Crossville City Council moved forward with plans to end the free grinder pump program that started over ten years ago as the city expanded the sewer system.

“This program served its purpose,” commented Councilman Boyd Wyatt during discussion of the matter.

The city council looked at providing sewer services to large portions of the city that did not have sewer service back in 1995 and one of the trade-offs considered was the use of low pressure sewer lines that require a grinder pump at each hook up. Grinder pumps cost $1500 each back then and have almost doubled to $2800 now.

In order to balance the cost for those on gravity lines and low pressure lines the council voted to give free grinder pumps to existing houses in the city if they were needed. Gravity lines are generally much more costly to install especially with underlying rock present here on the plateau. The low pressure lines do not have to gravity flow and the use of pumps drives the sewage along the lines to a man hole then on to the treatment plant.

A recent audit by the comptrollers office recommended that the city codify the areas covered by the program. City staff instead recommended to the council that they end the program at the end of this year on Dec. 31, 2010. Staff pointed out that the sewer project was completed in 1998 over ten years ago.

Ending the program in December gives any homeowner adequate warning that the program is ending and will eliminate any confusion and the possibility of denying a qualified home or allowing an unqualified home to take advantage of the program. Already the city received several calls after the article published earlier this month about the possible action.

Wyatt made the motion to end the program and it was passed by the council.

Under the consent agenda the council approved the initial resolution for a $6 million loan through the Tennessee Municipal League bond fund. Those funds would be used for $5 million of water and sewer improvements and the remaining $1 million for general fund capital equipment.

Also approved was the third and final reading of the budget amendment funding city employee one-time bonuses along with several street closing for upcoming downtown events including Depot Days September 10-10.

The council approved the bids on construction of new T-hangers at the Crossville airport. The brief delay allowed negotiations to shift funding around that will result in some $355,369 in savings to the city. The total cost of over $1.1 million in construction will only cost the city $136,101. Bids on the aviation gas tanks came in high and the city is requesting and amendment from the state to cover the additional expense.

The council deferred consideration of a request from the local Habitat for Humanity organization until next month. They have purchased property along the Obed River and are seeking to give the city some 11 acres for use as a greenway along the river. In exchange Habitat would like the city to give water and sewer taps for the remaining property.

Some council members expressed concern over whether any expenses could come to the city by accepting the property. City staff will look at the concerns and report back to the council at their September meeting.

Crossville’s CoLinx was recognized as the first Mayor's Green Partner with a plaque for the sustainability actions the company has taken. Even with a larger building and over twice as many employees, CoLinx used less electricity in 2009 then they did in 2001. Changes include replacing lamps and using motion sensors that turn lights off when areas are not in use, controllers on conveyors that shut down when there is no load, switching from electric carts to tricycle bikes to get around the huge plant, and employees who turn off electric devices when not in use.

Billy Loggins with the city's marketing department announced that the theme for the Crossville Christmas Parade has been selected. It is “The Wonders of Christmas,” the suggestion of Sandy Devine. Loggins also said the city is working on bringing soccer tournaments to the new Duer soccer complex and soon the public will be able to drop off grease and oil for recycling into bio-diesel at the recycling center.