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BY NIC MILLER
STAR STAFF
nic.miller@elizabethton.com

The City of Elizabethton plans to purchase the former Summers-Taylor headquarters for up to $1.8 million, creating a new construction complex for the Water Resources Department.

Located behind T.A. Dugger on West Elk Avenue, the facility has been vacant since the contracting company moved its equipment to a Johnson City facility.

“The Water Resources Construction Division currently uses space at the City Garage on South Sycamore Street and at the Elizabethton Electric Department Complex on Hatcher Lane. The opportunity to purchase the former Summers-Taylor headquarters would provide adequate space, buildings, and accommodations for the department,” said Water Resources General Manager Jonathan Pleasant.

The proposal was approved unanimously by council members.

“That is a lot of land, and a lot of property that has been there for quite some time, so we would like to conduct a good, solid survey,” said City Manager Daniel Estes. “However, surveyors are being overworked just like everyone else right now, so closing would likely be next calendar year.”

The price for the property that the council approved sums up to a total of $1.8 million and includes 3.52 acres consisting of 10,700 square feet of office space, 10,900 square feet of warehouse space, 11,300 square feet for storage space, and 120,600 square feet of open space that can be used for parking.

During the meeting, the board also approved an ice skating rink for Covered Bridge Park Nov. 17 through Jan. 16, 2022.

“The ice skating rink will not be the only attraction in Covered Bridge Park over that six-week period,” said Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Director Mike Mains. “There will also be various activities taking place every week during that time for people to enjoy.”

The city also will host an outdoor concert from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 5 for Carson Peters, a senior at Elizabethton High School and contestant on NBC’s The Voice.