Commission passes resolution endorsing road to industrial park, Dickson, Burns still to vote

The Dickson County Commission unanimously endorsed a state study for a possible road to create a new access point in the William D. Field-Dickson County Industrial Park Monday night and the Dickson City Council and Burns Board of Commissioners are expected to vote on a similar resolution next month. Mayor Bob Rial said the Tennessee Department of Transportation is proposing to build the road as part of the ongoing negotiations with a company identified only as Project Falcon. Rial told county commissioners Monday that TDOT is not seeking any funds from the county and the resolution is to begin the study phase of the proposed road to create access to the back side of the industrial park where the county has pledged to donate 146 acres to Project Falcon. On Monday’s Power Lunch program, Rial said the road plan is contingent on Project Falcon choosing to locate its new manufacturing facility in Dickson County. Rial told commissioners the road would be built with state funds from a program to build “industrial highways” and a contribution from the unnamed company, which reportedly has narrowed its search for a new site to Dickson and Jonesboro, Arkansas. He said if the road proposal moves forward, it would include a study for proposed routes from Warren G. Medley Drive in the southeast area of the industrial park to possibly connect with Gum Branch Road or even Highway 96 in the Burns area. Portions of the road project would also be inside the limits of Dickson and Burns, so both those governing bodies are expected to vote on the resolution of support at their April 1 meetings.