Sparta will no longer pursue a sidewalk project from Bockman Way to Polk Street after the city’s board of aldermen voted to walk away from the project Thursday night.
City Administrator Tonya Tindle said even after scaling down, the project would cost an estimated $2 million, which is twice the amount of the city’s grant. Sparta Mayor Jerry Lowery, along with the rest of the board, said it is probably best that the city abandon the project.
“I think it’s too expensive for us to pursue it,” Lowery said. “I think we could do it ourselves and put the sidewalks for a lot cheaper than what it’s going to cost us.”
Tindle said the city has spent an estimated $132,000 in engineering fees on the project. Tindle also said T-DOT would partially reimburse the city for those fees.
“They told us we can walk away right now, and they have reimbursed us for part of that, and they won’t ask for that money back because it’s been such a process, they are gonna let us just walk away if we don’t want to finish the project.”
The original project was going to construct a five-foot-wide and four-inch-thick sidewalk between intersections on Bockman Way and Turntable Lane, but was reduced to Polk Street in an attempt to lower the cost.
The aldermen unanimously approved to walk away from the project. Lowery said the city already has a sidewalk close to Polk Street, and they could simply upgrade it.
In other business, the board awarded a bid to purchase park lights for the splash pad park.
The board approved a change order of an estimated $8,500 for the Water Treatment Plant Flocculator Improvements.
The board approved the purchase of a gullet for sludge removal at the water plant.
Dalton Wilson was approved and sworn in as a reserve firefighter. The board also approved hiring a utility cashier.