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The fact that Maryville started a major upgrade to the Maryville Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant in the midst of an economic downturn has proven a boon for city coffers.

Thus far, the bids have come in $2,288,976 below the original engineering estimates.

Maryville City Council awarded two more bids on the project Tuesday night.

The contract on painting and coating for the plant was awarded to low bidder Commercial Painting Inc. of Nashville at $327,900. The original engineers' estimate was $456,350.

With changes in contract for equipment installation, that bid came in a little above the estimate. The contract went to low bidder Judy Construction Company Inc. of Cynthiana, Ky., at $1,434,000. The engineer estimated the bid would have been $1,380,600.

The estimated cost of the upgrade, which practically rebuilds the entire plant, is $31 million. The new plant is set to come online in October 2010, but Maryville Water Quality Control Director Jeff Rose said hopes are it will be open in July or August 2010.

In other action, the council approved a resolution appointing Maryville City Manager Greg McClain and Alcoa City Manager Mark Johnson as representatives of the cities on the Industrial Board of Blount County and the Cities of Alcoa and Maryville.

Formerly the county mayor made the appointments to the board and, by gentleman's agreement, asked the cities who they would prefer as their representatives. This formalizes that practice.

Zoning change rejected

The council also considered a recommendation from Maryville Planning Commission to amend the zoning regulations to put limits on convenience stores in Neighborhood Zones.

The commission recommended permitting a one-bay car wash as an accessory use, limiting the number of gas pumps to four (eight dispensers), and placing a maximum square footage for the building at 3,100 square feet.

Councilman Tommy Hunt said the square footage was too low to have the convenience store and any accessory uses, such as a laundry or fast food restaurant.

Hunt, an executive at Calloway Oil Co., also said the correct term is four pumps with eight fueling positions, not eight dispensers.

Vice Mayor Andy White said, "I don't have a problem with going to 5,000 square feet if it addresses design guidelines."

Commissioners mentioned noise, light pollution and landscaping as being of concern.

Councilman Joe Swann said the council needs to know if people would rather drive farther to get to a convenience store and avoid the congestion in their Neighborhood Zone.

Council rejected the recommendation and referred it back to the planning commission for further study.

The council passed an ordinance on first reading omitting the requirement that two members of the planning commission be on the Maryville Board of Zoning Appeals.