Sparta reverses decision on sidewalks

On Thursday, Sparta’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen made the decision to end their plans to extend sidewalks on North Spring Street. The original plan called for new sidewalks to be built that would provide a walking space from Bockman Way to Turntable Road. However, after a brief discussion at the end of their January 15 board meeting, the city’s mayor and aldermen decided to scrap the project.  

The Sidewalk Project has been a work in progress since 2021 when the city of Sparta was awarded a $1 million multi-modal grant from the State of Tennessee. With costs now estimated to exceed $2.8 million, the decision was made to cut the project effective immediately.  

“We have already spent $123,000 on engineering fees,” city administrator Tonya Tindle told the aldermen. “Now the state has come in and there is going to be a significant increase on our part if we continue all the way to Turntable Road.” 

Tindle said that she looked at costs of just going to Polk Street, a move that would allow sidewalks to connect to the city’s new splash pad and playground expected to be completed later this spring, but that the cost was still going to be close to $2 million. There is more money available from the state that could be used toward the project, but Tindle estimated it would still cost the city another $500,000 for the abbreviated project. 

“Or we can just walk away, and they won’t ask for any of the money back,” Tindle said they have been offered an opt out that would keep Sparta in good graces with the state, something that is key should they want to pursue other grants in the future. 

Mayor Jerry Lowery confirmed that the city still has the engineering plans, and they will retain the rights to those should they choose to revisit the project at a later date.  

“We could upgrade the sidewalks we already have and do the work ourselves,” Lowery explained that using city’s public works department would be more cost effective than purchasing the right aways and paying the state contractors as would be required under the previously proposed project.  

The city’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted unanimously to accept the state’s offer to abandon the joint-project at this time.