Village Inn is the focus of a City-sponsored meeting

Feb. 6—The Crossville City Council will hold a special-called meeting Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 4:40 p.m.

Crossville City Hall, 392 N. Main St. will host the meeting.

The Village Inn is the only item on Friday’s agenda.

According to the agenda information, Randy York, City Attorney, will update the public on the events surrounding Village Inn.

It is unclear if this agenda item will include continued action on the Village Inn purchase. This has been in limbo since December, when the third and last reading of a budget amend for the $450,000 purchase was pulled out of a special-call agenda meeting.

York informed the council in January that he suggested they delay the third and final reading of the document until the legal questions could be addressed.

York stated, “We haven’t committed ourselves,” during the Jan. 3-work session. “It is still subject to a final voting by the city council.”

York did not provide any details on the legal issues.

Village Inn residents were served with eviction notices in January. They advised them to vacate their home by Jan. 31, due to the pending sale. The city acknowledged that it did not issue an eviction notification and that the sale was not completed.

The Chronicle examined public records regarding the purchase. It included an email from York in which Dr. Robert “Buck”, Wood’s lawyer, stated that he had approached him to see if the city would consider purchasing the property. It was October.

The records request did not include other documents. York mentioned “deliberative processes,” which refers to the argument that records relating to records being used for deliberations were withheld from public. The Chronicle was informed that the records might be made available to the public after the Village Inn purchase was completed.

The records request included correspondence with local agencies about coordinating efforts to help residents relocate from the Village Inn. On Dec. 21, an initial meeting was held between these organizations.

The council will meet before its monthly work session. It had originally included discussion on the Village Inn investigation report after the temporary closure of the business last July by city officials.

The Chronicle requested previously a copy the investigative report. This was cited by the council in several meetings as it considered Greg Wood’s suspension and eventual reinstatement. Although the Chronicle was denied access to the report, the newspaper is still pursuing access under the state’s public record law.

Discussion of the report was removed and a revised agenda released Thursday afternoon.

Agenda for the work session includes discussions on road closure requests, contract concession services at city parks and appointments to various city boards, committees, and changes to utility relocation contracts in the vicinity of the Hwy. 127 N. road construction. Potential bond issuance for funding a proposed indoor recreational center. Purchase of a post-frame building for the maintenance department.

The public is welcome to attend meetings of the city council.

Heather Mullinix is the Crossville Chronicle’s editor. She is responsible for education and schools in Cumberland County. You can reach her at [email protected].