By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–With some residents of the Fairgrounds Rd/Royal Oak Rd. area continuing to ‘strongly’ reject the city of Paris’ plans for a sidewalk project, city officials are having to rethink the project and look at what options are available. In the meantime, the project is on hold while city officials work out a solution.
At Thursday night’s City Commission meeting, city officials began discussion of what options are now open for continuation of a sidewalk project for that area. City Manager Kim Foster said, “When we first applied for the grant, we thought, ‘Why would someone not want a sidewalk? That does tend to improve the value of property.”
At the October city commission meeting, Ron Davis, spokesman for the Fairgrounds Rd./Royal Oak Rd. group, presented a petition ‘strongly rejecting’ the city plan, stating it did not adequately address drainage issues in the neighborhood. He said the group isn’t against a new sidewalk per se. just the city’s plan.
Options facing the commission would include scaling back the scope of the project, but it is unclear at this point if TDOT would approve that. Another option would include condemnation of the properties, which would be time-consuming and costly. City Attorney James Smith said as public use, the properties would qualify for condemnation, but “it is expensive and it can drag on for many years.”
Foster said a scaled-back version of the plan could include improvements at the intersection of East Wood and Fairgrounds Rd. and/or installing new sidewalks on Fairgrounds Rd. alone, with no new sidewalks on Royal Oak.
City commissioners agreed that want to hear more information regarding costs if the project was scaled back.
Meanwhile, during the public input section of the meeting, Ann Jones of Nance Circle presented a petition opposing the Fairgrounds Rd. portion of the proposed project. Her petition contains 18 signatures.
But Nancy Geurin, who lives on Royal Oak, strongly endorsed the project. She said she walks every day and Royal Oak is a dangerous walkway. “I hope all of you add walkability to our neighborhood. It would add value to it.”
In other business, the commission:
–Accepted a donation of property from Dr. Mobley so that the city can complete the boardwalk project in Eiffel Tower Park 2. Attorney Smith noted that the city is continuing to work on the CDBG grant that would provide a boardwalk around the trout pond in Eiffel Tower Park 2.
In the process of surveying, it was determined that it encroaches on adjoining property and the owner, Dr. Mobley, was approached. Dr. Mobley offered to donated what is needed for the project and requested that the city donate to the Chris Mobley Charitable Trust, which was unanimously approved.
Photo: Ann Jones presents a petition to the city commission. Shannon McFarlin photo.