CLEVELAND, Tenn. – A proposal to consider partially reimbursing the city of Cleveland for a $200,000 purchase of a greenway parking lot area has hit another stone wall.
The city recently purchased a private Keith Street parcel, located next to Kingsway Press, that has long served as a parking lot for the Cleveland/Bradley County Greenway. Cleveland has asked the county to pitch in 50 percent of the expense, reimbursing the city over a period of three years.
On Monday evening, the Bradley County Commission voted 7-6 to hire an appraiser to evaluate the property, falling one vote short of the eight needed to pass the measure sponsored by Commissioner Milan Blake.
Thomas CryeCommissioners Terry Caywood, Mark Hall, Johnny Mull, Charlotte Peak, Robert Rominger and Bill Winters joined Blake in supporting the proposal. Commission Chairman Louie Alford voted against the measure, along with Commissioners Thomas Crye, Bobby Goins, Mike Hughes, Dan Rawls and Howard Thompson. Commission Vice Chairman Jeff Yarber was absent.
“I don’t have it in my gut to pay $100,000 to pay for this property or [up to] $500 to appraise it,” Crye said.
Crye, a real estate professional, described the parking area as “a small sliver of land” that had no real utility except as a parking space considering setbacks imposed by its location between the street and the greenway.
The property was assessed at $288,000 a few years ago, commissioners said.
The matter initially came before the Bradley County Finance Committee in December, when it was voted down by a 4-1 vote. Blake, chairman of the committee, cast the sole vote against denying the city’s request for the county to cover half the property’s purchase price.
The county’s consideration of the greenway parking space purchase follows recent concerns by Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland about Bradley County’s financial commitment to the Cleveland/Bradley County Greenway.
“It’s a question of equity,” said Rowland, comparing the allocation of money, time and resources by the two governments.
Cleveland commits nearly $90,000 annually to the green-way’s upkeep and growth, said Rowland, citing $10,000 in maintenance, $40,000 in utilities and $39,600 for a full-time employee. In addition to this, city personnel and resources provide design, engineering and security for the greenway, while city funds are used for matching contributions for any greenway-related grants, he said.
In comparison, Bradley County makes a $10,000 annual contribution to the greenway, Rowland said.
Rowland has suggested it might be worth considering removing county representatives from the greenway advisory board to reflect what seems to be a city greenway.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.