Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Buzz Trexler

Star Correspondent

An alternate route for this year’s Christmas parade, set for Saturday, Dec. 14, and plans for the Tetrick Community Center will be the focus of an upcoming Elizabethton City Council workshop.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has not yet determined whether Broad Street Bridge is safe for traffic and it remains closed. Earlier this month, TDOT had divers inspect a bridge pier believed to have been compromised by flood waters. The closure leaves only the Elk Avenue Bridge for city traffic crossing Doe River – a bridge normally closed as part of the Christmas parade route.

On Friday, Sept. 27, Tropical Storm Helene brought high winds and flooding to Northeast Tennessee and Western North Carolina, leaving 17 confirmed storm-related deaths in the state. There have been no confirmed storm-related deaths in Carter County, but there was widespread damage to utilities and city-owned properties – including Cat Island Park, the usual ending point of the holiday-themed parade.

City Councilman Mike Simerly informed Elizabethton City School Board members of the workshop during their regular meeting on Thursday because school bands traditionally take part in the parade. “It’s gonna be interesting to figure out how we’re going to do that,” he said. “We’re going to make it work.”

The workshop will also discuss plans for Tetrick Community Center, the purchase of which was approved nearly a year ago. 

On November 9, 2023, the City Council approved the purchase of The Tetrick Center (formerly known as the Franklin Fitness Center) from Ballad Health. The facility was evaluated, and capital projects were approved in the current fiscal budget to update the facility. The updates to the facility included replacing the roof. The city retained Thomas Weems Architect to complete the designed drawings and assist in issuing the request for proposal.

The city received four responses to the request for proposal and Davis Brothers Roofing Inc. of Church Hill was awarded the contract during the Oct. 10 City Council meeting. The shingled roof will cost $162,240. Funds for the project will come from the Parks and Recreation budget and a $250,000 donation from The Tetrick Family Foundation. In December 2023, the City Council passed a resolution accepting the gift “to help with the purchase of the Franklin Fitness Center or provide the funding needed for minor facility improvements.” In response, the city gave the Tetrick family exclusive naming rights.

The workshop will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28, in the city manager’s conference room at City Hall, 136 S. Sycamore St.