Crossville City Council meets for their regular May meeting Tuesday and several upcoming capital projects that may benefit from federal stimulus funding will be discussed and considered for financing approval.
The meeting gets under way at 6 p.m. in the council's chambers at Crossville City Hall. There will also be an audit committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. and both meetings are open to the public.
The city has a number of capital projects ready to go or in the final stages of being “shovel ready.” Shovel ready is an important concept because it means these projects are ready or almost ready for bidding and could quickly put people to work and purchase capital equipment from U.S. manufactures, key components required in the use of federal stimulus money.
Projects up for approval on tonight's agenda include Meadow Park Lake reservoir improvements, the Highway 70N water line and a third fire station for the city fire department. Rural Development, a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has received additional funds for community improvement projects that will be awarded on a first come, first served basis.
The Meadow Park Lake projects include a water harvesting project as well as the long planned dam improvement project. This resolution is to request up to $10 million in funding for the projects through the money available from the stimulus package. Another resolution on the agenda seeks up to $2.5 million for the Highway 70N water line extension.
The council will also consider a resolution for up to $3.2 million to fund a new fire hall and fire truck. The location of the proposed fire hall has not yet been selected but city growth is beginning to strain the fire department's response time justifying the need for the new hall.
Because of the projects, the city is required to pass resolutions committing to raising water and sewer rates when the projects get under way. The projects are expected to be funded 60 percent from low interest loans and the remaining 40 percent forgiven or through a grant. The proposed rate increases are 3 percent for sewer and water rates will rise by 20 percent with a five percent increase each year over four years. The sewer rate increase will cost the average household that uses 4000 gallons of water a month 56 cents a month while the first year increase in water rates will cost that same household 76 cents in the city and $1.11 a month outside the city.
Councilman Boyd Wyatt has asked for time on the agenda to discuss water loss and plans to reduce the differences between the water that is produced and the amount that is actually billed. This loss can be the result of leaks, bad meters or a number of other problems. City staff have been tracking the problem at the request of the council for several months.
The council will consider requesting assistance from the state for help with infrastructure costs in the proposed Chestnut Hill industrial park. The program is called the fast-track pilot program and will pay for water and sewer infrastructure in the park being developed from the city's former Dorton Landfill property.
Other matters on council's fairly lengthy agenda include approval of a paving list to be completed by June 30 this year, renewal of Veolia's contract with the city to operate the wastewater treatment plant and once again the city will look at possible improvements to the intersection at Deerfield and Tenth streets.
Area News
Council seeking stimulus funds to help pay for expensive projects
- Area News
-
-
A champion fair!
Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) Commissioner Julius Johnson recently presented awards to 56 of the state’s top county agricultural fairs. They were recognized with the Merit Award for outstanding achievement during the 2011 fair season. More than 950 people attended the Fairs Merit Awards recognition dinner at the 90th Annual Tennessee Association of Fairs (TAF) convention held January 19-21, in Nashville.
-
Test scores to be reflected in final grades
While student achievement and growth on test scores have begun being used to evaluate teacher performance and to score school districts on effectiveness, those scores have not been reflected on an individual student's report card. That will change with the 2012 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) test when state law will require schools to use those scores as part of a student's final grade.
-
Sneak peek at this year's hottest Super Bowl ads
The Super Bowl is a must-watch TV event, if not for the outcome of the biggest football game of the year, then at least for the multi-million dollar commercials that run throughout. And this year’s buzzworthy spots include celebrity appearances, homages to movies and lots of humor.
-
Counterfeiting draws two-year sentence
A Cumberland County man who was among several local residents charged by Crossville Police with being involved in counterfeiting schemes pleaded guilty last week in Criminal Court and received a two-year prison sentence.
-
Argument over pillows, ashtray, leads to stabbing
A Crossville man suffered a collapsed lung and a woman has been arrested on a felony charge in connection with an incident that took place last week in the city, according to reports.
-
Women charged in theft from employer scheme
Two women were arrested and stolen property recovered after a corporate loss prevention officer uncovered a theft scheme, according to Crossville Police reports.
-
SLIDESHOW: Super Bowl by the numbers
The nation's biggest sporting event produces some staggering statistics, from the number of chicken wings consumed -- 1.25 billion -- to the amount of money some people plan to bet on the game.
-
Special blood drive set today
The American Red Cross is reporting lower donations than expected since the start of 2012. O blood types are particularly low, but all blood types are needed.
-
Trio charged with cockfighting in the city
Three young Cumberland County men charged with fighting roosters said they were only sparring their birds, and not holding a cockfight. Doesn't matter, said Crossville Police, who took the trio into custody and formally charged them with what some call a sport now banned in Tennessee.
-
Residents say 'No Dump'
Residents of the Crab Orchard community told their city council members a landfill isn't welcome in their community at a public hearing last week. Others expressed concern that a landfill would not spur the type of development they envision for the small town east of Crossville.
- More Area News Headlines
-
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
