On Monday, Nov. 6, the City of Covington will host a public meeting in which the future use of the grammar school property will be discussed.
The meeting will give residents the opportunity to ask questions and give their opinions about a proposal to ask for relief from a 1978 federal grant which funded tennis courts and lighting.
Current city officials, some of whom weren’t yet born when the city received the grant, were not aware of the federal regulations until after planning began to relocate the police department to the property this summer.
On Sept. 19, Pat Harcourt and Jeff Eakes from A2H presented a preliminary concept plan for the new police department facility.
The plans call for the demolition of the old school building. The Tipton County Commission on Aging staff and seniors, housed in the grammar school for 40 years, will be moving to the Covington Municipal Center once renovations are completed.
Progress on the proposed $6.6 million, 27,000 square foot facility is currently being hamstrung by those regulations.
Should the city decide to move forward with its plans, there will be a $10,000 fee paid to the state for consideration. The city may also have to return the $32,000 it was given in the grant.
The meeting will take place in the board room at City Hall and will begin at 5:30 p.m. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.
The following night, the city will host a strategic planning meeting at Dyersburg State Community College – Jimmy Naifeh Campus. It will begin at 5:30 and will be open to the public.
Author: Echo Day
Echo Day is an award-winning journalist, photographer and designer. She is currently The Leader's managing editor.
