FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. — City staff told the Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Jan. 9 that a state ADA representative conducted a site visit focused on the Market Street block and will issue a written report, and the city will hold off on a planned loading/unloading zone while it considers adding accessible parking.

Jack Williams, director of parks and recreation, said the ADA representative “walked the whole project” and that the site visit was triggered by a complaint about Market Street. “She said she was impressed that we had already taken some steps already to correcting some things,” Williams said.

City officials said many of the items cited relate to long-standing conditions that predate the current construction and that the city has a multiyear plan to address them. Williams said the city is under “a 5 year plan to correct some of these things” and that the inspector’s report will identify what must be completed and any timelines.

Nut graf: The inspector’s visit focused narrowly on Market Street after a complaint; city staff emphasized they are cooperating and will use the inspector’s written findings to shape immediate fixes and possible parking changes, rather than proceeding with new loading-zone designs already discussed in committee.

In the work session, officials described steps already taken and next steps. Williams said the city had met with the inspector and expects to receive her final report soon. “She’s gonna give us her final report. I think I think we’re in good standing,” Williams said. Because the inspector suggested accessible parking could be appropriate on the Market Street side, the city will pause the earlier plan to create loading and unloading zones there and instead direct its engineering consultant, Croy, to prepare designs that include handicap parking by code.

Officials told board members the inspector’s review covered only the Market Street block — not the whole project — and that some of the flagged items stem from older work. Williams said the project area remains a construction zone and that several infrastructure pieces remain unfinished.

City staff also said the inspector described the enforcement approach they expect: the city may be required to complete specific corrections within a timeline; staff said they would receive guidance in the written report and then produce an action plan. “We would be given…you got a year or…” Williams said when discussing typical remediation timelines, adding that the inspector had been cooperative and productive during meetings.

Ending: Staff told the board they will wait for the inspector’s letter before committing to design or budget changes and that the city plans to present the inspector’s findings and a proposed schedule of fixes at a future meeting.