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Murfreesboro City Council approves contract for Mercury Boulevard sidewalk project





LaLance

LaLance

The Murfreesboro City Council approved a construction contract to begin work on the Mercury Boulevard Sidewalk Project and agreed to match funds for the Discovery School’s asphalt track.

City Engineer Chris Griffith presented the updates on bids, engineering services and construction materials for the sidewalk project at last Thursday’s meeting.

The low bidder for the project is Charles Deweese Construction of Franklin, Ky., for $1,100,292, according to Griffith. TDOT also awarded some money, which city engineers estimate to be just over $1.3 million.

“The city has been obligated a total of $1,144,898 in federal grants, which we’re participating in a 20 percent match,” said Griffith, “The local city match is $286,224.”

The city has also received an amendment to receive over $100,000 in remaining federal funds.

City Mayor Shane McFarland recognized Murfreesboro resident Richard “Dick” Baines for his attention to the project.

“For those who are out there, who don’t think a good idea can come to the city council and it get followed through, this is solely because of the resident,” said McFarland.

Council member Rick LaLance also proposed the idea of the city matching funds for the construction of the Discovery School’s 440-yard asphalt track.

The proposal for the track was previously discussed at the virtual March 23 meeting of the Murfreesboro City School Board.

The school had raised $41,200 for the installation of the track.

“It’s no cost to the city,” said Duke, “It’s all raised at the school level.”

“I always like the idea that if they’re going to put some skin in the game that we have some skin in the game,” said LaLance regarding parents at the school willingness to “step up” and fully-fund the project on their own.

Councilman Ronnie Martin backed the idea, saying that it was a “reasonable” decision for the city to make.

City Manager Craig Tindall said the council consider using funding the school’s track with grant money that the city has received that would qualify for this improvement.

LaLance went on to say that he couldn’t recall a time in the last several years where the school board has brought a project to council that was already fully-funded.

The council voted in favor of covering half of the track’s cost.

“I suspect they’ll have some really good ways to use that money for education,” said LaLance.

The council also recognized Blackman High School girls basketball coach Jennifer Grandstaff and her team for winning the Class AAA state championship last month.

McFarland also recognized the city’s emergency telecommunicators and presented Seth Russel, manager and director of the city’s Emergency Communication Center, and Elizabeth Stubblefield, who received the “Telecommunicator of the Year” award, with a proclamation for their service.

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