Brentwood: Ragsdale Road lane closure set; Old Smyrna Road public meeting scheduled; new finance director introduced

The city manager updated the Brentwood Board of Commissioners on several public works and community events, including a temporary traffic change, an upcoming public meeting on roadway improvements and a countywide blood drive.

The manager said the contractor will perform final temporary widening along Ragsdale Road between the Arcadia subdivision and Bellroyal Road beginning tomorrow, Aug. 12, at 8 a.m. The work will require a full one-lane closure with flaggers and is expected to take about two days, the manager said. The contractor will also shift traffic in certain areas on Wednesday afternoon; motorists in the area should expect minor delays.

The manager reminded the commission the city will host a public meeting on improvements to Old Smyrna Road from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 18 in Meeting Room A at the John P. Holt Brentwood Library. Project consultants will present design options and study findings, then the public can visit smaller discussion tables to ask questions and provide input that staff will consider when choosing a final design.

On regional volunteer efforts, the manager announced the Williamson County Battle of the Badges blood drive on Aug. 20 at the John P. Holt Brentwood Library, conducted by the American Red Cross from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The annual drive pits law-enforcement and fire organizations against one another to collect units of blood and this year's drive will honor detention deputy Robert Andrew Ryan of the Williamson County Sheriff's Office, who died after an off-duty vehicle accident earlier this summer.

The manager closed by introducing Tony Travis as the city's designated finance director.