Clinton OKs paving, renovation projects
The city of Clinton hasapproved spending big money for numerous projects around the city.
On Monday (July 31), the City Council meeting included the awarding of $2.062 million in contracts for improvements to city property and for street paving.
J.D. Yarnell Industrial Parkway will be paved at a cost of $822,398, contingent upon 50-percent payment by the Anderson County Commission. A contract of $340,189 was awarded for the paving of Mariner Point Drive.
The police station will receive $215,500 in renovations.
The training tower at Fire Station No. 1 will be demolished and rebuilt for a cost of $309,000.
A drive-through bay will be constructed at Fire Station No. 2 at a cost of $375,100.
City Manager Roger Houck later told The Courier News that this was probably the largest amount of money awarded at one time for contracts since before COVID.
Houck said that he would be soon be advertising for bids for the splash pad at Jaycees Park, and that by the second week in September the City Council should be approving bids for the facility.
He also informed the council that the city has received a grant of $225,000 from the state to provide school resource officers at the city’s elementary schools.
Councilman Larry Gann reported that the July 10 meeting of the zoning and appeals board discussed, but took no action on, a request from property owner Kim Bassinger to operate a hemp growing facility on property zoned B2 General Business District at 980 Sinking Springs Road.
He said there was some discussion of allowing such a facility in M1 Light Industrial District zoning.
Gann said the planning board, meeting on that same night, had a lively meeting discussing a request from John and Kim Mowery to allow 75 RV lots at Franks Mobile Home Park on Oak Ridge Highway.
He said a large number of citizens expressed disapproval of the proposal. No action was taken, however the board discussed placing a moratorium on RV and mobile home parks since the city ordinance is out of date.
Katherine Birkbeck, program director of Historic Downtown Clinton, informed the council that about 60 new banners with historical photographs would be going up downtown in early September.
She said that new historical markers would be added to the city walking tour for an eventual total of 36.
Birkbeck also gave a recap of how her organization spent its promotional budget for the recently ended fiscal year. Council members were shown an artist’s rendering of the art installation proposed for downtown.
In budget matters, the council passed, without comment on second reading, an ordinance that would zero out the 2022-23 budget.
Council members also accepted the City of Clinton Emergency District budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year.
Chris Phillips, the city’s finance manager, said the 2022-23 fiscal year was 100-percent completed, with the city receiving 128-percent of budgeted revenue, while expenditures were at 108-percent of the budgeted amount, leaving a positive impact on the city’s fund balance.
He said that sales tax collections for June were 8-percent above those of June 2022.
Mayor Scott Burton announced that Clinton schools will be starting Thursday.
He urged motorists to be mindful of school children, and wished the students a successful school year.
No one spoke during the time set aside for comments from citizens.