Corey Loftis
TDOT will begin the third phase of widening Apison Pike through Collegedale, around March 1. That is when construction signs will be first be erected, said Eric Sines, Collegedale’s director of public works. The first and second phases of improvements to the state highway have already been completed. Work on Phase three will be from Four Corners to the Collegedale Airport and will require building bridges. It is expected to take five years to complete the road.
During this time, TDOT will work with the schools along the road to minimize the impact of traffic. A website from TDOT will be available for the status of the work.
Another road project ready to begin, is making improvements to the intersection of Lee Highway and Edgmon Road. The contractor has been awarded the bid, and work should begin in March. It is expected to take 12-18 months to complete.
For the past 20 years, the Veteran’s Park Association has been providing flags for Veterans Park in Collegedale but is now finding it difficult to raise the money. The city, which owns the park, has been asked to help. City Manager Ted Rodgers told the commissioners that he could find the $3,000 that has been requested this year. They are customarily bought in bulk which saves about 20 percent of the cost. Flags are bought every three years an amount of $12,000. The commissioners agreed to provide $3,000 this year with the awareness that $4,000 will need to be budgeted for the flags yearly, in the future. Donations used for buying these flags are tax deductible, said Commissioner Phil Garver.
At the Monday night meeting, the commission also passed a resolution to update the city’s (OSHA), Occupational Safety and Health Program Plan.
Two citizens who own property on and near White Oak Mountain Circle in Collegedale appealed to the council for help with an on-going problem, and requested an update on where the matter stands. When a home was bought in June 2013, it was appraised. It was appraised again in December, 2019 which showed an increase of only $8,000 even though the owners had done significant remodeling. The appraiser said that the digging next door to the property is detrimental to the value of the house next door. The one- acre lot has been leased to a man who is excavating dirt to use as fill in other locations.
All the digging started before Collegedale annexed the property. The city is now trying to determine if excavation there was legal at that time. It is a non-conforming use according to the zoning, but may have been grandfathered-in. There is no permit for the work from the city, the state or the county now or in the past. There also is no erosion control at the site. An engineering plan is needed before an erosion control plan can be put in place according to state law. A stop order on the excavation has been in effect since November and the first of December.
At the Monday night meeting, Collegedale police officers Corey Loftis and Burlin Hayworth were both promoted by Chief Brian Hickman to patrol sergeant.
Burlin Hayworth