By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–It was a busy afternoon and evening for the Paris City Commission, which conducted back-to-back sessions: the commission meeting itself, preceded by a meeting to discuss the ongoing overhaul of the city’s zoning ordinances.
The commission approved the bid for the 2020 Multimodal Grant for the downtown pedestrian project and approved making a request to TDOT for more funds for the project.
City Manager Kim Foster explained that bids were opened December 10 for the project and there was only one bidder, Martin Paving, with a bid of $1,338,687. The amount exceeds the current construction budget of $1,060,558 by $278,129. Since the bid exceeds the budget, she said, additional funds covering the amount of the overage must be approved if the commission is to move forward with the project.
Staff will be requesting TDOT allow additional funds based on the rapidly rising construction costs and the “extraordinary length of time it has taken to get to this point. Thus far, TDOT has been very generous in granting additional funds for these types of projects”, she said.
In other cases, TDOT has approved additional funds, so it is anticipated that TDOT will approve this request. “It will never be cheaper than today,” she said.
The project calls for one intersection done at a time.
Paris Fire Chief Jamie Hinson said work has begun at the new Fire Station at 1555 Tyson Ave. Over the next year, the public will start seeing the project take shape. Groundbreaking was held in December. Barger Construction is pricing items to offset some additional costs incurred in the underground drainage system.
The current completion date is set for March 6, 2027.
Foster said the fire department is seriously understaffed and plans will need to be made to hire more firefighters.
Foster said TLM and the city have conducted design development review eetings for echanical electrical, plumbing, site and landscaping for the new Municipal Building on North Caldwell St.
The Rison Street Bridge replacement project “will move quickly once it starts”, with Ford Construction approved as the contractor. A pre-construction and utility coordination meeting will be held in February.
The commission approved the second and final reading of the temporary moratorium on the establishment of new portable building sales, as well as the second and final reading of the rezoning request for property located on Lone Oak, Cornerstone and East Blythe. The request involves six parcels and all requested to be rezoned for residential use. The planning commission had recommended it.
In other business:
–The commission approved utilizing a construction cost estimating service. She recommended Eykonic from Collierville, after TLM found that their quote at $6,000 was much lower than the previous quote from another agency for $35,000.
–The Citizens Academy will begin its next six-week session March 23. Applications are now being accepted.
–Commissioner Sam Tharpe recognized the recent passing of Contractor Wyatt Owens, who he said “did a lot for Paris” and its growth.
–Prior to the commission meeting, a session was held with Planning Consultant Kelley Klepper on the overhaul of the city’s zoning ordinances. Klepper works for Kimley-Horn is spearheading the rewrite. A kickoff meeting was held with the city commission and planning commission members.
Photo: Numerous interested citizens were in attendance at the meeting. Shannon McFarlin photo.