From The Mayor
Lenoir City Mayor Tony Aikens

Let’s touch on some of the accomplishments we have achieved together and a little about those to come! 

🔸 Budget season is beginning, and I want to express to you how fortunate I am to work with our Budget Committee, which is made up of three City Councilmember's. Our work is filled with the sometimes-difficult challenge of deciding where and how much to allocate toward various City operations and programs. The committee and I take the task seriously and with careful thought because these are taxpayers’ funds which we are responsible for allocating. I want to share that, once again, I do not expect a tax increase once the budget is passed. I look forward to this budget cycle and will update you in the next edition.

🔸 I am happy to announce that we are still progressing on the Central Park Phase II Project (located downtown next to the Post Office). This phase will encompass installation of an All-Access Splashpad, pavilion, restrooms/ changing rooms, additional parking, and landscaping. This phase will lead to more usage of the Central Park, which is already successful with its playground. As you know, we were awarded a $500,000 matching grant for this project via Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Local Parks and Recreation Fund (TDEC-LPRF). In order to receive the full $500,000 from the grant, we are required to match (locally) with another $500,000. We are currently informing local organizations about this donation opportunity to help with that local match. Since we are working through TDEC, we are required to meet all their regulations – a step-by-step process. In other words, the City only gets to move forward on the project when TDEC approves us to do so. We are still in the preliminary planning and approval part of TDEC’s procedure. Stay tuned for more exciting updates as they come along!

🔸 I am also pleased to share that we had a successful “groundbreaking” ceremony in March for the Brewery/ Restaurant that will be located in the old Lenoir City Utilities Board building at 200 East Depot Street in Downtown Lenoir City. We look forward to the progress and what this will do to increase the flow of tourism in our area. As the developer begins construction, I’ll keep you posted!

🔸 Construction on Phase II of the Downtown Streetscapes Project is beginning in April. The phase will be composed of one block of North B Street from Broadway to First Avenue (in front of the War Memorial Building); Broadway from C Street to A Street; areas of Grand Street to Kingston Street. This phase will feature replaced sidewalks, underground electrical, decorative street light poles, and stamped concrete areas. The main difference between this phase and the previously completed Kingston Street to A Street phase is that Phase II will not have the stamped concrete “bump-outs” in mid-block – the new phase will only feature them at each intersection. We certainly appreciate your patience and attention to safety during construction.

It brings me great joy to serve as your Mayor! I love Lenoir City, and I love all its people! If I may do anything for you, please do not hesitate to contact me at 865-986-2715

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5/1/19