Published: April 09, 2007 02:57 pm         

Engineering projects headline busy city council agenda

The Crossville City Council meets for their regular monthly meeting Tuesday facing an ambitious agenda that includes numerous engineering contracts for projects and improvements that the city has been working on for sometime.

A public hearing is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. with the regular meeting set to begin at 6 p.m. The public hearing will cover the proposed annexation of 423 Spruce Loop along with reports on the plan of services for previous annexations of Bob Tollett Loop and property on Peavine Road.

Some 18 items are listed under the consent agenda including first reading of three annexations, several budget amendments and approval of closing Main Street for upcoming events, Memorial Day and Depot Days. Also under the consent agenda are several first readings of ordinances authorizing payments beyond the current fiscal year for engineering contracts and to purchase property from Hick's Excavating for the proposed soccer complex.

The council has further action related to the soccer complex on the agenda including approval of a resolution on bond financing and approval of a contract with Hart Freeland Roberts for engineering and design services. The bond resolution would approve authorization to borrow up to 5.5 million for the purchase and completion of soccer complex and a skate park. Both the soccer complex and skate park have been on and off of the city's drawing board for a number of years.

Improvements to the Genesis and Cook roads and intersection are also up for action by the council. The council will consider approval of an agreement with Pilot Travel Centers. The company is planning to build on the north side of the Genesis and Cook Road intersection. Pilot has agreed to donate needed right of way for the process and to work with the city to expedite the project.

The council will also consider approval of purchasing necessary right-of-way for the project based on the appraised values of the needed property. If reasonable agreements can not be reached, the acquisitions will come back to the council for consideration of filing eminent domain action. The council will also consider an amendment to the engineering contract with Gresham Smith and Partners for the cost of modifying the design of the project into three parts to facilitate funding assistance.

Other engineering projects requiring action by the council include Holiday Lake spillway and bridge improvements, the Bluffs at Cumberland Cove development and utility relocations along Highway 127 S in anticipation of the widening of the road. Approval of contracts along with first readings of ordinances authorizing payments beyond the current budget year are on the agenda for each of the projects.

The council will hear a presentation of the proposed city budget for the coming fiscal year during the city manger's report and the council will consider action on the 2007 city goals and objectives as well as the code of ethics required by the state legislature.

Several presentations and recognitions are scheduled for the meeting including the student of the month and the council will sit as the solicitation board during the meeting.