Cleveland, Tenn., is trying to get rid of a hill of dirt behind the Blythe-Bower Elementary School either by giving it away or paying to have it hauled away.CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Want some free dirt?
A very large dirt pile sits behind Blythe-Bower Elementary School, the result of creating detention ponds for flood control. Neighbors have complained to City Council members about the pile since it was created four years ago.
City officials' goal is to reduce the dirt pile and create a recreation field that can be used by the school and the community.
Bids to remove the dirt, about 23,000 cubic yards, were opened last week. The bids ranged from $103,720 to $55,797, and the money would come from local sales tax collections, officials said.
But the City Council rejected the bids.
Councilman Charlie Mc-Kenzie said he has been talking to someone interested in taking the dirt. His contact has five trucks and can start in a few days, he said.
McKenzie has been so outspoken about the dirt, other City Council members took the liberty of naming it, calling it Mount McKenzie.
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Dirt pile
"Oh, I don't care, as long as it's gone," McKenzie said.
City Manager Janice Casteel said the problem with negotiating with one person is that there must be public notice just in case somebody else is interested in hauling off the dirt for free.
So, in a few days, the city will place a legal advertisement with all the specifics, including a particular day, now set for Oct. 24, when people can show up to collect dirt.
"We can advertise we will be there on a certain day with a track hoe," Public Works Director Tommy Myers said.
He asked that anyone showing up on that day bring at least a dump truck, saying he does not want to be filling a line of pickup trucks.
There's no guarantee how much of the dirt will be gone after that day, several council members said. But, they pointed out, removing any of it means costs will be lower if future professional bids need to be taken.
Any company winning the contract must have the proper land disturbance permits for wherever the dirt would go, officials said.