CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Wanted: a 15-acre site within the Cleveland city limits suitable for a new elementary school.
The City Council approved a resolution Monday giving the city school board the green light to seek options on sites during the next six months.
Councilman Richard Banks proposed the motion “authorizing Cleveland City Schools to work on taking several options on suitable property, approximately 15 acres, for a new elementary school. And after obtaining those options come back before the council with any requests regarding architectural services, core drilling, surveying, et ceteras.”
The motion includes paying no more than $10,000 for those options.
Two council members voted no.
SCHOOL PLANSite: 15 acres with a 72,500-square-foot building Population: About 500 students Projected opening: Fall 2014 Source: Cleveland City Schools
Bill Estes said he could approve everything but the money provision. He said the school system could pay for the options, any amount the board chooses.
As he pondered how to vote, City Manager Janice Casteel reminded him, “This is you spending the $10,000 with them cash-flowing it for six months.”
“So whether it be six months from now and we spend the $10,000 or two and a half years from now the $10,000 will be subsumed into the new school,” Estes said. “What if the county builds a new elementary school and then their money covers that $10,000? This is too convoluted. I vote no.”
So did Councilman Charlie McKenzie.
Councilman George Poe eventually voted yes, but he said he thinks the city already has the property — the site of the current airport.
Casteel reminded him the current airport site is to be sold as part of the federal grant package through the Federal Aviation Administration for the new airport.
Fifteen acres could be subtracted from the hundred-plus acres at Hardwick Field “and you would still have a lot to sell,” Poe said.
Banks agreed one of the “sellers” to be considered should be the Cleveland Municipal Airport Authority.
“Maybe the newspapers could include if anybody has any property they might donate, all they have to do is call,” McKenzie said.
Contact Randall Higgins at rhiggins@timesfreepress.com or 423-314-1029.