Board hears capital projects update; fairgrounds improvement fund nearly exhausted, infrastructure work moves into design and permitting

Capital projects staff told the board that the fairgrounds improvement project is essentially complete and that less than $5,000 remains in the allocation after recently paid invoices. Staff said Fair Park Phase 2 has seen limited movement and that most activity has shifted to infrastructure work, which is active in design, engineering, utility payments and third‑party testing; some construction activity on the lot is underway. Board members asked for a consolidated road map of upcoming projects—public and private—so members and the public can see the sequence of work. Staff agreed to provide a simple project roadmap in future packets. Staff also reported progress on contracting for a solar array, describing the arrangement under negotiation in which the energy services contractor would purchase the array’s production and the fairgrounds would receive revenue to offset utility costs. The board was told this procurement is the first of its kind for Metro and involves additional legal and contracting review. The executive director reported flood damage from April that affected greenway fencing, bollards and paving; staff said a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declaration for Davidson County covering April 2–24 is expected to yield approximately $30,000 to offset repair costs. No construction authorizations or new appropriations were approved at the meeting; the board directed staff to prepare a project roadmap and continue design and permitting coordination with Metro departments, including Metro Water Services. Staff will continue to bring project‑level budget updates as invoices clear and construction phases progress.