Walkway approved at industrial park Posted: Thursday, June 3, 2010 7:40 am
By: Emily Williams, Messenger Intern By EMILY WILLIAMS
Messenger Intern
The Union City Council voted to begin work on Project Pedestrian Walkway at Tuesday night’s meeting at the Union City Municipal Building.
The project will use federal grant money to build the first phase of a three-phase project at the industrial park, which would include the walking track, pavilion, restrooms and parking lot. The industrial park is located at the intersection of Jordan Highway and Everett Boulevard and includes a large pond.
The vote carried 5-1, with councilman Bill “Rat” Harrison opposing the measure because he said there were “lots of unknowns in this thing.”
The primary unknown to which he was referring is the future funding for the other phases of the project the grant does not cover, which would include a fishing pier and lighting.
The city had already spent $37,000 in engineering fees and will pay a balance of about $88,000.
In other business, the council:
• Approved the second and final reading of an ordinance that provides for automated traffic signal and speed limit enforcement systems. It passed 5-1, with Mayor Terry Hailey casting the lone “no” vote.
• Unanimously approved a second and final reading of an ordinance amendment to increase speed limits in school zones on Reelfoot Avenue from 15 miles per hour to 25 mph.
• Awarded a bid to People’s Sports Court to repair the tennis courts at the Union City Middle School for a total of $16,800.
• Awarded a bid to Preferred Sand Blasting & Painting in Shelbyville for painting and repair of an elevated water tank repair at Industrial Park. The council had budgeted $250,000 but the bid awarded, the lowest of five, went for $275,000. The mayor said there really was no option because the repair was needed. The vote passed unanimously.
• Unanimously approved an audit contract with Alexander Thomas Arnold for $20,500.
• Voted unanimously to reschedule the council meeting set for June 15 to June 22.
• Awarded a bid to Dennis Scarborough for $1,250 for demolition of the property at 1310 Mercer St.
• Learned there are no new nominations to fill the seat on the planning committee.
• Heard a grievance from local resident Jim Doss regarding the appropriate amount of time to have limbs picked up. Hailey said if it continued to be a problem to call him and he would contact those responsible for the duty.
Editor’s Note: Emily Williams, the daughter of Roger and Juli Williams, is a senior at Rhodes College in Memphis. She is interning at The Messenger this summer.
Published in The Messenger 6.2.10 | 
