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The construction project on Thompson Creek Road was pushed forward by Morristown City Council in the form of a vote to approve a change order with Mitch Cox Construction in the amount of $945,365.75.

Council previously approved an easement agreement with a property owner along the road, allowing the process to move forward according to City Administrator Tony Cox.

Construction will pick up where the improved intersection is with Crockett Trace and move in the direction of Morris Boulevard to the property line of the tract owned by the city, the future new location of Morristown Fire Station No. 3 and a regional training facility.

“The length is about 1,000 feet,” Cox said. “This will allow us to pass the residences there and set up the final stage of project which will be construction of the fire station. It will allow us to grade both the road and the pad for the fire station at the same time. We think that that will be efficient. We’ve been working to get this project done for a long time.”

Council voted to approve the adoption of a Plan of Services for the annexation request of 2.5 acres located off of Morelock Road, bordering Spring Creek Apartments and 9.5 acres, located across the road that borders Blossom Springs subdivision. Morelock Road will not be a part of the annexation request, according to city planning staff. A medium density, R-2, zoning was requested by the owner. Morristown Utilities will provide electric and sanitary sewer services; Russellville-Whitesburg Utility District will provide water service. Construction of single family houses is anticipated, according to staff.

In a vote that followed, Council approved the annexation of the properties.

Council approved the amendment of the city’s Municipal Code to rezone Lots 1-12 in Block 7 and Lots 1-12 in Block 8 of the Hoyt addition – at East 13th North and Macarthur Streets – from light industrial (LI) to medium density residential (R-2). The request was made by both citizens and city staff, with staff indicating the original zoning from 1948 had become outdated. Housing is no longer a permittable usage under industrial districts, meaning the existing houses could not be rebuilt. Several houses have recently undergone renovation and new starter homes are being built nearby, on East Converse Street. The Morristown Regional Planning Commission approved the rezoning request during its March meeting.

Another rezoning request was also approved by Council – changing property on South Sugar Hollow Road from Light Industrial to Heavy Industrial, to accommodate the operation of new concrete plant. City planning staff recommended the rezoning, as similar land uses are located nearby. The MRPC approved the request during its March meeting.

“With all the construction going on, we can sure use a concrete plant,” Council Member Bob Garrett said, with other members concurring.

Universal Apartments at Thompson Creek, owned by Mitch Cox, received the go-ahead from Council to build 171 more multi-family apartments on property it owns across the road from its completed complex, by way of a vote to rezone the 10.5 acres from Intermediate Business (IB) to High Density Residential (R-3). Cox had originally planned to build storage units in addition to a smaller number of apartments on the property but changed his mind in early 2023.

As part of the Awarding of Bids/Contracts portion of Tuesday’s agenda, council approved purchase of 10 granite markers in an amount of $3,999 from The Country Club in Morristown. Discussion among council members and city administration included storing the markers at the Public Works facility until a plan is finalized as to how the markers will be used. The intention is to place them at local parks or public locations as historical markers in honor of notable citizens or institutions.

Council approved a second amendment to the Multi Modal Access Grant Contract with the State of Tennessee Department of Transportation for various sidewalk improvements along Highway 11E, from Hampton West Boulevard to Terrace Lane, extending the completion date of the project to Sept. 30, 2024.

Goodwyn Mills Cawood’s request to adjust its scope of services at the Morristown Regional Airport was approved by Council. The company will provide design and bid work on the taxi lane extension at the southwest end of the airport property to facilitate development there. The adjustment will result in an increased cost of $17,976.

Council authorized the procurement of Engineering Services from LDA Engineering for Storm water projects that need to be performed in FY23, not to exceed $40,000.00.

Council voted to acknowledge receipt of bids for Getac Notebook Computers and vehicle adapters for use by the Morristown Police Department, and accepted the bid from SOS Computers LLC (dba Technology Express) as the best and lowest bid; authorizing the one-time purchase of nine GETAC Computers and vehicle adapters totaling $19,910.07.