City explores acquiring portion of Red Bank United Methodist property to extend Stringer's Branch restoration

Director Sloane told the commission the city has discussed acquiring a portion of the Red Bank United Methodist Church property adjacent to Red Bank City Park to enable future extensions of a planned Stringer's Branch restoration funded by a Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) grant. “With most state grants, conditions of award are limited to public owned properties, so yes, the project will have a designated ending point at that property line,” Sloane said, explaining why ownership matters for future grant eligibility. The nut graf: Staff sought the commission’s authorization to begin a due-diligence process (surveys, market valuations, and engineering evaluations) to determine whether acquiring a subdivided portion of the church parcel would be feasible and to position the city for subsequent grant-funded restoration phases. Sloane said the presentation and map were illustrative, not a survey, and that conversations with church representatives have been ongoing. Staff proposed a 25-foot buffer from buildings and driveways as a conceptual footprint for potential acquisition and said that ownership is the “deal breaker” for extending grant-funded restoration. She said a surveyor will likely be the first and most significant expense if the commission authorizes moving forward. Commission discussion covered ownership, timeline, signage and visual continuity, and the possibility of partnering with Hamilton County Water Quality or using joint applications in future grant rounds. A commissioner noted that many in the public already assume the city owns the parcel because there is no visible boundary between the city park and the church property; Director Sloane and other staff said the current TDEC-funded restoration will stop at the property line unless the city acquires additional land. Ending: Commissioners expressed general support and did not register substantial opposition. No formal vote was recorded; staff will proceed with due diligence if the commission maintains consensus and will post information to the city website as the process progresses.