An old building downtown will soon be coming down.
The Smithville Aldermen Monday night voted to take advantage of a Neighborhood Stabilization Program through the Tennessee Housing Development Agency which provides funds to cities and counties wanting to demolish blighted properties.
Mayor Taft Hendrixson says the city owned building, located across the street from city hall on the north side, qualifies for the program.”I was approached by the Upper Cumberland Development District. They have some THDA funds, which in turn is HUD money for blighted areas and blighted buildings. I was approached about our white building over here. I took the liberty to make sure it (building) wasn’t on an Historical site and it’s not. It (building) was probably erected sometime in the 1920’s. The only thing we’re using that for is (storing) a bunch of old stuff that probably needs to be thrown away anyway. We also have in there trash cans for the Jamboree and there’s an impound lot over there (behind the building) for the seized vehicles. They will remove this building. I don’t know if they’ll pave it (property) but they will at least sow it down. The city cannot sell or lease it (property) for a period of time depending upon the (demolition) costs of the building. I’m assuming that the city would not want to sell it anyway. If we want to get rid of it (building) it’s a good deal for the city”
Once the building is removed, the property may be used for any city purpose, but under terms of the program, the property cannot be sold or leased for private purposes for a period of time, otherwise the city would have to refund all or a portion of the funds used to demolish the building..
In other business, the aldermen awarded the hay contract at the airport to V & V Farms for $551 per year for two years. V&V Farms will cut hay off the city property at the airport.
In other business, the owners of a small park, located across the street from the post office behind city hall are planning to put in sidewalks there and want the city to pour the concrete. Once the development is complete, the family plans to donate the park to the city. William Kooienga, speaking on behalf of the park owners, addressed the city council Monday night to make the formal request of the mayor and aldermen. “I’ve volunteered my time to design and develop the park for the Evins sisters (daughters of the late Joe L. Evins) and I would like to note that the plan is to donate that land to the city as soon as we get it presentable in a way that nothing else has to be done to it. We’re hoping to put a sidewalk in. We’re proposing a sidewalk (on the property) across the street from the post office and on the side (property) across from the fire hall which currently do not have sidewalks. There is a sidewalk by Highway 56 and a sidewalk on this street (Don Cantrell Way). We’ll put in the forms (for the sidewalks), do all the digging and soil moving if the city will just provide the concrete and pour it.’
The aldermen approved the request.
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