy in the project is the
removal of the grandstand built in the late 1940s that is in
disrepair and unable to meet ADA requirements for handicapped access.
Prior to the July council meeting, members review the
Garrison Park concept plan. L-R Pamala Harris,
Mayor James Mayberry, J.H. Graham, city manager Greg Wood
and Scot Shanks.
At this point, the council has approved
acceptance of the grant contract from the State of Tennessee for
$500,000 in a 50/50 match and has approved contracts with the
engineering firm designing the project and the grant administrator in
previous actions.
Council discussion on Garrison budget amendment
Some council members then looked at the
details of the work and have appeared to want to slow the process
until some changes can be made or abandon it all together. The state
has told the city the grant agreement requires them do do certain
things in order to complete the grant including the removal of the
fence and grandstand. The state said that the fence could be put
back up completely or partially if the city wants to. According to
city manager Greg Wood, the current model for public parks is to have
open un-fenced access to the amenities.
The project also includes a splash pad,
a playground, new basketball court and restroom facilities at the
park.
Councilman J. H. Graham moved to
approve the budget amendment at the amount paid for the work and was
seconded by Mayor James Mayberry.
Councilman Danny Wyatt said he would
not support the matter “because we've learned a lot of things over
the last month or two.” Wyatt complained about having to tear down
the chain link fence adding, “The taxpayers paid for this fence and
it's in good shape.”
Mr. Graham commented that he only
intended for the bills already paid to be covered under the budget
and he was “not supporting any contracts or accepting the grant or
anything else.”
After some confusion expressed by
councilwoman Pamala Harris, city clerk Sally Oglesby explained to the
the council that the grant had been accepted and the contracts
approved months ago.
Prior to the vote being taken, Mayor
Mayberry clarified once more that the vote was strictly on the budget
amendment to cover expenses already paid for the previous fiscal
year. The motion passed with three aye votes from Graham, Mayberry
and councilman Scot Shanks. Council members Wyatt and Harris voted
no.
Crossville city council approved
changes to the contract between the city and Crossville Aero, the
fixed base operator of the Crossville airport.
The contract changes brought up some
discussion by council members and caught Crossville Aero's Chris
Bennett off guard as he was unaware the item was on the council
agenda though he was at the meeting.
Crossville Airport building
The item was originally under the
council's consent agenda but was pulled out for separate discussion
and action by councilwoman Pamala Harris. Ms. Harris asked city
attorney Will Ridley if he was given an opportunity to review the
agreement? Mr. Ridley said he saw it when the council did as part of
the previous weeks work session but said he did not have a hand in
drafting the document.
Council discusses airport contract changes
Harris said she felt that anytime an
agreement of that nature the city attorney should be involved in
drafting it. In addition Harris added that she would like the
administration to share the document with the attorney.
Harris asked Ridley if he was OK with
the agreement and Ridley said he was.
Crossville city manager Greg wood, left, and
city council members
Mayor James Mayberry moved to approve
the item and a second was given by councilman Danny Wyatt. Mayberry
asked if the new city manager Greg Wood had negotiated the items of
the agreement and Wood said that the agreement memorializes the
agreements that had previously been made. Those agreements included
an increase in the flow fee for fuel sales from 5 to 10 cents per
gallon and an additional $200 a month rental fee for the use of the
new hanger and paying for the hanger's utilities.
Councilman Wyatt asked Mr. Bennett if
he was good with the changes? Bennett said he was fine but had not
seen the agreement and did not know it was on the agenda. Bennett
added that he knew the changes had been talked about so they were not
a surprise to him.
Wyatt added that he agreed with Ms.
Harris that the city attorney should review the documents. Manager
Wood said he had been educated on the issue and would see to it in
the future,
The council voted unanimously to
approve the contract amendment.
“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.
The tug of war between the new and the
past continues to lead to discussion by the Crossville city council
and still no decision made yet on the redevelopment of Crossville's Garrison
Park on Fourth Street.
The council put off a decision on
approving contracts with the grant administrator and engineer until
they find out about the possibility of maintaining the current fence
around a portion of the park and the long time ball field known as
Field A. The grandstand structure is to be removed unless the city
refuses to accept the $500,000 grant from the Local Parks and
Recreation Fund and turning down the grant could negatively effect
the ability of the city to get any future money through that grant
program.
The plan to redevelop Garrison Park was
originally part of the city recreation master plan developed by Lose
and Associates during 2014 and the mater plan was required to be
eligible to apply for the grant funds. The grant to Crossville was
announced in August 2016 and and the grant requires a 50 percent
match. The grant included a splash pad, redoing the basketball
court, new restrooms, walking trails, a playground and removing the
old grandstand structure as phase 1 of the project.
Crossville resident Vancienetta Wisdom
has spoken against removing the grandstand several times and
addressed the council during public comment at the start of the May
council meeting. She said, “Garrison Park is as much a part of
Crossville's history as the Palace Theatre, the depot and the old
Cumberland County high school building.” Mrs. Wisdom asked the
council to consider keeping A field and using B field for the planned
improvements.
City Manager and council discuss Garrison Park improvements
Crossville mayor James Mayberry moved
to approve the contracts involved in the project and approve the
necessary funds for the current fiscal year, expected to be $25,000.
When asked by councilman J. H. Graham to be specific about the parts
of the project, Mayberry said that he did not find anything in the
documentation that said the fence had to be removed or that anything
had to be done to the “A” baseball field. The grant does
specifically address the grandstand and it is to be removed as part
of the first phase of the redevelopment.
Mayberry's motion was seconded by
councilwoman Pamala Harris.
Councilman Danny Wyatt said that an
email from city clerk Sally Oglesby indicated the fence and field A
had to be removed. City manager Greg Wood said that he would fight
to keep the fence based on the amount of traffic on Fourth Street and
that it was needed to protect the children. Wyatt said, “I want to
know this before I support this.”
Ms. Harris asked Mayor Mayberry if he
would accept an amendment that the action was contingent on the
keeping of the fence and field A and he agreed to the change in
language.
Ms. Harris said that she understood
that the topic was emotional to a lot of residents and it was tough
to cope with change. She continued that if the fence and field A
could be kept that the other improvements would be nice for the park
and the community.
Mr. Wyatt again asked about the
approving the contracts and a budget amendment before knowing the
specifics. City attorney Will Ridley told the council that with the
amendment the mayor would not be authorized to sign the agreement
without knowing about the two items. After additional brief
discussion the motion was deferred, or as Mayor Mayberry said “kicked
down the road” until a tentatively special called meeting in the
next two weeks.
Firefighter/Paramedic Jeremy Mangas was recognized as the Crossville Fire Department (CFD) firefighter of the quarter during the April Crossville city council meeting.
Under the recognition program, firefighters are nominated by their peers then those nominations evaluated by a panel and then presented to the fire chief Mike Turner.
Firefighter Mangas excels in all aspects of the job
and has been instrumental in mentoring recruit firefighters. Mangas has a passion for fire
prevention and has been invaluable in the smoke detector campaign as well as teaching
fire prevention.
In addition to Mangas' work for the Crossville Fire Department, his brother is a policeman and his wife Bethany is a paramedic for the Cumberland County EMS. Chief Turner described Mangas as "an asset to the fire department and to the county."
Jeremy Mangas, center, was recognized as the CFD firefighter
of the quarter. L-R are Jeremy's mother, his wife Bethany, Mangas,
Martin Elementary School Fifth grader Corbin Seiber was recognized as the student of the month at the April Crossville city council meeting.
Corbin was recognized for the character trait of citizenship and recognized by his teacher Kim Smith because " he sets a fine example, handles the responsibility of raising the flag and lowering it each day and is always mannerly."
Crossville Mayor James Mayberry, left, presents April
student of the month Corbin Seiber, right, with his award.
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.
The Crossville city council reversed
its stance on selling property for use as a shooting sports park and
the controversial project is back moving forward following a special called meeting Tuesday evening.
Discussion on a proposed shooting
sports park first became public 20 months ago and was discussed at
city council meetings as the group trying to build the facility were
seeking property to locate the park on from the city.
Mayor James Mayberry addresses called meeting
That property was a portion of land
purchased over 20 years ago and used for a few years as a city run
landfill. After the landfill closed the land set quietly until this
project cropped up. The project was discussed, received support from
the previous council and occasionally came back for discussion as
funding was committed and new details emerged.
Things began moving at full speed late
last year with work on a contract to sell a portion of the city's
original property to a nonprofit group formed to operate the
facility. A sales contract was approved by council at their February
meeting and a small but vocal group of residents who lived near the
proposed location began to complain about who the proposed park could
effect their homes.
In March, the contract was rescinded by
the council at a special called meeting shortly before the sale was
to close under the original contract and additional meetings were
held along with a shooting demonstration at the property this past
Saturday. Sources say that additional work by new city manager Greg
Wood and changes to the contract by city attorney Will Ridley moved
the project back to council consideration.
Crossville city attorney WIll Ridley
explains contract changes.
One change that was made to the
original deal is that the remaining portion of the property along
Albert Frye Road that will only be used for quiet activities such as
air guns, archery and education programs. This will create a buffer
between the shooting park and the closest property beside the
shooting park.
The city had already planned to retain
an area along Albert Frye Road for possible future development and
possible industrial use. The city also retains the portion of the
property previously used as a landfill and other property along the
southern edge of the original property purchased by the city.
Video of full council meeting
The discussion opened at the special
called meeting Tuesday night and Mayor James Mayberry moved to
approve the new contract prepared by city attorney Will Ridley with
the changes. Mayberry's motion received a second from councilman
Scot Shanks.
Mr. Ridley explained about the changes
to the original agreement that restricted the use of the 13.86 acres
in the Northwest corner of the property bordered on the north by
Albert Frye Rd and on the east by private property that includes a
residential cabin.
Ridley said that the property would
revert to the city if funding is not secured by December 31, 2016 and
that funding must be state of federal money.
Other provisions include that the city
council will have the right to appoint two members of the Crossville
Shooting Park, Inc. board and the city will not charge for any
building or other permits required in the development of the project.
Councilman J. H. Graham said he and
some of the property owners in the area of the park had concerns
about the road into the site and the turn off from Peavine road and
felt the road should be brought up to standards of the Crossville
Regional Planning commission. Graham felt there should be a 50 foot
right of way and a 3 lane mouth on the end of the road.
Councilman J. H. Graham talks about Albert Frye Rd.
Mr. Ridley said the road was a county
road and and he didn't feel the city could force the county to make
such improvements.
In order to hear from shooting park
board representative James Wattenbarger the council had to approve a
motion to waive the rules against public comment as council member
Danny Wyatt had a question for him. The discussion included noise
abatement by putting rubber mulch into the walls separating the
shooting stations and while that was more expensive, it would help
with noise. When asked about the road, Wattenbarger said the road to
the Carroll Co. park was smaller and longer then Albert Frye.
Also discussed was night shooting and
Wattenbarger said generally shooting ranges operate to dusk and that
time varies with the calendar. He pointed out in summer that the
time of dusk was later. The facility will not be set up for night
shooting either.
Property owner Harold Stryker suggested
making the entrance to the range come off of Chestnut Hill Road
saying it was a better road and could handle more traffic but no
action was taken on that suggestion.
The vote on the motion to approve the
new contract was unanimous with a comment from Mr. Graham saying that
he was strongly opposed to approving a contract without road
improvements in it but added, I am for the shooting range and I vote
aye.”
Because of public interest, Crossville Mayor James Mayberry is calling for the work session on Tuesday March 28 at 5 PM. He said the meeting will discuss some of the issues that have cropped up in the matter of the proposed Crossville Shooting Sports Park listed in the meeting call as "confusion, misinformation and clarification.
Crossville Mayor James Mayberry
Representatives of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency are expected to be at the meeting. Mayberry said that a representative was at the called meeting and wanted to address the issue but no public comments are allowed at a called meeting. TWRA is providing the 2.2 million dollars in federal funding to construct the park and a great deal of work and some money has already been spent on the Albert Frye Road site.
The park has been discussed for over a year and a half and the site between I-40 and Albert Frye Road has been the proposed location for most of that time. It is unclear if the county will lose the park to another county if the proposed site is not used but that information may be clarified at the Tuesday meeting.
In a special called meeting March 21, a majority of city council members voted to rescind approval of a contract that would have sold the 146 acres to the nonprofit Crossville Shooting Park, Inc. for one dollar. That vote reversed action in February approving the contract and sale after a number of property owners and area residents complained about the project being located near them and the fact that they had not been informed ahead of time about the proposed project.
The Area in lavender is the proposed acreage for the park
and the area in blue is the former city landfill. At the
bottom of the map is I-40 and at the top is Albert Frye Road.
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.
The proposed location currently meets all the requirements for the use of the federal funds and environmental, historical and endangered species studies have been approved.
At a December work session, questions on funding and staffing remain. Kenneth Carey, a member of the nonprofit's board 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.
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.
There was a standing room only crowd at
the March Crossville city council meeting in expectation of a
discussion of the property transfer for the Shooting Sports Park to
be located between I-40 and Albert Frye Road.
The controversy is over the city's
approval last month of selling part of the acreage that the city
bought over 20 years ago for use as a landfill to a non-profit
organization hoping to operate a shooting sports park at the
location. Some of the residents and property owners in the area were
not aware of the project until recently and are concerned about the
noise that the shooting will generate and the possible effect on
their property values.
A large crowd attended Crossville city council meeting as they
discuss concerns by residents near the property proposed for
a shooting sports park. Here Harold Stryker speaks on behalf
of property owners in the area of the Albert Frye Rd. property.
There was also a large contingent of
supporters of the project including young people who participate in
shooting sports for several local organizations and so,me of their
parents. A number of members of the board of the newly formed
non-profit group and they also spoke to the council.
Public comments on the topic of the shooting sports park.
After some 45 minutes of public
comments and discussion of the matter the city council approved a
motion to ask the non-profit group to hold a public meeting with the
property owners and area residents to share information about their
plans and the operation and how it might affect the area.
The motion did not make any changes to
the sales contract that calls for a closing on the sale by April 1,
2017 and likely to take place before the meeting can be held. The
biggest issue seems to be that there was no notice to those in the
area about what was planned for the property.
Local businessman Harold Stryker spoke
first on behalf of the concerned property owners who shared petitions
with the council. Said Stryker, “I want to make it very clear.
We are not opposed to a shooting park.” He said their concern was
the location and the effect on neighboring properties. He said he
understood there could be as many as 10,000 shots filed in a single
day. According to Styker, a home he and his son own is estimated to
be only 600 feet from one of the proposed shooting stations.
Stryker concluded asking that the
council reconsider the action on the property.
One of the members of the non-profit
board, James Wattenbarger spoke saying that he had looked at a lot of
locations for the park and he was not aware of an available location
that would impact less citizens then the Albert Frye Rd. location.
He added that some locations that had been studied would increase
traffic through residential areas. Wattenbarger explained they were
looking and making some changes to the plans in order to control
noise from the park.
Greg Cantrell identified himself as the
trustee for the Frank Brown Family trust. The trust owns between 400
and 500 acres from the Bean Pot to Albert Frye Rd. Cantrell said the
trust was interested in economic development, great healthcare and
education. He said that the family had donated the land for Brown
Elementary School.
Cantrell said his concerns were that
until last night neither he nor other family members knew anything
about the project and they are very nearby property owners. In
addition, he said the family had a vision for many years of what the
corridor might become. Development of the family trust property
could be an 80 to 100 bed assisted living facility that would be an
$8 to $10 million investment that may not be compatible with a
shooting park. “I'm asking you to slow down this process if you
can and let us work with you as a significant property owner.
Valorie Cox is a member of the
non-profit board and presented a petition with over 382 signatures in
favor of the shooting park. Cox explained that in the region there
were 25 counties that sought the park location and Cumberland County
was selected. She said one event with 300 shooters would bring at
least some 600 visitors to the county and at a spending of just $50
per person they could leave $30,000 in the county.
Following the public comments the
council quickly agreed to move the item concerning the shooting park
up on the agenda and began to discuss the topic.
City Council discussion on shooting sports park
Councilman J. H. Graham moved that “the
city requires the non-profit organization to have a public hearing
where the property owners are identified and asked to come to a
meeting within the next 30 to 60 days to identify the pros and cons
of the shooting range.” Graham's motion was supported by
councilman Danny Wyatt.
Mayor James Mayberry asked how the
motion would affect the city's current sales contract that says the
sale will be closed by April 1? City attorney Will Ridley explained
that any extension of the contract would have to be agreed to by both
parties.
Councilwoman Pamala Harris said she
felt the park would be a good thing for the community. “I just
want to be fair to all of the parties involved,” added Harris. She
said the council won't make everyone happy no matter what they do but
perhaps not enough due diligence was done on the deal.
Wyatt said that until the end of the
year he thought the project was a joint city county project. He
apologized saying he should have done more homework. “I think
these people need to be given the opportunity to speak and ask
questions and it should have been done a year ago,” said Wyatt.
Crossville attorney Randall Boston
addressed the council. He said he was speaking as a member of the
non-profit board and not as an attorney or as the county attorney.
Boston said the he and a man named Kenneth Carey and not mayor
Kenneth Carey and several others had worked on the project for quite
some time. “I stand here before you to say that we have a contract
and time is of the essence,” Boston continued, “and there is no
law that says we have to notify anyone or put up a sign.” He added
that the conversations have been going on since the middle of 2015
and well documented stories by local media sources. Boston pointed
out that drag strips and race tracks and airports all make noise.
The vote on the motion included 4 votes
in favor from Graham, Wyatt, Harris and Scot Shanks. Mayor Mayberry
voted no after seeking clarification that the proposed public meeting
would not affect the contract.
Following the vote, J. H. Graham
requested a 5 minute recess that was approved by Mayor Mayberry.
