Officials with the City of Ducktown, Tennessee, voted to revoke a resolution passed at a previous meeting that would see an $829,000 sidewalk installed from the city to a nearby trailhead. Officials renewed a BMX racing lease as well as discussed the light poles and the upcoming Christmas in Ducktown community event. Vacant seats on the Housing Board and the Planning Board were also filled.
Mayor Doug Collins and Commissioner Brad Miller voted to revoke Phase III of Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Grant, which would cost an estimated total of $829,000 to install a sidewalk connecting State Road 68 to a nearby trailhead. Ducktown’s portion of that figure would be 20 percent or $109,000 plus engineering costs.
Even though Phase I and II of the Main Street project are already underway, Collins and Miller decided the city could better spend the Phase III money on other needs.
Commissioner James Talley disagreed saying the city had already paid a lot on the overall project and had in effect agreed to the whole project. Talley argued that if the city refused the state funds now, they may have to pay for the sidewalk themselves, without the help of TDOT, in the future.
Collins said, “I don’t want to leave this place in financial disrepair over a sidewalk.”
Regarding the light poles along Main Street, which are not yet operational, commissioners confirmed there was one pole with a missing globe that was holding up the lights from being turned on. Talley said the cost of a new globe was about $300.
Christmas in Ducktown organizer Tweetsie Hickey and other volunteers voiced their concern over the ability to decorate the town with Christmas lights citing the single pole preventing them from doing so.
It was determined, however, that electric outlets had been installed on each light pole and that those could be used to power the Christmas decorations if some electric work could be done. The city agreed to contact an electrician to connect the power outlets in time to decorate for the Christmas season.
Hickey asked if the city had a Christmas fund and asked if the city would donate $1,000 to $1,500 to the Christmas in Ducktown event. Collins said the city did not have a Christmas fund, but the council voted unanimously to pay for 100 event t-shirts to be printed so the festive group could raise funds.
In other action, Brenda Proctor was named to one vacant seat on the Housing Board, and Jody Nicholson was named to fill the remaining seat on the Housing Board and the Planning Commission Board.
The Board voted to renew a BMX racing property lease with the city, the county and the Fourth Fractional Township.