Before even hearing what they had to say, the Hamilton County Board of Education unanimously denied an easement request from the Chattanooga Housing Authority.
After several miscommunications in scheduling that resulted in CHA’s request going on and coming off the board’s agenda several times since December, board officials said they were determined to get the vote behind them at a meeting Thursday.
“This is something that went on for several months now, I guess the (facilities) committee is saying we passed it, and passed it, and passed it, and we’re at the stage where we need to vote on it,” said board member Jeffrey Wilson.
Board member Chester Bankston, who heads the facilities committee, said he recommended the proposal be denied “100 percent.”
The proposed easement was to provide access from a housing authority apartment complex on Fairmount Avenue to Mississippi and Dallas avenues. The two sidewalks would go through the property of Normal Park Museum Magnet Upper School.
Larry Cash, an attorney for the housing authority, tried to approach the board during the easement discussion, but was reminded by Vice Chairwoman Linda Mosley that he was not allowed to approach or speak to the board.
After the meeting, Mr. Cash said he had planned to ask the board to again postpone their vote because the housing authority is talking to local city and U.S. Housing and Urban Development officials and an easement may not be necessary.
Naveed Minhas, CHA’s vice president of development, said the housing authority may be able to build a pathway through another piece of property that does not belong to the school system.
Still, he wanted a chance to address the board Thursday.
“It’s an issue of accommodation between the school system and us, to at least listen to us,” he said.
The housing authority plans to tear down the current Fairmount Avenue apartment complex and rebuild it with federal stimulus money.
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