The majority of the residents who spoke up at the public input meeting on the resurfacing of James Boulevard made themselves clear - they want to keep the rails.
"I wasn't surprised by the passion exhibited by most of the people who talked," Councilman Dick Gee said after the meeting. "Now what we have to do is go back and try to figure out if this represents the sense of the town."
Residents and others who grew up in the Old Town neighborhood cited historical significance as the biggest reason to keep the rails in place - at any cost.
Director of Public Works Loretta Hopper led the meeting, which had 30-plus residents in attendance, alongside Greg Wilson of CTI Engineering Inc. Those residents presented options for resurfacing the road, ranging in cost from $198,000 (asphalt road without rails) to $517,000 (concrete road with rails).
Eighty percent of the cost of the project will be covered by a grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation, said Hopper.
Some residents said they would be willing to help raise money if cost is the issue, and others questioned the need to resurface the road at all. Some also blamed the construction traffic traveling to and from Alexian Village for the further deterioration of the road.
Representatives from Alexian Village, including Chief Operating Officer Scott Norton, said they would be willing to contribute to a memorial for the tracks, even offering land on Alexian Village property on which to place the marker.
"Regardless of what took place over the years, I'm here to make things right," said Norton. "The Brothers will do whatever it takes to make this thing happen and memorialize it."
No action will be taken until after the 30-day period allowed for residents to turn in any comments they have on the resurfacing project. In the meantime, Council members said they will continue discussing what should be done at future meetings.
"After listening to everyone talk and hearing their passion, I'm convinced we should keep the rails," Vice Mayor Susan Robertson said.
"I thought there were some very compelling comments made," said Councilwoman Annette Allen. "I think we should regroup as a Council and talk about our fiduciary as well as cultural responsibilities."
Hopper said comment cards are still available at Town Hall. All comment cards are due back to Town Hall by Sept. 30. For more information call 886-2177.