LifeFlight at Airport

A new year brings new partnerships in Murfreesboro. The council began the first meeting of 2015 on Thursday night by hearing from the Airport Manager Chad Gerhke (pronouced Ger-key), who presented the new Land Lease Agreement with the company Air Methods, which among other things, will allow Vanderbilt's LifeFlight station to be based out of Murfreesboro...

The three-year lease agreement for $26,7500 per year provides a half acre on the previous McKnight Soccer Fields to allow Air Methods to construct a 50 x 50 foot concrete pad, temporary hangar, and modular office building. Under the agreement, the City of Murfreesboro will construct ramp connections and extend utilities to the site.

"The agreement will hopefully also lead to other relationships in our community such as partnerships with students enrolled in the various maintenance and dispatch programs in the Aerospace Department at MTSU," added Gehrke.

Remembering Ted Beach

The group continued by recognizing a recently departed community leader, Mr. Ted G. Beach, who passed away on Tuesday, December 16, 2014.

Ted Beach's family receives his proclamation from Mayor McFarland.

Beach was a community leader, Navy veteran, and former Murfreesboro city councilman. Mayor Shane McFarland said...

Water and Sewer

Additionally, council heard from the Water and Sewer Board regarding the design of the new South Church Street Sanitary Sewer at the Intersection of Joe B. Jackson Parkway, and passed upon final reading the Appendix C of the Employees' Revised Pension Plan, to comply with requirements regarding the treatment of same gender marriage by qualified retirement plans.

Zoning

Finally, areas along Indian Park Drive, Thompson Lane, W. Main Street, and Rack Court were all rezoned upon second reading.

The last item on the night's agenda, a resolution to express support for the maintenance of current troop levels at Fort Campbell and to urge Congress to oppose any reductions thereof, was removed from the agenda just prior to the meeting.

Citizen Comment Period

Council will also soon begin televising the 6:30pm citizen comment periods held prior to the first meeting of each month on a temporary basis, as a way to feel out the feasibility of broadcasting the proceedings moving forward. Details are still being confirmed, but there is expected to be a 3-month trial period for the televisings, after which a more permanent schedule will be assessed.

Check the official City of Murfreesboro website, www.MurfreesboroTN.gov, for ongoing details as they become available.