Published: September 22, 2008 02:27 pm         

City council moves forward on 200-acre industrial park

Even though Crossville Mayor J.H. Graham III was unable to attend the Crossville City Council's regular September meeting because of recent surgery, two of his proposals from the agenda moved forward including the first step toward a 200-acre city industrial park.

The city council is looking to use 210 acres in Dorton as a future industrial park. The property was originally purchased for use as a city landfill and the city operated a landfill on the property for several years. That landfill has been closed for sometime but the majority of the property remains available for an alternative use.

The city continues to monitor the property for any problems related to its previous use and while the portion of the property used as a landfill can not be built on, the remaining 210 acres of the property can. Mayor Graham proposed that the council take the first step in the development of the property as an industrial park.

Council members approved a contract with GRW Engineers for $5,000. GRW will provide assistance in obtaining certificate of public purpose and necessity. The certificate is needed from the state of Tennessee for the city to apply for grants to help pay for the development of roads and utilities in the proposed park. In a change from previous rules, a commitment from an industry is no longer required to get funding for development of an industrial park.

The council also approved a second Graham proposal, an application for a grant to pay for a biodiesel fuel system and tank. The city is looking at ways to save energy in the city's operations of buildings and machinery.

The city has already requested free energy audits of city buildings from the state and a meeting will be held in October for commercial property owners to offer them the opportunity for energy audits and low-interest loans to make improvements.

The council approved applying for the grant of up to $12,000 for the biodiesel project. The grant does not pay for fuel but for the storage facility and tank necessary to store the fuel.

“We are trying to make the city green and reduce consumption of energy,” explained city manager Ted Meadows.

During the discussion of surplus city equipment and property seized in police operations the matter of motor rewinding equipment was brought up by Councilman Jesse Kerley. Kerley argued that the equipment and several tubs of copper wire should be sold at the auction.

The equipment was taken out of service after a controversy over scrap copper and the equipment is being stored in the police impound while an investigation by the state is being conducted into possible irregularities with scrap copper when the motors from grinder pumps were rebuilt.

Kerley's suggestion was that the equipment be sold and the motor rebuilding be contracted out. Both Public Works director Tim Begley felt the equipment should be put back in service after the investigation as the activity was used during rainy days when public works employees could not work outside.

At the meeting city manager Meadows said he was not familiar with the operation of the equipment and would investigate and provide a written report with his recommendation. Meadows report two days later said that because the final report from the state auditors was not finished he would not put the motor winder into the surplus auction.

In addition, the report said that the equipment was purchased originally because the motor rebuilds sent out were unsatisfactory and the city could do a better job in house. Based on expenses of rebuilding the motors using employees on rainy days, Meadows said the equipment appeared to save save the city approximately $2000 a year. Meadows report concludes that based on the information he collected his recommendation was to put the equipment back in service after the report from the state comptrollers office is received.

The council approved street closings for the next downtown Crossville Cruise-in for Saturday, Sept. 27. The cruise-ins have become very popular and several hundred cars could be on display during the event from 3 to 7 p.m.

Derrick Clemow of Uplands Design Group attended the city meeting and presented Tonya Hinch with an award from the American Institute of Architects. The Presidential Award of Merit was presented for Hinch's in recognition of her creative town home project reflecting quality design solution utilizing existing historically significant space, reuse of materials and the creative spirit of a neighborhood advocate.

Hinch purchased and created a residential showplace from a former downtown commercial building on Fifth Street that was originally used as one of Crossville first liquor stores.