Budget Committee allocates funds for repairs to Roan Mountain community park
Published 3:52 pm Thursday, December 7, 2017
Star Photo/Abby Morris-Frye Erik Anderson of the Carter County Parks and Recreation Committee speaks to members of the Budget Committee about flood damage at the Roan Mountain Community Park.
Star File In October heavy rains caused rivers and creeks to rise resulting in damage to the fencing at Roan Mountain Community Park. This photo was taken the day after the flooding.
Flood waters which damaged roads and bridges in Roan Mountain in October also damaged the community’s park, but repairs may soon be underway following a request by the county’s Parks and Recreation Committee.
During a meeting of the Budget Committee on Monday, Parks and Recreation Committee member Erik Anderson presented a funding request to the group.
The Parks and Recreation Committee asked for an allocation of $6,714 to replace the damaged fencing at the park and to demolish a fishing pier which had been damaged during the flood and is no longer safe for use.
Anderson said the funding would cover the immediate needs at the Roan Mountain Community Park to help restore safety there.
“It’s enough to do what we need to do,” Anderson said.
Because the county is currently in the middle of the budget year, Anderson said the Parks and Recreation Board, as well as the Roan Mountain Recreation Foundation, understood that funds would be limited, and they are only seeking enough to cover work that needs to be completed to ensure safety.
When the county begins preparing for the 2018-19 fiscal year budget, Anderson said the Parks and Recreation Committee would then look at what funds were available to complete additional work at the park.
Anderson said the county filed a claim with their insurance carrier regarding the damage at the park, but the claim was denied due to the park’s location in a flood plain.
Commissioner Ronnie Trivett made a motion to take $6,714 from the county’s fund balance and allocate it to Parks and Recreation to complete the repairs. Commissioner John Lewis seconded the motion, which then passed the budget committee unanimously. The funding request will now be presented to full County Commission for final approval.
As he addressed the Budget Committee, Anderson praised the county’s Highway Department and Solid Waste Department for their quick response to the flood and all the help and work they provided. He also praised the Tennessee Department of Corrections Work Camp which is located in Roan Mountain. The TDOC Work Camp brought out several crews of inmates to help clear brush from roads, streams, and the community park as well. Several residents of the community also turned out to help clean up the park, Anderson said.
