News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Algood has successfully rebid phase one of the city’s new 21-acre park on Friday night.
The city awarded the bid for roughly $655,000, with only lighting being left out from the original plan. City Administrator Keith Morrison said it was his expectation that lighting the parking lot and walking trail were keeping the project from being within Algood’s budget.
“It feels good, you know we’ve been working on this for a couple of years, we bought the land, we went through the master planning phase,” Morrison said. “So for people to see something on the ground, I think is important. It’s what everybody has asked for this year, It’s what the council’s been working hard to accomplish and I think tonight they met their goal.”
Morrison said the next step is covering the remaining costs for wetland mitigation and obtaining the permit to begin that work. Morrison said the wetland mitigation could cost up to $100,000 and will have to be addressed with a budget amendment.
Morrison said starting will be partially dependent on obtaining the permit, but believes work can begin by the end of August.
“We’re working with TDEC to get an ARAP permit, that has been submitted,” Morrison said. “We’re anticipating that to be back by the end of August. We have asked TDEC and intend to work with the contractor to see if we can go ahead and get a general construction permit and get the entrance and the parking lot started since those are outside of the wetland.”
Morrison said he believes the parking lot lighting will be easy to address based on the city’s relationship with UCEMC. He said lighting the walking trail could be addressed by pursing a grant once the trail is in place.
The lighting being left out of the park phase one, will result in the park closing at sundown. Phase one of the park will now cover the entrance, parking lot, bathrooms, sidewalks and a walking trail.
