The Tennessee Department of Transportation is funding 100 percent of the construction cost and 50 percent of property acquisition under the State Industrial Access road program.
City and county governments are paying for the remaining half of right of way acquisition before the state proceeds to widen Benton Pike (between APD 40 and Michigan Avenue Road) to three lanes and to widen the two lanes and shoulders of Durkee Road between Benton Pike and U.S. Highway 64.
City Manager Janice Casteel said Monday during the Council work session that she had prepared a response to a letter dated Dec. 6 from Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis.
In the correspondence, Davis stated the Commission approved funding 50 percent of the construction cost if the city approved funding the remaining 50 percent.
Casteel said based on a resolution passed by the Council on Oct. 10, the city is willing to pay 50 percent of the local share for the portion within the city.
She said the city’s share is an estimated $336,781 and the county’s share is about $1.6 million.
The city manager said that is the fairest way to divide the costs. If the county pays using property tax, she said city residents pay 55 percent of every dollar the county spends. City residents are also paying 100 percent of every dollar the city pays.
Councilman David May said, “In other words, 55 percent of all the property tax is collected inside the city limits.”
“Out of the first $2, it’s $1.55 from the city,” she said. “I feel like that’s as fair as we can be.”
Mayor Tom Rowland said the city attempted to annex East Cleveland, which would have included Benton Pike and Durkee Road. He said annexing the area would have shifted more responsibility to the city, but that move was opposed by several residents.
In other business related to transportation, the Council approved Resolution 2011-111 to accept a proposal from TDOT for the project identified as Interstate 75 Interchange at Pleasant Grove Road/SR 311 (North LIC). Under the terms of the proposal, the state will provide half of the funds for the project up to a maximum of $2 million with the city and county each contributing $1 million each for the project.
The purpose of LIC North is to gain I-75 access to the northeast quadrant of Exit 20. It is a companion project to the South LIC, which is needed to connect the proposed Spring Branch Industrial Park to APD 40 and Interstate 75.
During the regular meeting, the Council approved a consulting contract for the city’s Comprehensive Plan. At the Oct. 24 Council meeting, a resolution was approved to authorize the mayor to negotiate a contract with the most responsive consultant team for performing the comprehensive plan. McBride Dale Clarion was rated as the most responsive team and a contract has been signed by the mayor authorizing this work to begin.
