The new courts will be funded in a joint effort between Murfreesboro and Rutherford County, with the county agreeing to pay the $1.2 million projected cost and the city agreeing to cover long-term maintenance of the courts.

“Recreation is an important part of our quality of life and we realize tennis is a popular part of that. We believe the agreement we've entered into will prove to be in the best interests of everyone who loves and plays the sport,” Murfreesboro spokesman Chris Shofner said.

Bids to build 16 new outdoor tennis courts at Old Fort Park for county schools to use came in around $675,000 over budget, forcing the county to come up with a new plan for funding the project.

With a tight county budget in these lean economic times, the County Mayor Ernest Burgess proposed terminating the county’s lease on the Ag Center as of Jane 30, 2009, in exchange for the city picking up the additional funds.

The amendment to the original agreement requires the City to pay up to $600,000 for the cost of design and construction of the tennis courts, and in addition the City may spend up to $75,000 on restroom renovation or construction. Additionally, the Ag Center lease between the county and city shall terminate on June 30, 2009.

Burgess told the county’s Budget and Finance Committee he believed this was a reasonable value for the building.

The city actually owns the land the building sits on and granted the county a long-term lease to use the property until at least 2018, Shofner said.

The Budget and Finance committee passed the proposed amendment in a 6-1 vote with Commissioner Doug Shafer (Dist. 1) dissenting. The full Rutherford County Commission will vote on the amendment at its monthly meeting Thursday night.

Both the city and county passed resolutions in June approving an agreement. According to the contract, the county will fund and construct 16 outdoor tennis courts for Rutherford County Schools middle and high school tennis teams to use during the TSSAA tennis season. The city will control maintenance and scheduling of the courts.

County schools previously used the eight existing courts at Old Fort Park next to Kids’ Castle. However, the city “cannot continue to schedule these Old Fort courts for practice and match play for the middle schools and high schools due to the increase in public demand for courts,” the contract stated.

Public Hearings

- Rezoning and conditional-use permit request by Turner & Associates Realty, 2706 Lascassas Pike, to change existing zoning from residential and commercial to services for a clothing store department or discount store, drycleaners, grocery store, pharmacy, video rental, wholesale establishment, salon, restaurant and professional office space. Size of site is approximately 2.7 acres.

- Rezoning and conditional-use permit request by Andrew Wileczek, located on Franklin Road to change existing zoning from residential to industrial for a boat rental, sales or repair; business and communication service; garden and lawn supplies; general service and repair shop; glass – Auto, Plate and Window or Stained and Leaded; Iron Work; Janitorial Service; Keys, Locksmith; lawn, tree and garden service; sheet metal shop; warehousing, transporting, and wholesaling. Size of site is approximately 5.61 acres.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.