Burns calls special session to review status of funds for new park on Highway 96

The Burns Board of Commissioners will hold a called session Thursday to discuss its ongoing effort to complete the first phase of a new park on Highway 96. Mayor Landon Mathis and Parks Director Chris Ward met last week with Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation officials to discuss the status of the park and the $850,000 grant the town received in 2009. Burns missed a Dec. 31 deadline to complete the first phase of the park and is in danger of losing the last $57,000 of the reimbursement grant. Estimates have ranged from $72,000 to $125,000 to install lights, sidewalks, an access road and concession stand/restroom facility to complete the first phase. Mathis has said the town could get around $17,000 by selling off some of the timber on the rear of the park property and he is putting together plans for fund-raisers such as a demolition derby and barbecue cook-off. The town’s plans have been to complete the park without using any taxpayer funds. The property next to Stuart-Burns Elementary School was donated and the school system has contributed to the construction of the access road and engineering studies for a turning lane. The special session of the commission is set for 7 pm Thursday at Burns Town Hall.