CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett and Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts spoke to a packed Wilma Rudolph Event Center Tuesday for the annual Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce, Mayor’s Power Breakfast.
Around 525 community leaders and citizens attended the event as the two city and county leaders updated them about important community projects and future endeavors in the Clarksville-Montgomery County community.
The collaboration and cooperation between city and county governments seemed to flow as a theme as the two mayors emphasized how working together benefits the thriving and growing community.
Mayor Durrett spoke about being proud of the Multi-Purpose Event Center, the extensive job research in the county and a new pay plan proposal to cover short staffing in public safety.
The county made history by signing the first government service agreement with Fort Campbell through the Montgomery County Animal Care & Control which makes money for the county and saves the Army money, Durrett said.
Durrett highlighted the opening of the state-of-the-art ADA compliant playground at Civitan Park where disabled children and adults can enjoy sports and other activities.
For 2020, Durrett talked about the opening of the Wade Bourne Nature Center at Rotary Park, the Fredonia School Community Center, a new public safety training facility, and plans for the opening of a new park at the Eastland Green Golf Course.
Plans for funding a new middle school and high schools to address the growing population was also one of Durrett’s topics. He mentioned plans for funding a new library in north Clarksville and a new Animal Care & Control building.
Mayor Pitts began his address by saying the city is developing a 2020 Transportation Traffic plan, to tackle the city’s most pressing roadway issues and transportation projects. The plan will also highlight projects involved with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).
Prioritizing new thoroughfares and emphasizing sidewalks around schools and heavily traveled pedestrian areas along with crossing walks and signals are goals of the plan. The plan will include Clarksville Transit System buses working seamlessly and safely in the community.
Planning is underway for the Northeast Connector which will connect Ted Crozier Blvd., Wilma Rudolph Blvd., and Trenton Road. Pitts said the city is committed to addressing the number one issue in the number one community in this country, and that is traffic.
Pitts talked about the panned Rossview Athletic Complex at Exit 8 which will include multi-purpose athletic fields and soccer fields. An inclusive handicapped playground is also planned for the complex. The expansion of the Clarksville Greenway was also highlighted by the mayor.
The mayor said there are projections indicating 90,000 more residents in the next 20 years which means the need for more public safety personnel and the addition of a new police precinct in the Exit 8 area with construction beginning Fall 2020.
Pitts said he shares the excitement for the proposed Multi-Purpose Event Center downtown, and thanked Mayor Durrett and the Montgomery County Commission saying it will be a great facility.
A project design and funding plan is expected to be put in place this year for a new facility for the Roxy Regional Theatre and performing arts center. Pitts added that he is committed to preserving the Roxy not only as an institution but as a building.
A site has been identified for a new location for the Clarksville Transit System and the downtown transit center, but the mayor said they will begin the process by working with the federal government in the future.
Improving the infrastructure of the Vulcan property on College St. and working with the future owners, was also addressed. For the Frosty Morn site on Kraft St., which the mayor called a blight, the city council has appropriated funds to demolish part of that building with a portion of it having potential for redevelopment.
Both leaders encouraged attendees to support the upcoming 2020 Census, by filling out their census form that benefits everyone in the city and county.