One of the key topics of discussion before the passage of the 2018-19 fiscal year budget by Elizabethton officials was the distribution of bond proceeds for projects in the community.

Eyed as a way to help improve the community experience, City Council will vote to allocate a portion of the $300,000-plus that was allocated to the Elizabethton Golf Course for a beautification project.

According to information provided by City Hall, Council will vote to withdraw $9,985 from the $300,000-plus for EGC to go toward capital improvements.

The invoice provided by Honey Do Landscaping includes a variety of improvements at the facility, including the removal of existing shrubs with roots, the excavation of the course’s spillway and the planting of various plants to the course to add an extra bit of allure for patrons.

Elizabethton recently voted to enter into a contract with Hampton Golf Course Management, based out of Jacksonville, Fla., to handle operations at the facility. Feedback from the community has been positive since the management change, according to Council members, and ability to bulk up resources in the community goes along with the city’s mission of providing recreational opportunities for residents, along with safety.

That played a key part in the Council’s decision to have bond proceeds moved to different areas for this fiscal year. Bonnie Kate Theater has over $150,000 allocated of bond proceeds to work with for improvements. An additional $203,208 is slated to go for work at Covered Bridge Park while $254,010 has been set aside for development of a sports complex near Cherokee Park Drive.

In regards to the sports complex, the July monthly report from Elizabethton Parks & Rec indicates staff has received schematic design concepts and cost estimates involved with the project and that “further discussion will take place in coming days.”

Providing a helping hand to emergency personnel was also a focus for the bond proceeds. Elizabethton Police Department is receiving $1,016,026 to help with the expansion into the Ritchie’s warehouse building. The Elizabethton Fire Department is also receiving a little over $250,000 for improvements to their facility.

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Other items that will be discussed during Thursday’s meeting include:

• The approval of various community events, including the Parrots & Tails IV fundraiser to help with the costs of projects at the Elizabethton/Carter County Animal Shelter. A back-to-school block party at Douglas Park and third Downtown Art Walk are also on the docket for approval.

• An agreement will also be brought before Council in regards to improvements to the signal at US 19E and Broad Street. In a report issued by City Planning and Economic Development Director Jon Hartman, “the signal at this intersection has been slowly sagging over the last five years causing the signal to fall below the minimum 14-foot height clearance and damage the signal from taller vehicles. The cost of the project, $660,000, will be covered through grant funding at no cost to the city with TDOT performing the project.