New Dickson Farmers Market moves forward, construction manager chosen

The new Dickson County Farmers Market facility planned for Downtown Dickson now has a construction manager after the county commission approved a familiar Nashville firm for the project.

T.W. Frierson, the company that managed construction of the new county justice center, was approved Aug 15 by commissioners. Also approved was spending $500,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds for the new farmers market.

County Mayor Bob Rial said the county would take "the lead" on construction and scheduling, but the city and county are working together on the project.

Though the commission unanimously approved the project in July last year and already approved $250,000 toward the project in the budget, not everyone was in agreement at the meeting.

The resolution was approved by 10-1 vote with Cotton Dawson offering the dissenting vote.

Dawson asked about the market being located outside the City of Dickson, in the county. Dawson said he was hesitant to approve T.W. Frierson as construction manager because then  the commission "would be knee deep in it."

Commissioner Randy Simpkins asked the mayor about the market vendors’ input on the new facility. Rial said the vendors will need to form a local leadership organization to communicate with the county and city.

Rial said he hoped the market, which is expected to have 24 covered vendor spaces and open space in the middle, would be open by the spring next year.

The site is located at 222 Church Street on the former Jackson Medical Clinic site, which was demolished in October. Parking for the market would be available at the neighboring Dickson First United Methodist Church parking lot.

Related: County, city explore creating Downtown Dickson farmers market

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: New Dickson Farmers Market moves forward, construction manager chosen