City Council is set to move forward… Look to purchase Summers-Taylor property

Published 8:24 pm Monday, December 6, 2021

Members of the Elizabethton City Council will hear the second reading of a proposal to spend $1.8 million to purchase the former Summers-Taylor property during Thursday’s meeting.

The property, located on West Elk Avenue, would become home to the city’s Water Resources Department.

“An additional $149,000 will be needed to cover necessary improvements and fees, which includes security and equipment needs for the warehouse relocation, set up of fiber internet connections with City Hall, closing costs, and surveying,” said Elizabethton City Finance Director Preston Cobb.

With these improvement costs added on, the total amount that was considered during last month’s meeting was $1,949 million. If the amendment goes through, it will give the water department more space to store equipment.

“The opportunity to purchase the former Summers-Taylor headquarters at Elk Avenue would provide adequate space, buildings, and accommodations to centralize the department’s construction operations and warehouse. While other locations have been investigated, no other property provides as much area and usable facilities,” Water Resources General Manager Jonathan Pleasant said at last month’s meeting.

The city’s recently acquired Downtown Improvement Grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development also will be discussed on Thursday.

The $150,000 grant is a 75%-25% reimbursable grant that would allow downtown business owners the chance to improve the exteriors of their buildings.

The City of Elizabethton was one of 41 downtown communities in the state to receive this grant in October, and leaders are awaiting the state contract to allow business owners to take advantage of this opportunity.

The amendment to be voted on during Thursday’s meeting will be to increase the city’s revenue and expenditures by $150,000, a number that would allow Elizabethton to be a pass-through agency for this state grant.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Elizabethton City Hall.