JOHN COFFELTEditor

The county is eyeing a phase one environmental site assessment at the future animal control site to address any possible environmental concerns with the property located on Highway 41 near the Coffee County Jail.

The county is set to take possession of the four-acre site in early November. The land will be donated by

Tom Rice and was divided from what was once Fann’s Salvage.

County Engineer Scot St. John said during the Oct. 5 Coffee County Capital Outlay Committee meeting that his firm did a desktop study, assessing data available via state, federal and other databases, and that initial study concluded there is little concern that the area contains pollution from salvage operations at the former business.

“We don’t see a concern; we don’t see liability (for environmental issues), but you are a government entity and if you want a phase one environmental site assessment done we would suggest doing that,” St. John said.

A phase one assessment would expand upon the initial desktop surveys to do an in-depth report. It would address all environmental factors, any petroleum-type products that potentially be on the site. In the event the study reveals the presence of contaminants, a phase two assessment would be conducted for more specific details.

A phase one assessment would take about four to five weeks to complete at a cost of about $3,000-4,000.

County Mayor Judd Matheny called the phase one assessment prudent to reassure the public and potential donors that the property is safe and appropriate for the planned facility.

Dismissing concerns of automotive fluid spills in that part of the Fann site, Chairman of Capital Outlay Dennis Hunt recalls that the former owner, Gaylen Fann, used that corner of the property for surplus store merchandise purchases and not for tearing down of vehicles.

The county is expected to begin clearing the site immediately on upon taking possession of the property, tentatively set so that the County Commission can adopt the land at its Nov. 14 meeting. Matheny said that the deed is currently being drawn up.

Capital Outlay authorized Matheny to raze the red former office building located on the site, remove and recycle metal racks in anticipation of a groundbreaking to be held.

The county is hoping to beat a self-imposed 18-month deadline on a portion of the funding that uses American Recovery Act money. The county appropriated the $500,000 in July of 2022, giving the county until January to break ground.

An April decision by the federal has offer guidance on how professional services be selected for projects using ARP funds. This guideline will require a selection process to be done by the county to officially chose an architect. At the meeting Oct. 5, St. John Engineering was selected a second time to design the new Coffee County Health Department to meet the federal guidelines.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.