Rocky Top is spending $904,000 for upgrades to George Templin Field, including new bleachers, press box, and concessions stand, and restroom improvements. - G. Chambers Williams III
The Rocky Top City Council on Thursday night approved a $904,090 contract for improvements to the George Templin Field ballpark, which will include new bleachers, press box, and concessions stand, and some restroom upgrades.
First Place Finish, Inc., an Oak Ridge-based contractor, was the winning bidder for the project, for which the city has received a state recreation grant of up to $566,000.
The city must match the amount of grant funding dollar for dollar, and will do so using a U.S. Department of Agriculture low-interest loan.
Besides the new bleachers, with about 400 seats, concessions stand and press box, the city also will use part of the grant to rebuild a walking trail around the park, and install a new chain-link fence around the athletic field.
City Manager Mike Ellis has said the seating area and other facilities, including restrooms, at the ballfield need upgrades that would make them compliant with standards mandated by the federal Americans With Disabilities Act.
Clinton is still waiting for one piece of equipment needed for the new traffic signal light at the intersection of Mariner Point and Oak Ridge Highway (State Route 61).
“Most of the work is done,” City Manager Roger Houck said. “We’re just waiting on the control kit.” He told The Courier News that it should arrive March 1.
In the meantime, the city has already put up the mast arm for the future light. Houck announced this development at the City Council’s Dec. 19 meeting.
Houck said he was looking forward to the new light being ready to help with safety, specifically with people coming to and from the nearby Anderson County Senior Center at 96 Mariner Point.
Parking
The City Council approved giving Houck and the city attorney permission to update a parking agreement with Memorial United Methodist Church, working with that church’s trustees.
The new agreement will allow the both the public and the church to use additional parking at the lot between North Hicks Street and Lamar Avenue that isn’t part of the city’s 1961 agreement. Houck said this would help with special events downtown.
Mayor Scott Burton abstained, saying he did so to avoid conflict of interest because he attends that church.
It passed unanimously otherwise, although Matt Foster and Brian Hatmaker were absent.
CUB
Also at the Dec. 19 meeting, the Clinton City Council members present unanimously approved an agreement to accept $1.5 million from Clinton Utilities Board, based on the state of Tennessee’s requirements for electric utilities sharing revenue with their municipalities.
The Anderson County Commission has approved a nearly $5.8 million contract with the lowest bidder, Place Services, for a new animal shelter building.
The contract, approved 10-5 on Dec. 15, states that the building will be 14,000 square feet.
It will be at Carden Farm Park in South Clinton, and will replace the current outdated facility on Blockhouse Valley Road. The contract totals $5,797,512, and Place Services plans to work on grading, sitework, utilities and construction.
Carden Farm Park site was given to the county by the city of Clinton, specifically for the new shelter.
County Mayor Terry Frank said the commission had earlier authorized a bond ceiling of $5.9 million for the USDA loan-funded project.
Given the construction and other costs, the county will be left with $102,488 from the USDA loan for the shelter’s equipment. The contract also states that the project should take a full year to complete from the start of work.
While the commission had already approved the bid at meeting in November, Frank told The Courier News this vote involved the specific contract and its language.
From programs to help students caught vaping, to art projects, Anderson County Schools are working to help prevent vape use among the youth.
Wendy Maness, youth prevention coordinator for Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, addressed the county Board of Education at its Dec. 11 regular meeting.
Students after a first vaping violation in the school system go to the Coping Conversations program, which she said keeps them out of Juvenile Court.
She said 75 students across Anderson County and Oak Ridge had attended Coping Conversations.
She also spoke about No Vape November, in which four students at Clinton Middle School won a poster contest.
The Board of Education approved an easement for the city of Norris to build a sidewalk that might extend 15 feet onto Norris Middle School’s property.
The measure passed unanimously at the Monday, Nov. 10 meeting. The resolution stated the sidewalk will improve pedestrian access and safety near the school.
Norris City Manager Bailey Whited told The Courier News the city was requesting the easement to allow for the option to build onto school property, not because the city knew the precise route or time of construction yet.
“We are looking at different ways of handling and addressing the needs down there,” he said. However, he said that there is no formal plan yet and no dates for construction.
Whited said the existing sidewalk is “one of the most heavily traversed” areas in town by students, residents and non-residents alike. He said however, the current sidewalk abuts some “very mature trees.” An improved “proper” sidewalk he said might damage those trees, so a new one, possibly closer to the middle school would be a better option to avoid cutting them down.
