City approves website and app upgrade, then delays sidewalk plan over budget hurdle

Sparta Board of Mayor and Aldermen took up two large, independent concerns at their Aug. 7, meeting: a digital modernization effort and a sidewalk project that has hit a budget snag.

The board approved a five-year contract with Revise LLC to design, host, and maintain a new city website and mobile app, while temporarily postponing the sidewalk project after learning it would exceed the budget by about $1.5 million.

The city will partner with Revise LLC for the design, hosting, and maintenance of a new website and a companion mobile app. Grant funding will cover the costs of the website remodel and app, with the exception of the annual maintenance fees.

“There’s going to be an app that we can have people scan a QR code,” City Administrator Tonya Tindle said, emphasizing the changes will give residents better access to information and services. “You’ll have an app on your phone, and we can give you all kinds of alerts and different stuff like that. Once it gets up and running, it’s going to be really handy.”

Mayor Jerry Lowery said the app has the potential to improve city communications, especially during significant events.

“If we have a road closure, people in the city download this app, and we can get it to them quickly,” Lowery said.

The new platform is also expected to streamline Sparta Civic Center reservations. Lowery noted the current system often leads to bottlenecks as reservations are requested months in advance and cancellations can complicate scheduling. The city plans to require up-front payment to reserve time slots, expediting the process. Tindle added that the upgrade will include forms to reserve the civic center, a calendar to display available days, and online options for paying bills, tickets, and property taxes.

In a separate matter, the board temporarily postponed the sidewalk project they had been considering after officials learned it would cost roughly $1.5 million more than initially budgeted. Mayor Lowery said the state is holding Sparta responsible for the excess costs and that the city would need to acquire right of ways on 29 properties. He warned that if property owners do not want to sell, the city could condemn and take the properties.

“You know what I said, and Tonya said the same thing, we’re not doing that,” Lowery said. “So, the sidewalk project right now, they’re re-evaluating the distance and other plans for it, or we’re going to completely scrap the project.”

Lowery said he does not believe it is right for the city to cover the extra money and would rather use the funds to repair existing sidewalks or build new ones elsewhere.

“Our engineers are going to give us two different scenarios,” Tindle said. “One, to do the sidewalk project to Polk Street, and then one to Brown Street. The other scenario would require more right of way, because the plans included a green space between the sidewalk and streets, rather than putting the sidewalk right up against the road.”

Tindle said engineers will present both options and the budget to TDOT again, with the possibility of amending plans if a price and distance can be agreed upon.

“If it’s something that we can amend, and agree on a price and a distance, then we’ll bring it back to the board,” Tindle said. “Worst case scenario, we have a really expensive set of plans for some sidewalks.”

In other business, the board approved several purchases including:

•Ford Police Interceptor Explorer for $55,000

•Two used Dodge Charger Police Pursuit vehicles, about $12,000 each

•Three thermal imaging cameras for the Fire Department, $14,200 (to be funded with grant money)

•Four mobile solar speed signs, about $12,500

The board also approved the Police Chief Nick Dunn’s suggestion that the speed limit on North Spring Street near the fairgrounds be adjusted for the week of the White County Agricultural Fair which takes place the first week of September. After some discussion, the decision was made to reduce the speed limit from 45 mph to 30 mph during the hours of 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mayor Lowery said  the city would post flashing signs to remind drivers of the change and that they would communicate with the public before the temporary change was set to take effect.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of Sparta Board of Mayor and Aldermen is set for 5 p.m., Aug. 21 at city hall. All of the city’s meetings are open to the public and are available for viewing via livestream on the city’s YouTube channel.