By Gary Nelson
Crossville Chronicle
CROSSVILLE, Tenn. — Crab Orchard Mayor Emmett Sherrill attended the Cumberland County Budget Committee meeting earlier this month and requested $33,000 in matching funds from the county for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for the city of Crab Orchard.
The grant and funds from the county would be used to renovate the 6th Disctict Fire and Cumberland County EMS station.
Commissioners on the committee approved matching up to $33,000 for the improvements if the grant is approved.
Sherrill sent a letter to the committee, requesting the support for renovating the Cumberland County Fire and EMS station buildings which are in Crab Orchard.
“This is something the city could really use and would help out a lot,” Sherill said.
The city of Crab Orchard is applying for the CDBG Grant. The total project is estimated at $300,000 with $267,000 in grant money. The grant requires a matching amount of $33,000, which Sherrill and the city of Crab Orchard are requesting from the county.
The county approved matching the funds for Crab Orchard last year, but they did not receive the grant.
Proposed improvements to the facilities would include a new roof on each building for fire and EMS, new bathrooms and showers for personnel, new meeting and training rooms, new living/sleeping quarters for both fire and EMS personnel and construction of a covered breezeway to connect the two existing buildings.
There are currently no sleeping or living quarters, training areas or offices for administration and management of either the fire department or EMS.
In addition, the improvements would include an upgrade/replacement of existing HVAC systems, upgrade/replacement of electrical systems as needed, modification to septic field lines and new wall and floor coverings as needed.
The proposed improvements would be designed in accordance with requirements of the city of Crab Orchard and coordinated with Cumberland County.
The proposed modifications to the building were drawn up and included in a study by Warren and Associates of Lebanon, TN.
Nancy Hyder made a motion to approve the request for matching $33,000 to make the grant, if approved and recommend it to the county commission. Mike Harvel, 7th District commissioner, supported the motion and it was unanimously approved.