By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–At a busy meeting Thursday evening, the Paris City Commission awarded the bid for construction of the new Paris Fire Station to Barger Construction for $9, 567,000.
The bid was the lowest received and City Manager Kim Foster said, “We were extremely pleased with it and it’s from a reputable contractor with a great reputation.” Barger Construction of Yuma, Tenn., has been in business since the early 1950s and specializes in commercial construction. The company grew from building in West Tennessee to constructing in multiple states.
The project also includes construction of an apparatus bay, living quarters, training area and emergency backup 911 operations center. TLM of Jackson is project engineer and designer. The new station will be located at Hwy. 79S and Spruce St.
Another bid opening is scheduled for 10 a.m. September 22 at City Hall for the 2022 Multimodal Project planned for the Mineral Wells/Tyson/Veterans Dr. intersection. The project involves re-doing the island and sidewalks at that intersection and has been discussed at length at prior public meetings.
A public meeting will be held that same day, at 5 p.m. September 22, again at City Hall, for the 2022 grant project which involves construction of sidewalks at Royal Oak/Fairgrounds and intersection upgrades at East Wood/Chickasaw/Fairgrounds. Letters have been sent to residents along those streets specifically inviting them to the meeting, which is of course also open to the general public.
In other business:
–The new Finance Director Liana Compton, was introduced. Foster said, “I look forward to working with her. She’s been on the job two weeks now and she’s hit the ground running. She’s doing a tremendous job.”
–Upon second and final reading, the commission approved an ordinance removing outdated portions of the refuge collection items in the municipal code.
–The commission approved on first reading a request for rezoning 26 Mimosa St. from planned commercial to residential. It was forwarded to the planning commission. It also will apply to adjacent properties.
–The commission also approved on first reading a request for rezoning at 109 N. Lake St. from highway commercial to residential. It also was forwarded to the planning commission. It also will apply to adjacent properties. Rebecca Renkel of the city Building and Codes Department said it is important for those residents for a variety of reasons, including if their homes are destroyed, they would not be able to build a residence there again if it is still zoned highway commercial.
–Foster and Commission members said they were pleased at the pace of the Paris Crossings shopping center. “We’re terribly excited and they’re moving right along,” Foster said. “In a year, we’ll have a shopping center up. It’s amazing how fast a privately-owned project can go up.”
The Paris Crossings center will contain several stores with four outparcels and will be located at the intersection of Hwy. 218 and Mineral Wells Ave.
Photo: City commission listens to reports while Abby Pierce, right, films the meeting. In the absence of Mayor Kathy Ray, Vice Mayor John Etheridge chaired the meeting. Shannon McFarlin photo.