Crossville Council OKs Garrison Park budget amendment with some members still opposed to grant

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.

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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.  

Council approves moving forward with Garrison Park plans and Centennial Park splash pad.

“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.

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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.  

J. H. Graham elected Mayor Pro-Tem and city judge Ivy Gardner reappointed.

Crossville city council selected council member J. H. Graham III as the new mayor pro-tem during their first regular meeting.  Graham was nominated by council member Pamala Harris, who had served in the position for the last two years.

"I've enjoyed serving as mayor pro-tem for the last two years," said Harris, "However, I'm going to make a motion at this time to nominate J. H. Graham for the position."

Mayor Pro-Tem J. H. Graham III

Mayor James Mayberry nominated councilman Scot Shanks but Shanks indicated he wanted to vote for Mr. Graham and in the end all five council members voted to elect Graham to the position.

Graham spoke, "It is a great honor and privilege to serve the city council in any way that I might and I want you and the council to know that I'm really looking forward to this position.

City Judge Ivy Gardner was reappointed to her position  nominated after being by councilman Danny Wyatt.  councilman J. H. Graham seconded the motion and moved that the nominations cease and Gardner be appointed by acclamation.

The action was approved by voice vote.

Crossville city judge Ivy Gardner