News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Livingston progressing on its Industrial Park Project after completing several initial due diligence studies.
Coordinator Ray Evans said the due diligence studies consisted of various environmental studies and historical studies for the 30-acre property just off Hwy 85. Evans said now the city is required to do a phase two environmental assessment as a portion of the property used to be a burn site used by the city. Evans said the city has hired a consultant to take lab samples of the property to determine if that part of the property is still safe for use.
“We are certain that it was only timber and timber-related stuff from the storms but the concern is anytime you have a burn pile was there anything else that was burned in there,” Evans said. “You know, plastics that could be toxic or any substances that might make the site less desirable.”
Evans said the results of the assessment are almost complete and expects to get them back within the next two to three weeks. Evans said the assessment will be a critical piece to obtaining more grant funding from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to begin grading the site for a 100,000-square-foot industrial building pad.
“We have to have this project closed out before we can apply for the second grant,” Evans said. “So timing is sort of tight and we are not sure whether we can be able to get everything wrapped up to apply on this round of grants. If not certainly six months from now they will have another round of grants to apply for.”
TDEC withheld grant funding before due diligence studies were completed. Evans said the city is slowly receiving the funding piece by piece.
“As we receive invoices from the consultant we then submit those invoices to the state,” Evans said. “The state processes those and then reimburses us as we go. We have been reimbursed for a portion of the expenses so far.”
Evans said the city does not have a timeline of when the project will begin as it depends on when the city can obtain another round of grants. Evans said once the city can begin grading the property it will put them in a much better position to compete for industrial prospects.
