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Committee approves purchase of 4.8 acres along Front Street to connect Ward School property using ARPA funds
Summary
The Trousdale County Budget and Finance Committee approved a resolution to buy 4.8 acres that will connect with the Ward School property to support a planned nature trail, using ARPA funds as the primary source; the vote passed with one opposing vote.
The Trousdale County Budget and Finance Committee on Aug. 18 approved a resolution to purchase a 4.8-acre parcel along Front Street that will connect to the county-owned Ward School property, with the county intending to use ARPA funds to pay for the acquisition.
Committee members reviewed maps and environmental work related to the parcel and discussed funding options. A committee member said the 4.8-acre parcel extends the Ward School tract toward Front Street and Broadway and that half the parcel is outside the flood plain. Committee materials and discussion indicated the parcel is being offered by Eric Wallace, who had been asking $70,000 for the 4.8 acres. Members noted the county is also receiving roughly 8.4 acres at no cost as part of a separate transfer; combining the parcels would yield about 13.2 acres and an average acquisition cost of roughly $5,300 per acre, as presented at the meeting.
Officials told the committee that phase 1 and phase 2 environmental work already completed for the Ward School property included 32 core drillings on the tinted parcel and that those drillings showed no contamination across the surveyed area. Members discussed grant opportunities to fund trail development and agreed that if the county used ARPA funds to purchase the land, that amount could be applied as match on later grant applications.
During funding discussion, staff outlined options including ARPA funds (account 127/128 as cited in packet), capital-project funds (account 171), or a general fund balance draw. Committee members said ARPA funds were an appropriate use for a nature-trail project intended for public use.
Mister Ford moved to approve the purchase and use ARPA funds; Mister Dennis seconded. The committee approved the resolution to purchase the 4.8 acres (Resolution 20 25 13 8 31) by voice vote; the chair recorded one opposed vote and declared the motion favorable.
Members also discussed logistics for trail access, parking near the Ward School property and the possibility that, if a nearby state parcel did not revert to county ownership, the trail could be routed to Front Street. Committee members who spoke urged careful attention to future upkeep and parking arrangements as the project moves toward implementation.
