Lee Erwin reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – At their Thursday meeting the Clarksville City Council voted on first reading to annex 106 acres between the Red River, Passenger Creek and the Deertrail Subdivision in the Sango area. Much of the land will be used for a proposed new city park with the rest going to private development.
The council approved $340,000 for the purchase of the property last June and the second reading on the annexation ordinance is expected to take place at the council’s regular session in October.
The council also approved the designation of Pat Head Summit Legacy Park. Plans are for the park to be located in the north extension of the McGregor Park Riverwalk. The proposed park will honor legendary basketball coach Pat Head Summit.
Summit, who was born in Clarksville, is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history with 1,098 victories. Summit led the Tennessee Lady Vols team to eight NCAA National Championships. The park is being built through private donations and hopes are to have it open in just over two years.
The second reading on the proposed upgrading of street lights by the city was an issue at Thursday’s meeting. Councilwoman Kaye Jones was concerned about the council having more information about a capital projects budget of close to $1.2 million for installing more efficient street lighting.
Jones proposed an amendment that the vote be postponed indefinitely until more details could be made available. The proposal to delay action failed to pass and the measure was eventually approved by a 7-4 vote.
Also at the council meeting Mayor Kim McMillan and City Attorney Lance Baker talked to the council about filling the vacancy left by the resignation of Ward 1 City Councilman Nick Steward. Candidates applying for the council seat will have to be qualified and the post will be filled until the next city election by a majority vote of the entire city council.