AVAILABLE FOR SALE ACRE COMMERCIAL SITE North Side of Bear Creek Pike Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee

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1 SELLING MIDDLE TENNESSEE SINCE 1980! AVAILABLE FOR SALE ACRE COMMERCIAL SITE North Side of Bear Creek Pike Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee Contact: Tom McArthur (615) (M)

2 McArthur Sanders Real Estate Disclaimer This Marketing Package has been prepared by McArthur Sanders Real Estate (the Listing Broker ) for informational purposes only and should not be perceived to contain all information necessary to reach a purchase decision. The information contained herein has been carefully compiled from sources considered reliable and, while not guaranteed as to completeness or accuracy, is believed to be correct. No warranty representation is made as to the accuracy thereof. This Marketing Package is subject to prior placement, errors, omissions, changes, withdrawal or cancellation without notice and does not constitute a recommendation, endorsement or advice as to the value of the Property by the Broker or the Seller. Each prospective purchaser is to rely upon its own investigation, evaluation and judgment as to the advisability of purchasing the Property described herein. McArthur Sanders Real Estate will not be held responsible for errors or discrepancies and reserves the right to change, update, and amend such information at any time without notice. Any information regarding property for lease, sale, etc., and the estimates of demographics and of expenses is from sources deemed reliable. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy thereof. McArthur Sanders Real Estate will not be held responsible for errors or discrepancies and reserves the right to change, update and amend such information at any time without notice. 203 N. Royal Oaks Blvd., Franklin Tennessee (O) (F)

3 McArthur Sanders Real Estate TABLE OF CONTENTS I. 1BExecutive Summary Location Map Aerial Property Map Recorded Plat Zoning Map Existing Water Line Map Existing Sewer Map II. Maury County/Columbia Overview III. Recent Economic Development Articles Any information regarding property for lease, sale, etc., and the estimates of demographics and of expenses is from sources deemed reliable. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy thereof. McArthur Sanders Real Estate will not be held responsible for errors or discrepancies and reserves the right to change, update and amend such information at any time without notice. 203 N. Royal Oaks Blvd., Franklin Tennessee (O) (F)

4 McArthur Sanders Real Estate I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Any information regarding property for lease, sale, etc., and the estimates of demographics and of expenses is from sources deemed reliable. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy thereof. McArthur Sanders Real Estate will not be held responsible for errors or discrepancies and reserves the right to change, update and amend such information at any time without notice. 203 N. Royal Oaks Blvd., Franklin Tennessee (O) (F)

5 McArthur Sanders Real Estate EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Property Location: Tax Identification: Property Interest: Site Description: Current Zoning: North Side of Bear Creek Pike, Just East of Tom J. Hitch Parkway Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee Map 90, Parcels and (Maury County) Fee Simple Interest The subject property consists of two contiguous parcels containing a combined area of acres. Frontage parallels the north side of Bear Creek Pike some 237 feet and the combined sites extend an average depth of 450 feet. The eastern two thirds of the site gently slopes up from southwest to northeast and some preliminary grading work has been completed. The balance of the site (western one third of site) slopes down to the west into a natural drainage basin and a majority of this area is wooded. Access is available off the north side of Bear Creek Pike. Property is located just east of Tennessee Farm Bureau Campus containing +144,000 square feet and employing approximately 750 persons. TDOT 2016 AADT: +13,258 vpd Bear Creek Pike in close proximity to subject property. GCS, General Commercial Service District. List Price: $515, Contact: Tom E. McArthur, Jr. Broker (615) (M) (615) (O) Htom@mcarthursanders.comH Any information regarding property for lease, sale, etc., and the estimates of demographics and of expenses is from sources deemed reliable. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy thereof. McArthur Sanders Real Estate will not be held responsible for errors or discrepancies and reserves the right to change, update and amend such information at any time without notice. 203 N. Royal Oaks Blvd., Franklin Tennessee (O) (F)

6 McArthur Sanders Real Estate. Location Map Any information regarding property for lease, sale, etc., and the estimates of demographics and of expenses is from sources deemed reliable. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy thereof. McArthur Sanders Real Estate will not be held responsible for errors or discrepancies and reserves the right to change, update and amend such information at any time without notice. 203 N. Royal Oaks Blvd., Franklin Tennessee (O) (F)

7 McArthur Sanders Real Estate Aerial Property Map Any information regarding property for lease, sale, etc., and the estimates of demographics and of expenses is from sources deemed reliable. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy thereof. McArthur Sanders Real Estate will not be held responsible for errors or discrepancies and reserves the right to change, update and amend such information at any time without notice. 203 N. Royal Oaks Blvd., Franklin Tennessee (O) (F)

8 SUBJECT PROPERTY TRACTS 13 & 14 +/-3.22 ACRES COMBINED

9 ColumbiaTNDevelopment ServicesMap /30/2018, 5:41:08PM Columbia_City_Limits ParcelsColumbiaTNPubLD 1:4, mi km ZONING MAP OpenStreetMap(and) contributors, CC-BY-SA, mb ColumbiaTNDS Mapdata OpenStreetMapcontributors, CC-BY-SA MB USDAFSA

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12 McArthur Sanders Real Estate II. MAURY COUNTY/COLUMBIA DEMOGRAPHICS Any information regarding property for lease, sale, etc., and the estimates of demographics and of expenses is from sources deemed reliable. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy thereof. McArthur Sanders Real Estate will not be held responsible for errors or discrepancies and reserves the right to change, update and amend such information at any time without notice. 203 N. Royal Oaks Blvd., Franklin Tennessee (O) (F)

13 COLUMBIA MAURY COUNTY 2018 COMMUNITY DATA PROFILE Lake Obion Weakley Henry Dyer Gibson Carroll Crockett Lauderdale Haywood Madison Henderson Tipton Chester Shelby Fayette Hardeman McNairy Memphis Decatur Benton Hardin Stewart Houston Humphreys Perry Wayne Montgomery Dickson Hickman Lewis Lawrence Cheatham Robertson Nashville Williamson Maury Giles Davidson Marshall Sumner Rutherford Bedford Lincoln Wilson Moore Macon Trousdale Cannon Smith Coffee Franklin DeKalb Clay Jackson Warren Grundy Putnam Marion White Overton Van Buren Sequatchie Pickett Fentress Cumberland Bledsoe Chattanooga Rhea Hamilton Bradley Morgan Meigs Scott Roane McMinn Polk Campbell Anderson Loudon Monroe Union Knox Blount Claiborne Knoxville Grainger Jefferson Sevier Hancock Hamblen Hawkins Cocke Greene Sullivan Washington Unicoi Carter Johnson QUICK FACTS TAX STRUCTURE County Seat Columbia Year Incorporated 1817 Land Area in Square Miles (County) 613 Water Area in Square Miles (County) 2 Latitude N Longitude W Elevation 650 Market Region Nashville Distance From Nashville 45 miles Time Zone Central City Website County Website Additional Incorporated Cities within the County Mt. Pleasant and Spring Hill Unincorporated Cities Culleoka, Hampshire, Santa Fe, Williamsport POPULATION City County 2010 (Census) 34,684 80, Population 38,345 92, Median Age Population Projection 41, ,509 Annual Growth Rate 1.42% 1.76% ( Projected) Source: ESRI CLIMATE Annual Average Temperature F Average High Temperature 70.1 F Average Low Temperature 45.7 F Annual Average Precipitation Annual Average Snowfall 2 Prevailing Winds Southerly Mean Length of Freeze-Free Period (days) LOCAL City County Property Taxes (2017) Rate per $100 value $1.44 $ Ratio of Assessment Residential and Farm 25% 25% Commercial/Industrial 40% 40% Personal (Equipment) 30% 30% Bonded Debt (2017) $57,422,254 $106,115,000 Total Local Assessment (2017) $777,040,550 $1,749,259,220 Hotel-Motel Tax 5% 5% Motor Vehicle Tax Rate $25.00 Source: Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Division of Property Assessments Source: County Technical Assistance Service, UTIPS STATE Sales Tax 4% tax on food and food ingredients 7% on all other tangible personal property unless specifically exempted Local Sales Tax Rate 2.25% Local and State Sales Tax Collected (FY2017) $118,797,199 Income Tax Personal: 4 % on Interest & Dividends for the 2017 period, this tax will be reduced and phased out over the next few years. Corporate Excise Tax: 6.5% of Tennessee taxable income. Franchise Tax:.25% of the greater of net worth or real and tangible property in Tennessee. The minimum tax is $100. Unemployment Tax: New employers is typically 2.7% (based on occupation) of first $7,000. Source: Tennessee Department of Revenue T E N N E S S E E Cherry Glen Industrial Park is among several industrial sites in Middle Tennessee to be certified as a Select TN Certified Site. For complete information about the site and the certified program, please visit

14 2018 COMMUNITY DATA PROFILE EDUCATION District Name Maury County Type of Public School System County District Grades Served Pre-K-12 Number of Schools 21 Number of Teachers 1,023 Number of Administrators 62 Total Number of Students 12,775 GRADES Pre-K-K-4 4,654 Pre-K-K-12 1, , ,906 Number of High School Graduates ( ) 745 Graduation Rate 90.9% Educational Attainment with a Degree 30.3% (Adults Age 25-64) Source: Tennessee Department of Education REGIONAL HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS Graduates TN College of Applied Technology Hohenwald 320 TN College of Applied Technology Pulaski 1,447 Columbia State Community College Columbia 956 Source: Tennessee Higher Education Commission FastTrack Job Training Assistance Program Available Source: Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development GOVERNMENT Yes GOVERNING BODY City City Manager and City Council Meets 2nd Thursday at 6:30 p.m. City Hall County Mayor and County Commissioners Meets 3rd Monday at 6:30 p.m. Tom Primm Commission Room Fire Department Full-time fire fighters in city 91 City volunteers 0 Full-time fire fighters in county 6 County volunteers 200 Fire stations in city 5 City fire trucks 8 Fire stations in county 11 County fire trucks 22 Law Enforcement Full-time police officers in city 89 Full-time police officers in county & sheriff 140 City patrol cars 105 County patrol cars 85 City County Insurance Rating 1 5/5X Zoning Regulations Yes Yes Planning Commission Yes Yes Industrial Development Corp. Yes Yes TRANSPORTATION AIR SERVICE Nearest General Aviation Maury County Airport Location Identifier MRC Distance from City 9 miles Runway Length 6,003 feet asphalt; 2,000 feet turf Surface Asphalt/Turf Lighting MIRL/PAPI Fuel 100LL/Jet A 24/7 Repairs Major Storage Hangar, Tie Down Transportation Taxi, Rental and Courtesy Car Nearest Commercial Service Nashville International Airport Location Identifier BNA Distance from Columbia 84 miles BNA serves 440 flights daily in more than 50 nonstop markets. BNA is served by 14 airlines, including international carriers Air Canada, WestJet and soon British Airways. Starting May 2018, British Airways will fly nonstop between Nashville and London Heathrow. HIGHWAYS U.S. Highways 31, 43, 412 State Highways 50, 412, 7, 243 Nearest Interstate Interstate 65 and Interstate 840 COMMON CARRIERS Air Freight Companies Yes Motor Freight Companies 7 Terminal Facilities 7 Bus Services Inter-City No Local Yes Carrier Service Yes RAILROADS SERVED BY CSX Transportation and TN Southern Railroad NAVIGABLE WATERWAYS River Cumberland Channel Depth 9 feet Nearest Port Facility Nashville Miles from Port 43 COMMUNICATIONS Newspapers The Daily Herald Daily The Tennessean Daily Telephone Companies AT&T Radio Stations 4 local (WKRM, WMCP, WMRB, WXRQ) Television Networks 4, 2 independent Cable Service Available Yes Channels 125 Provider Charter Communications and Columbia Power & Water Systems Internet Service Available Yes Provider Charter Communications and Columbia Power & Water Systems Fiber Optics Available Yes Provider Charter Communications and Columbia Power & Water Systems COLUMBIA-MAURY COUNTY, TENNESSEE

15 2018 COMMUNITY DATA PROFILE COMMUNITY FACILITIES Health Care Doctors 257 Dentists 43 Hospitals 1 Beds 255 Primary Care Clinics 9 Speciality Care Clinics 37 Nursing Homes 9 Beds Retirement Homes 0 Beds Intermediate/ Assisted Living 3 Beds 159 Home Health Care 14 Religious Organizations Protestant 120 Catholic 1 Jehovah s Witness 1 Seventh Day Adventist 2 Latter Day Saints 1 Other Day Care Centers 42 Day Care Centers (Co.) 58 Day Care Homes 21 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Commercial Banks 9 Savings Institutions 0 Credit Unions 4 Total # of Institutions 13 Total # of Branches 29 Recreation Libraries 1 Parks 19 Golf Courses 2 (Public & Private) Swimming Pools 4 (Public & Private) Country Clubs 1 Theaters 2 Bowling Alleys 1 Hotels & Motels 10 Rooms 800 Bed & Breakfasts 1 Largest Meeting Room Capacity 400 Restaurants (City) 70 Restaurants (County) 118 Other The Center for the Arts, skating rink, ball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, Wellness and Aquatics Center, Natchez Trace Parkway, Arts District, Historic Columbia Town Square/Retail & Entertainment District Countywide Combined Deposits $1,512,074,000 (Deposits for June 30, 2017) *Credit Unions NOT calculated in Combined Deposits Source: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and National Credit Union Administration INDUSTRIAL SUPPORT SERVICES Service Location Distance (Miles) Tool & Die Mt. Pleasant 15 Heat Treating Local Foundry Mt. Pleasant 15 Heavy Hardware Local Sheet Metal Mt. Pleasant 15 Lubricants Mt. Pleasant 15 Welding Supplies Abrasives Local Local SELECTED ECONOMIC INDICATORS 2016 ANNUAL AVERAGES Labor Force County Labor Market Area* Civilian Labor Force 43, ,130 Employment 41, ,300 Unemployment 1,800 8,830 Unemployment Rate 4.1% 4.7% * Labor Market Area is defined as Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Marshall, Maury and Williamson Counties in Tennessee EMPLOYED POPULATION 16+ BY INDUSTRY Agriculture/Mining 1.0% Construction 6.3% Manufacturing 12.6% Wholesale Trade 2.0% Retail Trade 12.7% Transportation/Utilities 4.5% Information 1.3% Finance/Insurance/Real Estate 6.2% Services 50.0% Public Administration 3.4% Source: ESRI MANUFACTURING IN AREA (Annual Averages 2016) Number of Units 85 Ann. Avg. Employment 5,405 Source: Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development PER CAPITA PERSONAL INCOME Year 2017 Amount $25,868 Source: ESRI MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME Year 2017 Amount $51,565 Source: ESRI AVERAGE HOME SALES Year 2016 Number of Homes Sold 2,067 Average Cost $195,879 Source: Tennessee Housing Development Agency RETAIL SALES Year 2016 Amount $1,355,596,925 Source: Tennessee Department of Revenue NATURAL RESOURCES Minerals: Crushed stone and phosphate Timber: AGRICULTURAL Crops: Hay, soybeans, corn, wheat and tobacco Livestock: Equine, mules, cattle, goats, poultry COLUMBIA-MAURY COUNTY, TENNESSEE

16 2018 COMMUNITY DATA PROFILE UTILITIES GAS Local Distributor Atmos Energy Phone Website Source Company Natural & Columbia Gulf Transmission Fuel Oil Suppliers 0 Suppliers of LP Gas 3 WATER Water Supplier Columbia Power & Water Systems Phone Website Source Duck River Capacity 20,000,000 GPD Current Consumption 10,000,000 GPD Storage Capacity 13,900,000 Gallons SEWER Sewer Provider Columbia Power & Water Systems Phone Website Type of Treatment Conventional activated sludge Capacity 14,000,000 GPD (System is only permitted (NPDES permit) to discharge 10 million GPD) Current Usage 5,500,000 GPD City Sewer Coverage 90% Storm Sewer Coverage 25% Solid Waste Disposal Type County Landfill ELECTRICITY Source Company LOCAL POWER COMPANY (City) Columbia Power & Water System Tennessee Valley Authority Interium General Mgr. Kelley McCall Address Post Office Box 379 Columbia, Tennessee Phone Fax Website LOCAL POWER COMPANY (County) Duck River Electric Membership Corporation President/CEO District Office Phone Emergency Michael Watson 798 New Lewisburg Highway Columbia, Tennessee Fax Website MAJOR INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURERS/DISTRIBUTION (50+ employees) Firm Product or Service Total Employees Union Phone Number WireMasters, Inc. Wiring & cables 172 None Milliken Nonwoven Textile fabrics 115 None American Banknote Corporation Security printing & distribution 74 None Columbia Machine Works, Inc. Machine fabricators 67 None Swarco America, Inc. Fabricated rubber products, nec, nsk 65 None Ez Distributing, Inc. Wood products, nec, nsk 58 None Time Logistics Trucking & Logistics 57 None Graftech Intl Holdings Inc Carbon and graphite products 56 None Martinrea Automotive Systems (USA) LLC Automotive suspension supplier 56 None Industrial Door Contractors, Inc. Hangar doors 55 None Kirk & Blum Sheet metal, environmental controls 50 SWIA PSC Industries, Inc. Packaging 50 None Samuel, Son & Company Metals blanking, automotive 50 None For information on industrial sites and available industrial buildings contact: Robert T. Bibb, Executive Director Middle TN Industrial Development Association 2108 Westwood Avenue Nashville, Tennessee Phone: Fax: mtida@mtida.org Wil Evans, President Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance Post Office Box West 6th Street Columbia, Tennessee Phone: Fax: wevans@mauryalliance.com MTIDA represents the Local Electric Power and Natural Gas Distributors located in the 40 county region of Middle Tennessee. COLUMBIA-MAURY COUNTY, TENNESSEE The information contained herein was obtained from sources we consider reliable. We can not be responsible, however, for errors or change in information. Updated February 2018

17 McArthur Sanders Real Estate III. RECENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARTICLES Any information regarding property for lease, sale, etc., and the estimates of demographics and of expenses is from sources deemed reliable. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy thereof. McArthur Sanders Real Estate will not be held responsible for errors or discrepancies and reserves the right to change, update and amend such information at any time without notice. 203 N. Royal Oaks Blvd., Franklin Tennessee (O) (F)

18 Commentary: New hotel represents gamechanger for city, county By James Bennett Posted Aug 11, 2018 at 2:47 PM Updated Aug 11, 2018 at 7:49 PM A 110-room Courtyard by Marriott, including a regional conference center, will be built at the corner of Bear Creek Pike and Nashville Highway if it earns final approval, as expected. The five-story hotel will be a game-changer for Columbia, City Manager Tony Massey and Mayor Dean Dickey told The Daily Herald on Friday, because it will be used by thousands of guests, whose stays will create millions of dollars in economic impact. The 13-acre site would go on the property occupied by the old Polk Motel, a liquor store, doughnut shop and title-loan shop. The hotel s groundbreaking likely would occur in spring 2019, owner and developer David Hunt of Jackson said Friday. Hunt owns hotels and restaurants in Tennessee and Arkansas, including a three-story Hampton Inn in Pulaski. I started talking to David in July 2017, Dickey said. It s taken that long to get where we are now. Hunt asked the city for tax incentives to make the $18.5 million project happen. He told The Daily Herald that ll he likely want to develop a restaurant on the site, one of the busiest traffic areas in Columbia. The Columbia City Council and city s industrial board voted to approve special tax financing last week. The 22-member Maury County Commission would have to approve the project if the financial idea makes it through the commission s Budget Committee. Columbia is a tremendous market, Hunt said. When the call came from Mayor Dickey, suggesting that we look at Columbia, it was a no-brainer.

19 Four hotels have built locations near the Bear Creek exit of Interstate 65 since A fifth is under construction behind Stan s restaurant. The Courtyard by Marriott will be closer to downtown for tourists headed to the Ridley Sports Complex and the city s refurbished, vibrant downtown. I am a small-town guy when it comes to building hotels rather than going for property right off of the freeway, said Hunt, who operates a Perkins Family Restaurant in Milan, Buffalo Wild Wings in Fayetteville and Huddle House in Jackson. I grew up in a small town. I understand the synergy of a small town. I was amazed the way Columbia was growing. I thought it was a good opportunity to build a high-quality hotel in the market. After construction of the Ridley Sports Complex soccer fields, more tourists will be flocking to Columbia to play tournaments. They likely will want to stay closer to the fields 12 miles from the Courtyard by Marriott compared to 20 miles from interstate hotels. Our vibrant downtown, the expansion of Ridley Sports Complex and the events happening around the city make the Courtyard by Marriott an excellent addition to our hotel inventory, especially when you consider the convenient location, City of Columbia Tourism and Marketing Director Kellye Murphy said. The city recently launched its new tourism brand Visit Columbia TN, and we are actively marketing tourism for Columbia. We are pleased to have a quality brand like Courtyard, the eighth-largest lodging brand in the world, Murphy said. It will attract visitors as well as new business and more hotels to the area while helping elevate the profile of Columbia as a sought-after destination for the leisure and business traveler. Courtyard will be the headquarters for tournaments at Ridley Park, including the annual Midstate Classic doubleheader that features the University of Tennessee softball team. When it s finished, that s where the teams will stay UT and its opponent, Massey said.

20 Dickey said the conference center would attract regional business meetings and conferences. Columbia lacks space for meetings with more than 300 people. The Tennessee Farm Bureau routinely goes to Franklin for its bigger meetings and conventions. We just don t have space for a big meeting, Dickey said. Our city s strategic plan, initiated five or six years ago, made a downtown hotel a high-priority item. The Columbia Industrial Development Board Chairman Randy Wilmore said projects like the hotel brighten the city s future. It s very attractive for the city, Wilmore said. When construction starts, it will be an exciting moment for Columbia. The project and approval process show the city and county can collaborate to get things done, Massey said. Mayor Dickey and I made a presentation to county commission s Administration Committee, and they approved it 6-0 to send it to the Budget Committee, Massey said. We think there s widespread support for the project from our city industrial board and our city council to the county commission. Hunt said he s less worried about the politics than the vision and leadership he sees from the city. I don t really know how to play the politics, Hunt said. I just like to be involved in projects that will be a win-win for myself, my family, the city and the community. This leadership has allowed me to do that. From an investment standpoint, I m very happy about that. James Bennett is editor of The Daily Herald. His column is based on exclusive reporting, old-school storytelling and original commentary on whatever catches his fancy or yours. He s been a Tennessee Press Association first-place award winner for editorial writing, news reporting and public service since joining the newspaper in Contact him at jbennett@c-dh.

21 Council backs Marriott, city awarded for nance By JAY POWELL Posted Aug 11, 2018 at 12:01 AM Updated Aug 11, 2018 at 7:50 PM Columbia City Council approved a resolution last week that will create a tax incentive for the construction of a 110-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel on Nashville Highway. Total development costs for the hotel, which will be located on the corner of the Nashville Highway/Bear Creek Pike intersection, are estimated at approximately $18.5 million. The Columbia Industrial Development Board (IDB) recommended the item to council, which will create an interlocal agreement with several Tennessee municipality corporations to finance, construct and lease the property. Hunt Properties will be the developer in charge of undertaking the project. When completed, the hotel will contain 110 rooms with an indoor swimming pool, approximately 2,500 square feet of conference space and a 20,000 squarefoot retail space. David Hunt of Hunt Properties spoke to council Thursday, saying Marriott is excited to come to Columbia, and that with the boom of tourism and population growth, now is the perfect time to build a hotel closer to downtown. I ve been nothing but amazed by the quality of the city, how you re growing and doing some of the things you re doing, and my family and my business are very excited to be a small part of it, Hunt said. We re not trying to overly compete with what you already have, but this is more about bringing more opportunity to this wonderful city, making the pie bigger so we can all swim a little better. That s where I am and where we re going. Councilman Mark King, who represents Ward 5 where the hotel will be located, said bringing a hotel closer to downtown Columbia has been a goal for him since becoming a council member.

22 I m just so excited for what s going to happen there, King said. It s a wonderful part of the city that sees so much traffic. Hunt said the process will involve going through the state for the tax increment financing (TIF), as well as acquiring the land. Once the land is secured, the developer can start construction, which will take an estimated months. It ll probably take 15 months to two years to complete, Hunt said. And I ll just say that the leadership you have here... everyone has been absolutely wonderful. I couldn t ask to have a better partner. Columbia receives finance award Columbia received its 19th consecutive certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). This was also the first year Assistant City Manager and city Finance Director Thad Jablonski took over duties from former Finance Director Patti Amorello, who oversaw the previous 18 years. This is the highest financial reporting award the city can receive, Jablonski said. Mayor Dean Dickey thanked Jablonski for taking the reins as the city s finance director and keeping consistent with the previous years high standard for its comprehensive annual financial report. On behalf of council members and the 37,000-plus citizens, we accept this award, Dickey said. We thank [Jablonski] and his staff for all the work that they do. Highway 31 paving update It was originally reported that paving along U.S. Highway 31 would be completed by the end of the month, but there is a chance it could be sooner than originally predicted. With U.S. 31 classified as a state road, the paving project is being headed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. City Manager Tony Massey said the city was not aware of the project until about a week before work began last month.

23 Director of Development Services Paul Keltner said the repaving portion began last week, but said he hopes more will be added in the next couple of weeks. It looks a little thin to us, but it could be another two weeks by the time they do that long stretch, and afterwards go back and put a second layer over that, Keltner said. The initial milling did take a long time. It s a long stretch of road with a lot of water mains, sewer mains and sewer manholes. We all heard the complaints, and we ve all felt the complaints ourselves, as I m sure we re all due for a realignment.

24 More elds will bring in more tourists, city says By MIKE CHRISTEN Posted Jul 28, 2018 at 12:01 AM Updated Jul 28, 2018 at 8:16 PM Columbia s Ridley Sports Complex is well on its way to almost doubling in size. Last week, contractors laid the turf to its new athletic fields that are planned to host tournaments for competitors across the state and the nation. The complex, located at 6148 Trotwood Ave., is home to 10 softball fields and two soccer and football fields. It plans to expand with seven new soccer and football fields, and a new tournament headquarters. Columbia Parks Department says the expansion will allow for more space to attract additional sports like lacrosse. Contractors placed the seeds down for the new field, which if all goes as planned will begin growing fresh grass in the coming weeks. This is going to basically double the size of Ridley, said Merilee Meschefske, assistant parks director for the city of Columbia. We have been busy working on it, just trying to get it ready for play. One of the fields will be designated as a championship field, large enough for full soccer, rugby and football games on the championship level. She said the fields have been designed to accommodate most athletic activities. The project also includes a concessions building, restrooms, multi-purpose rooms and additional parking. The expansion can also be used for recreational events like concerts. A $7 million investment, hotel/motel tax collections will pay the debt service on $6.5 million on the project, aided by a grant of $200,000 from the state. Originally announced in 2016, the expansion will also include field lighting and an expanded irrigation system. Approximately 500 parking spaces with lighting will be added, as well as ADA accessible plazas, pathways and bleacher pads. Parks and Recreation Director Mack Reagan says the expansion comes from a need for more room to play. Currently the complex offers 35 acres of space to play. Once the expansion for the park is completed, it will have more than 60 acres of fields. Reagan said the facility, with just the softball fields, is bringing in a revenue of $5.5 to $6 million a year. With the completion of the soccer facility and bringing in lacrosse, football and other events, he expects the park will raise an additional $7 million in economic impact to Columbia on an annual basis. The push for the expansion came from citizens themselves, who are a part of a growing community of recreational athletes and sports lovers, Reagan said. It was the number one thing that was requested, Reagan said. This fits into exactly what we wanted to accomplish. The changes also include new grass with the complex using a special type of Bermuda grass that will better tolerate colder temperatures. Because we re utilizing it for soccer, lacrosse, sports that tend to play early season, you know as early as January, February, and even into you know November, Mackel said. We actually got a grass that will give us an extra 60 days of play a year. The park is planned for completion in October.