KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. — Knox County commissioners are meeting Monday to discuss an agenda that includes several proposed construction projects. One proposal would start the process to have crews remove "redundant" utility poles across the county, and another could result in a new splash pad at French Memorial Park.
The agenda also includes a proposal to use property along Northshore Drive to build a new greenway, as well as make safety improvements to the area.
More information about some of the proposals to be discussed during Monday's meeting is available below.
The Knox County Commission will consider a proposal allowing the county to acquire some property needed for right-of-way, slop and construction easement along 11 tracts of Northshore Drive. The property would be used for a greenway in the area and to make some safety improvements.
The tracts of land start near the intersection with Choto Road and run past Mont Cove Boulevard, toward the Davis Family YMCA. The resolution would allow the county to use eminent domain to acquire the easements and right-of-way, if necessary.
A proposal to be discussed on Monday would take the first steps toward reducing some "redundant" utility police across Knox County. According to the resolution, the proposal would be focused on protecting public safety.
"The Commission finds and determines that public safety can be compromised when utility lines and equipment remain affixed to utility poles that are weathered, duplicated, or otherwise damaged," the resolution said.
It also said the commission would find that when a new pole is installed, utilities may delay removing lines and equipment from old poles, which would delay the removal of old poles themselves. The resolution said having old poles stay up can be unsafe, as well as "aesthetically unpleasant."
"The Commission finds and determines that roadway safety is of primary importance to the citizens of Knox County and that the Federal Highway Administration has identified roadway departure crashes as one of the most common crash types resulting in 51% of the total of roadway fatalities nationwide," the resolution said.
If passed, the proposal would start the process of removing old poles. It said from July 1, 2024, through July 31, 2025, people from the Knox County Engineering and Public Works Department would meet quarterly with utility pole owners and utility service providers. During those meetings, the department would identify which utility poles would be removed.
"Among the factors to be considered by the Department in determining which roads and/or rights-of-way to address are the volume of traffic on said roads, the number of duplicate or redundant poles along said roads or their rights-of-way, the location of said poles in relation to the surface of the roads upon which vehicles travel, and other safety factors determined by the Department to be pertinent," the resolution said.
At the meetings, they would also consider the county's 2018 Major Road Plan as they decide which poles to remove.
The commission would then meet in July 2025 to decide whether to renew the resolution or adopt other measures to remove old utility poles.
The county will also consider spending around $625,000 to build a new splash pad at French Memorial Park, in South Knox County. The county would sign a contract with Great Southern Recreation to build it.
The park connects with a half-mile greenway near Bonnie Kate Elementary School and has two soccer fields, a playground and an exercise yard. It is located at 7752 Martin Mill Pike.
