MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer
Posted: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 12:22 pm

Rutherford County is set to receive more than $400,000 from the Federal ad Tennessee Emergency Management Agencies for clean up in the aftermath of the Good Friday Tornado.

The county commission will hear a resolution to accept the state and federal aid for the EF-4 tornado that tore a 23-mile path through Rutherford County, caused more than $42 million in damage and two deaths Friday, April 10.

The federal government will pick up 75 percent, or $357,281.94, of the cost, the state 12.5 percent, or $59,546.99, and the county the remaining $60,000.

In July, Murfreesboro received word it qualified for more than $4 million in state and federal aid for the clean-up efforts.

In the days following the tornado, city and county departments, along with 15 private contractors, removed more than 21 million pounds of debris from the tornado’s path. That total doesn’t count what individual volunteers removed from damaged homes and businesses.

Two weeks after the tornado, Gov. Phil Bredesen asked FEMA to declare Rutherford County and Murfreesboro a disaster area, making them eligible for federal funds.

• The board of commissioners will also consider TDOT’s plans to give New Salem Pike a facelift beginning in mid-2010.

In June Murfreesboro City Council unanimously approved TDOT’s plans to widen New Salem Pike (SR 99) from Old Fort Parkway to Cason Lane, as part of a larger project that will see an improved road to Veteran’s Parkway.

The new New Salem Pike will be a five-lane road with 12-foot shoulders, curbs and gutters. Construction should begin in mid-2010.

City Traffic Director Dana Richardson said the wide shoulders can be used as a bike lane and, when paired with the recently opened River Rock Boulevard and future plans for the greenway, the road will complete the new multi-use approach the city is taking to transportation.

The city provided TDOT $2 million, but 80 percent of the funds were from the federal government, with TDOT funding the remaining balance on the project. This means the city will only pay $360,000 out of pocket for the new road, Richardson said.

The commission will also:
• Hold elections for the Steering Committee and tentatively elect the Commission Chairman, who is currently County Mayor Ernest Burgess.

• Hear a resolution authorizing the county mayor to execute a grant contract with the Tennessee Historical Commission and related budget amendment.

• Hear a resolution authorizing a self-funded vision program with the administration to be through CIGNA.

• Hear a resolution authorizing the county mayor to execute a grant contract with the
Tennessee Department of Health for local health services

Public Hearings
• Rezoning and conditional-use permit request from Bruce Barrett located at 9330
Franklin Road to change the existing zoning from residential to services for an upholstery shop and motorcycle sales.

• Rezoning and conditional-use permit request from Kayla Rushing located at 8999
Almaville Road to change the existing zoning from residential to transportation for a Trucking Firm.

• Rezoning and conditional-use permit request from Coy Young located at 7692 Barlow
Lane to change the existing zoning from residential to agricultural services for a tack and feed store and insurance office.