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Council backs moving forward with church easement to extend Habitat Trail
Summary
Council agreed to add to the agenda a staff recommendation to pursue an easement from a Catholic church that will connect the Habitat Trail and reduce a dead-end, with the city assuming maintenance after initial volunteer construction.
City staff told the council they have negotiated an easement with a Catholic church to provide ingress and egress and to install signs and trail improvements to connect the segment to the Habitat Trail and eventually to Sparta Drive.
The city manager said the easement has been under discussion for years and the church agreed to the terms; the attorney noted the agreement includes obligations for the city to maintain the trail after volunteers build it. "There is an obligation to take care of it that's set forth in that easement as I recall," the city attorney said.
Council confirmed that once the council gave its blessing staff would send the agreement to the city attorney and then to the bishop in Knoxville for signature. The chair asked whether the city or a hiking club would maintain the trails; staff said volunteer builders typically construct the trails and "the city maintains that," but the initial work is done by volunteer groups.
Council agreed to add the easement to the agenda so staff could complete legal review and finalize the document for approval.
