Sheriff Tyler Hatfield reported to Metro Council at April’s meeting regarding the needed jail renovations. The list includes roof, decking, and rafter repair, upgrading the kitchen and intake areas, and adding beds to the female housing area. The kitchen update will include moving walls and replacing residential appliances with industrial appliances. Upgrading the intake area will also involve moving walls.

After review and approval from the State Fire Marshall, bids were posted to several forums. Approval from the Tennessee Corrections Institute (TCI) is still pending, but expected soon. Hatfield held a meeting on April 3 for prospective builders. Only two attended, and of the two, only one sent in a bid, Lee Adcock Construction. Adcock’s bid came in at $1,225,512.

There are several reasons the price tag is that high. The roof leaks have been a longstanding problem, leading to the rafter and decking damage, as well as ceiling damage. The kitchen equipment is expensive, especially the range hood with fire suppression. As the jail is a secure facility, all construction equipment and materials have to be cleaned up and removed from the premises daily, adding to labor costs. Reconfiguring the kitchen and intake areas will involve moving walls.

Mayor Sloan Stewart offered two options for financing the project. It could be financed either by a 12-year capital outlay hold, or by a 20-year bond. He did not have any information of the cost of either option at the meeting. As a result, no action was taken on the project at this time.

In other business, Mayor Stweart advised the council that as the swimming pool equipment was being tested in advance of the pool season, the pump motor seized up. The motor is 25 years old, and that model is no longer available. Checking prices, he further advised that the price of a new pump and installation would fall between $10,000 and $15,000. There is no money in the budget at this time to pay for the project, so he asked that it be paid from capital funds.

Council member Greg Guinn asked how long it would take to recoup that money, and how much revenue the pool brough in every year. Stewart replied that the pool lost approximately $25,000 to $30,000 a year. However, the pool sees heavy use during season. Even though it operates at a loss, the council voted to approve the money, with Greg Guinn and Robert Bracewell voting “No.”

Shane Taylor requested the council approve adding two handicapped spaces on the square. The spaces would be located on the lower side of the square where there is already an improvised ramp, which used to be a loading dock for the old Co-op location. As it is presently marked with only a white line, cars very often park there. Taylor advised that he had stencils to mark the spot off for handicapped parking. He has already spoken with Highway Superintendent Shannon Cauble, who sees no problem with the project. The council voted in favor of the project.

The council approved on second reading the Atmos Energy franchise for natural gas distribution, adopting the Jackson Law which disallows commercial landfills in the county, and the data center moratorium.

The council further approved Chris Morton as the 911 Board Chair to replace Larry Hatfield, who has resigned. They voted to surplus a 2010 Explorer and an International bus. Terra Dawn Fisher and Marge Gammel were approved as Notary Publics.

Blocking the square, with the exception of Mechanic Street, was approved for Frontier Days and the Friends of Animals fundraiser Poker Run. 72 motorcycles attended last year’s event, and over 150 are expected this year for the all-day event in August. Sheriff Taylor still has the discretion to totally block the square if safety becomes an issue.