Village Inn demolition set

Oct. 12—The city of Crossville is ready to move forward with demolition of the former Village Inn facility on Main St., though the council has not discussed future use of the property adjacent to Crossville City Hall.

There's just one issue remaining — what to do with the native Crab Orchard stone on the buildings' southern walls.

"I wanted to save it," said Council member Mike Turner. "I think it's a disgrace to bury that in the ground or even destroy it taking it down."

"It's our heritage in this county. I hate to see it buried."

Crab Orchard stone, or Tennessee Quartzite, is a sandstone quarried from Crab Orchard Mountain. Much of the stone is predominately rose in color with irregular patterns in different shades of brown, though the stone at the Village Inn is a grey variety.

City Manager Greg Wood said the demolition will be done by city workers.

Council member Scot Shanks asked how preserving the stone would impact the cost and time for city crews.

Turner said, "Our city workers are excellent ... They do a great job, and they save the city a lot of money by doing projects like that."

Turner said the stone could be saved for a future city project or donated to a nonprofit organization with a building project.

Crossville Mayor R.J. Crawford encouraged the council to move forward with the demolition quickly.

"It's a hazard. It's a danger," he said.

During the council's Oct. 10 meeting, Turner said he had reviewed the walls with the stone and found one too close to an existing power pole to allow for scaffolding to take down the stone.

"On Building 1, not so much," Turner said. "I would like for us to approve that, however they take the building down, that the stone be taken down as easy and safely as possible."

The stone could then be stored and, during winter, staff could remove the stone, clean off the mortar and place it on pallets for storage or potential sale.

Crawford said, "Then we move forward to be as careful with as much stone as we possibly can."

The motion was unanimously approved.

The city purchased the property in May after a months-long process that included the former owner evicting multiple residents. They voted at that time the property would be demolished.

"It's not safe. It's not something we can reinvest in and give to someone else to redo. It's worn out," Crawford said at the time.

In other business, the city council approved:

—Approved off-premises beer permit for Dhaval Patel for sale of beer at Elite Market 1, on West Ave., and Elite Market 3, Hwy. 127 N., in Crossville, pending approval by codes enforcement

—Appointed Kevin Poore as administrative hearing officer for the city of Crossville, with a term to expire April 11, 2027

—Third and final reading of a $5,000 budget amendment to support hiring a part-time Veterans Service Officer in Cumberland County

—Second reading of a $90,000 budget amendment for the purchase of a fuel tank for the public works department

—Second reading of an ordinance changing the name of Pointe Landing to Whisper Way

—Second reading of a $30,000 budget amendment providing additional funds for trail construction by Friends of the Trails

Heather Mullinix is editor of the Crossville Chronicle. She covers schools and education in Cumberland County. She may be reached at hmullinix@crossville-chronicle.com.