November 11, 2026 in Local, Top Stories

CROSSVILLE CITY COUNCIL APPROVES WARNER FIELD TURF PROJECT, REJECTS MITIGATION CREDIT SPENDING

The Crossville City Council met on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, and took action on several items, including approval of a major turf installation at local athletic fields while rejecting a proposed expenditure for dam mitigation credits.

During appointments, the council confirmed Mayor R.J. Crawfordโ€™s nomination of Art Gernt to the Solid Waste Regional Planning Board. Council members praised Gerntโ€™s service as he prepares to leave the council.

Ethan Hadley of the Chamber of Commerce delivered a report highlighting upcoming events, including the chamberโ€™s annual meeting on November 19 at Fairfield Glade featuring tourism content from Nash Stuart Deming. He also promoted Small Business Saturday on November 28 and the expanded Christmas on the Plateau holiday activities. Hadley congratulated City Manager Valerie Hale on the Crossville Commons groundbreaking and recognized re-elected and newly elected council members.

Council Member Mike Turner shared details of a recent incident in which a plane with a nose-gear issue circled Crossville Memorial Airport while dumping fuel before making a safe emergency landing with minimal damage and no injuries. He praised the coordinated response by the Crossville Fire Department, Crossville Police Department, Cumberland County Ambulance Service, and Cumberland County Fire Department.

The full consent agenda passed unanimously without discussion. Items included a first-reading budget amendment for the Peachtree Drive Extension, a second-reading budget amendment related to the water treatment plant, a Certificate of Compliance for Weigelโ€™s #126, denial of variances for Supershow Firework signage, an alcohol enforcement grant contract, an elevator maintenance agreement, engineering services for a parks and recreation grant, meeting minutes, and the award of a playground site-work bid.

Among the approved items was naming a road extending Interstate Drive to James S. mayberry Avenue in honor of former mayor and city council member James Mayberry.

Under other business, the council approved the low bid of $813,000 for synthetic turf installation on fields at the Warner complex (fields 1, 2, and 3, plus Fuller Field). Supporters, including Council Member Mark Fox, emphasized that the project would reduce weather-related tournament cancellations, support local hotels and businesses through more reliable events, and improve the return on investment for the cityโ€™s recreation facilities. The approval included a related first-reading budget amendment. Council members noted the work would be phased.

A separate motion to authorize $300,000 toward mitigation credits for the Meadow Park Lake dam project failed. City Attorney Randy York discussed a draft agreement with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture that would secure the credits, with a larger potential commitment later tied to permits. Council Member Mike Turner supported moving forward, citing potential long-term cost savings. Council Member Art Gernt and others raised concerns that the newly forming Plateau Water Planning Partnership could shift responsibility for future water-supply decisions to the state and regional partners, making the local expenditure premature. The roll-call vote resulted in the motionโ€™s failure.

In reports, the city attorney congratulated outgoing and incoming council members and reminded residents that city and county fire departments can provide smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. City Manager Valerie Hale highlighted strong recent tournament activity that generated significant hotel stays and food-truck business, noted six water-treatment-plant employees who passed advanced certification exams, reported monthly water-loss and sales figures, and thanked Gernt for his years of service.

The meeting adjourned after expressions of appreciation for Gerntโ€™s contributions to the city.



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