Let the mowing season begin!

Mike DonilaOur Town Outdoors

Next week, lawnmowing season begins, and our crews are sharpening the blades, changing the oil and replacing the belts. It’s gonna get loud out there!

In addition, crews are dragging and lining the fields because local baseball and softball season is upon us!

The plumbers, too, have been busy, fixing leaks at the SportsPark in Karns and working on the splash pad drainage system at Powell Station Park. We also needed to build a new sidewalk at Concord Park so folks can have easier access to the new dock that was recently completed. And we installed a new memorial bench at Clayton Park.

Over at the Three Ridges Golf Course, you’ll find our busy electricians, who are going through some punch list stuff to make sure the operation passes an upcoming fire inspection.

Also, remember the scoundrel who stole the wiring at Gibbs and East Knox park? Yeah, he hasn’t been caught, but he will be one day. In the meantime, work to replace the wiring will begin soon.

As previously noted, two local companies donated time, supplies and labor to replace and repair almost $30,000 worth of theft and vandalism that occurred at Gibbs Ruritan Park late last year when someone ripped out and stole the wiring throughout the ballparks. A big shout out to Progression Electric and Irby Electric for their generosity.

Also, a big shout out to Dick’s Sporting Goods for donating $10,000 to help with the repairs at East Knox Park!

Also, the dog park at Plumb Creek Park will be closed all next week as utility companies work on the sewer lines.

And now for some news from the Engineering and Public Works Department:

Knox County’s seven convenience centers will close on Wednesday, March 17, to perform maintenance, deep cleaning and staff training.

The move is the first of four planned maintenance and in-service training days beginning this year. The EPW Department will also close convenience centers for planned maintenance and training on the third Wednesday of June, September and December, since Wednesdays are typically less busy.

Convenience centers took in a record-breaking amount of garbage and recyclables over the last year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The centers are traditionally open six days a week – 58 hours a week – and closed only on Sundays and county holidays. Last year, centers generated higher-than-normal amounts of residential waste and recycling increases from individuals staying indoors or working from home.

“2020 was crazy with our centers constantly running at full capacity,” said Drew Thurman, director of Knox County Solid Waste. “Equipment breaking in the middle of the day can cause losses of service at multiple locations, which can be more disruptive to center users than a published closure. We will begin shutting down everything on a regular schedule to enable the proper inspection of facilities to ensure we are in compliance with our state permit.”

And here’s a snapshot of some of the great work coming out of the E&PW Department:

  • Brandywine Subdivision – Installed pipe culvert and swale along back of lots to prevent flooding.
  • Birdie Lane – Roadway repair
  • Pedigo Road – Repair damaged guardrail
  • E. Copeland Road – Repair damaged guardrail

Enjoy this photo carousel of projects across the county:

Mike Donila is communications director for Knox County government.

 

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