By Bill Short
The Millington Board of Mayor and Aldermen has unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing an agreement with the state for improvements to Church Street at the Navy Road intersection. Board members took the action Monday night during their regular monthly meeting on a motion offered by Alderman Thomas McGhee and seconded by Alderman Bethany Huffman. Mayor Terry Jones is authorized to sign and submit the Local Agency Project Agreement to the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The resolution states that the board is aware of the need for “signalization and road improvements” at the intersection. So, it has included this in its Capital Improvement Projects “priority rankings.” Millington has requested assistance from the state, which has submitted a proposed contract for the improvements. The state estimates that the complete cost of the project will not exceed $703,100. The city has already provided a 20-percent match estimated at approximately $43,000 for preliminary design and right of way acquisition. The resolution notes that “the remaining, complete phases” of construction and TDOT engineering services will now be 100-percent reimbursable from federal funds. During discussion shortly before the vote, Interim City Manager Chris Dorsey said 80-percent federal and 20-percent local funding had originally been required for the construction and the “final TDOT phase.” He expressed appreciation for City Engineer Darek Baskin’s work on the project. “Darek was able to get this at a 100-percent reimbursement,” Dorsey noted. “So, I just want to make sure that the credit goes to him for making that happen.” Baskin has said that, for several years, the state has been “managing” a project for Millington that involves adding a right-turn lane, some drainage improvements and new traffic signals on the southbound section of Church Street north of Navy Road. But he has also noted that, when the project “goes to construction,” the city will have to take over the management of it. At Monday night’s meeting, McGhee cited a statement in the last paragraph of the agreement that refers to an “amendment.” Dorsey said that it is the change from “an 80-20 split” to 100-percent reimbursement. “I think it also may include the fact that this project was previously administered by the state,” he added. “And now, it’s being administered locally by the city.” Alderman Mike Caruthers said the board should make sure it “coordinates” with Chuck Hurt, owner of the retail shopping center on Church Street at Navy Road.
“Just let him know that it’s going on,” Caruthers noted. “He may not even know that this has been passed.”
