August 1, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
The 25-year-old playground at Green Brook Park will undergo a facelift this fall.
During the regular monthly meeting Monday night, the Smithville Aldermen voted to award a bid to Stain and Seal Experts of Nashville to conduct a wood staining, sealing, and restoration of the existing wooden playground equipment, benches, and infrastructure of the park. The bid is for $45,867. The city had budgeted $48,000 for the project. The city will make any repairs or replacement of materials.
Mayor Josh Miller said the playground is long overdue for this refurbishment work. “Green Brook Park equipment has kind of been let go and I think this is a step in the right direction,” he said.
In other business, the aldermen hired C.J. Tramel as a mechanic to fill a vacancy at the pay rate of $25 per hour.
Mayor Miller presented a plaque to Alderman Brandon Cox whose term expires August 31. He chose not to seek re-election as alderman. Cox was elected in 2018 and is finishing his one and only term.
The plaque reads “With Deepest Gratitude We Honor Brandon Cox. Thank you for your dedication to the City of Smithville for the past 4 years. We appreciate your service. City of Smithville, September 1, 2018-September 1, 2022”.
In March the aldermen voted to proceed with the bidding process for an estimated $700,000 project to rehabilitate deteriorating sewer lines and manholes in certain parts of town including Earl Avenue, West Main Street, and Carter Street and to enter into a contract with the J.R. Wauford & Company Consulting Engineers to provide services related to it. The city’s share of American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) grant funds are to be used to help pay for the rehab effort however bids for the project have come in excess of the allotted amount of $700,000.
Mayor Miller said Monday night that three bids have been received including two bids which are for more than one million dollars each and the other is for just under one million dollars. The city may have to add another $200,000 toward the project to cover the costs. No action was taken Monday night, but a bid may be awarded at the next meeting.
The Mayor and Aldermen will have their September regular monthly meeting on Thursday, September 1 at 6 p.m. at city hall instead of Monday, September 12 as had been scheduled.