John CoffeltEditor

Coffee County Central High School received approval of a site plan during the Dec. 18 Manchester Planning Commission meeting for a new 2,800 square foot shop and classroom to be located behind the school.

Director of School Dr. Charles Lawson said that the building, funded using a state grant, will help accommodate cramped conditions in the Career and Technical Education shop area.

The new facility protected with a sprinkler system but will not have additional water or sewer facilities.

According to CTE Director Richard Skipper the project is funded through the Innovative Schools grant, a state grant for Career and Technical Education advancements.

“This will allow our construction program to grow its numbers and provide a larger space for projects,” Skipper said. “We have also added a Dual Enrollment element to the course as well.”

Lawson addressed a concerns voiced at the meeting about the school’s proximity to the former landfill by saying that the school has ordered a Phase One study and the district will follow any recommendations it advices.

Addressing a voiced concern about the potential of lead contaminants affecting the project, City Codes Director Brittany Fiske noted that “no one will be drinking water from the sprinkler system.”

The concern addresses a letter distributed to parents by Coffee County Central High School administration at the beginning of the school indicating that lead was found in six water sources in the school.

Unrelated to the project, Manchester Planning Commission approved preliminary plats in the city dividing properties owned by Donny Parsley on Lakeview Road, Jimmy Hollandsworth on S. Spring St., Adrian Hale on Hayfield Square in addition to four plat approvals located in the county’s Urban Growth Boundary.

In the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting that followed the planning meeting, members approved a special exceptions for a commercial property on 105 E. High St. owned by Steve West to be used as a residence. Robert “Bob” Bellamy was also granted a five foot variance to allow the construction of a lean-to carport on to a house at 505 Polk St.

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.