by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the June 26 meeting the Monteagle Town Council approved moving forward with sewer rehabilitation work funded by $1.67 million in grants. The council also voted to move forward with a million-dollar Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) grant for extending the Mountain Goat Trail in Monteagle and voted to apply for a second million-dollar TDOT grant to complete the trail connection through the town.

The sewer rehabilitation work to stop inflow and infiltration (I&I) of groundwater into the sanitary sewer will be funded by America Rescue Plan and Appalachian Regional System grants and will cost the town “zero,” said Monteagle engineer Travis Wilson. “Specialty contractors” will repair sewer pipe flaws with cured-in-place pipe installation. The trenchless CIPP process cost $65-$70 per foot compared to $250 per foot to dig up the lines for repair, T. Wilson noted. He estimated the project would take a year and hoped as much as possible could be done before winter when I&I increased. I&I increases sewer plant treatment costs. The grant funds would not be sufficient to fix all the flaws, T. Wilson acknowledged. Alderman Dan Sargent praised the groundwork done to identify the flaws and acquire the grants. “I appreciate all the efforts.”

The town also approved $105,000 for sandblasting and painting the water tank near Dubose Conference Center so the bidding process could proceed. The similar rehab work on the tank at the fire department “was complete,” T. Wilson said. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) required maintenance on both tanks.
T. Wilson speculated the maintenance on the second tank would cost less as there were “fewer structural issues.” T. Wilson anticipates the maintenance will be complete before the end of the year, within the timeline set by TDEC.

The million-dollar TDOT grant applied for in 2019 by the Mountain Goat Trail Alliance will complete the portion of the trail from Katherine Avenue to Assembly Avenue, said Alderman Nate Wilson. The grant requires a 5 percent ($50,000) match from the town; the MGTA raised the money to pay the match and will reimburse the town for the expense. The council approved the funding mechanism so the project could proceed. The council also approved a $76,560 contract with St. John Engineering for designing the trail section. St. John Engineering previously designed the section from Dubose Conference Center to Tracy City. The contract with St. John does not include construction, cost yet to be determined. The new I-24 bridge project will incorporate the trail from its current termination at Dollar General to Katherine Avenue. N. Wilson said TDOT might pay part of the construction cost of the Katherine Ave. to Assembly Ave. section in conjunction with the bridge project.

The second million-dollar TDOT grant the council will apply for stipulates the same funding provisions, with the town required to pay 5 percent and the MGTA reimbursing the town for the expense. If received, the funding will complete the trail from Assembly Avenue to DuBose Conference Center.

Updating the council and community on the town planning process to be facilitated by Community by Design, a cost-free program offered by the American Institute of Architects, N. Wilson said the application was ready to be submitted. He also noted the town received a $10,000 Lyndhurst Foundation grant to support acquiring input from community stakeholders in the planning process.

The council approved the 2023-2024 budget on the second reading with Alderwoman Dorraine Parmley again voting, “No.” At the May 30 council meeting and again at the June 26 meeting Parmley questioned the decision not to give employees raises.

The Monteagle July 4 parade begins at 10 a.m. Line up is at 9 a.m. at Cumberland Monuments and the Depot Café. The parade ends at DuBose.