Donors fund survey of city-owned buildings in downtown Cleveland, Tenn.

CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- A group of citizens is donating the money for a survey of city-owned buildings downtown.

The group will fund up to $5,000 for architect Doug Caywood to assess the buildings, including their size, condition and needs, City Councilman Richard Banks said.

"This will be at no cost to taxpayers," he said at a recent City Council meeting. "Then we will have a blueprint to work from for the future."

Questions arose, Banks said, when the city accepted a downtown building donated by attorney Jim Webb. City possession of that building will take place in February.

Councilman David May compared the survey project to the quarterly inspections and reports on Bradley County-owned buildings that were done years ago by the county grand jury.

"We need an ongoing plan for all city-owned buildings," May said. "We need some kind -- at least an annual -- report on all our buildings' condition. What they need. A new roof, painting, single-pane windows changed to insulated windows? Some way to set up records so we know what the conditions are."

The details on how to compile that report, and whether it could be done by city building inspectors, are yet to be worked out.

Such a report could be submitted during the council's annual spring or fall planning retreats, City Manager Janice Casteel said.

Contact Randall Higgins at rhiggins@timesfreepress.com or 423-314-1029.