CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Montgomery County commissioners met this week to discuss the proposed budget for fiscal year 2024, which includes $62.5 million in capital projects.
The county mentioned during their budget roundtable session that the requested funds would cover 21 projects. A large portion comes from four projects that would total $44 million on their own.
These include a new Animal Control Center, a new facility for the Highway Department, improvements to county schools and Charles Bell Road improvements. These four would be paid for with bond proceeds.
While these items are currently included in the budget, it still requires approval by the County Commission. Commissioners are expected to vote at the next regular session on June 12.
Animal Control Center
The Montgomery County Animal Control Center would be the most expensive project, which would cost the county around $15 million.
The property at 435 Jordan Road was purchased in 2018, with the intended purpose that it would be the home for the new branch library. However, the project was put on hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It wasn’t until the 2022 budget cycle that the County Commission decided it was time to move forward, but they were going to reduce the size of the library while adding an Animal Control center.
The county held a town hall meeting in April to discuss the layout and the preliminary designs. The timeline from breaking ground to completion is estimated at 16 months.
Highway Department facility
A new facility for the Highway Department is being proposed, and the total cost for the project would be around $13.5 million.
The Highway Department currently has a facility at 1213 Highway Drive. If they were to receive funds for a new building, the county would build the facility in the same area as its current location. The address could change at a later date.
Highway Supervisor Jeff Bryant told Clarksville Now there are many safety concerns and inefficiencies with the current facility that was built in the 1960’s.
Assistant Highway Supervisor Richard Teasley added they have outgrown the current structure. If the proposal passes, and they break ground this fall, the facility could be built in around 18 months.
CMCSS improvements
The Clarksville-Montgomery County School system is seeking around $8.5 million for 10 capital projects, which included the need for roof restorations at several schools to avoid “catastrophic failures” in the future.
Schools Chief Financial Officer Chris Reneau previously said a multitude of roofs are at the end of their 20- to 25-year lifespan, and bad weather has only worsened their condition. Roof renovations could buy another 20 years of extended life. The renovations involve repairs and replacement of some sections, to avoid full roof replacements.
CMCSS listed the following schools in need of work done: Kenwood High, Burt Elementary, Byrns Darden Elementary, Rossview High, Northeast High, New Providence Middle and Minglewood Elementary.
The following are the three additional capital projects CMCSS listed:
- Replacing the Kenwood High fire alarm system.
- Updating the electrical switchgear at Barksdale Elementary.
- Systemwide site construction.
Charles Bell Road improvements
The county looks to make improvements to Charles Bell Road at a cost around $7 million.
Bryant told Clarksville Now the road would be widened to three lanes during phase one, which would extend from International Boulevard to the LG Chem property. Then, phase two will be converting the two-lane section from 18 feet to 24 feet with shoulders on the sides.
According to the Highway Department, the last time Charles Bell Road was paved was in 2013. Between now and then, they have done repair work as needed.
Other major projects
The graphic below shows the rest of the capital projects on the agenda.
The projects labeled in blue would be paid for with bond proceeds, while the projects labeled in green would be paid for with tax rate funding.
Correction: this article has been updated with the correct year the current Highway Department facility was built.