This is a printer friendly version of an article from www.thedailytimes.com
To print this article open the file menu and choose Print.
Article published Jul 5, 2009 Plans for adult and children's services campus near Blount County Children's Home hit roadblock
By Joel Davis of The Daily Times Staff
Plans to build an adult and children's services campus, including the Helen Ross McNabb Center and Children's Advocacy organization, near the Blount County Children's Home have hit a potential roadblock.
Engineering studies on the 2.7-acre tract off McCammon Avenue have brought to light some troubling information, Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham said.
"The core drillings came back and it may be cost prohibitive (to build) because it's on fill," he said. "Part of it is quarry and part of it was a dump at one time. The part that worries them is the old quarry because (of loose rock). They would have to drill way down and pour pilings."There has not been a decision made by the parties involved on whether to build.
"They haven't ruled it out, but it's kind of a bump in the road for us," Cunningham said.
The property had been at the center of a dispute between Cunningham and the Children's Home board concerning the creation of the services campus. The Blount County Commission in September approved a settlement with the Children's Home, ratifying a 2005 warranty deed that conveys the facility's property off McCammon Avenue to the Blount County Children's Home Inc. In return, the Children's Home deeded 2.7 acres back to the county for use as an adult's and children's services campus.
The Children's Home currently operates as Homegrown Family Outreach and is home to Operation Success and Gardner Place, a supervised visitation and peaceful exchange program. It stopped hosting children long-term in 2003 when children in group homes across the state were moved into foster homes as a result of a lawsuit.
If the McCammon Avenue property is not viable, Cunningham said that land adjacent to the new Blount County Operations Center might be an option for locating the campus.
"That would be a County Commission decision," he said. "That's a possibility. There is property there, and it should be utilized for the betterment of Blount County in one way or another, rather than just mowing."
The County Operations Center is located at the former Ceramaspeed property on MacArthur Road. Blount County closed the $2.7 million deal to purchase the property in January. The 23-acre property will be used as a Highway Department headquarters and to consolidate other county departments.