DATE: March 13, 2015
TO: Board of Mayor and Aldermen
FROM: Eric Stuckey, City Administrator
Vernon Gerth, ACA Community & Economic Development
Lisa Clayton, Parks Director
Julian L. Bibb, Franklin's Charge
SUBJECT:
Title
Presentation of Proposed Carter Hill Battlefield Park.
Body
Purpose
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information to the Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) concerning the formal request for the request to develop, maintain and provide initial capital funds to secure the eighteen plus acres of American Civil War Battlefield in the city of Franklin.
Background
Located along Columbia Ave (U.S. Highway 31) generally running between East Fowlkes Street and Strahl Street on the west side of Columbia Ave and running immediately south by Cleburne Street on the east side of Columbia Ave. The ground just east of Columbia Pike, where the Carter cotton gin once stood, was witness to some of the Battle of Franklin's most furious fighting. The main Federal line of defense cut diagonally through this area and was held by a brigade of 23rd Corps troops under the command of Gen. James Reilly. His men were assaulted by elements of Gen. Patrick Cleburne's Division and Gen. Samuel French's Division and the Confederate troops briefly penetrated the Federal line. A vicious counterassault led by two Kentucky regiments and a new Ohio regiment helped push the Southern troops back and secure the main line. Fighting raged around the cotton gin and along the line for hours and upwards of 2,000 men became casualties on this ground, which was long covered by five houses, a strip mall, a Pizza Hut, and a Domino's pizza. Confederate generals Cleburne and Hiram Granbury both lost their lives on this part of the battlefield and Confederate Gen. George Gordon was captured. In addition, at least six Medals of Honor were earned by U. S. soldiers on this ground.
For decades this portion of the battlefield was recalled by survivors with difficulty. They could never forget the horrible scenes which played out there, and the modern reclamation efforts are fulfilling the wishes of some of the survivors who wanted the battlefield preserved so that future generations would never forget what happened at Franklin, as our terrible war played out its final scenes.
In 2003, Franklin was removed from the list of America's ten most endangered battlefields. In 2004, preservationists and the City of Franklin created one of America's most unique public-private partnerships and literally began reclaiming sections of Franklin's Civil War battlefields. The Carter Hill Battlefield Park is the next step of that effort.
In November of 2014, community leaders from the battlefield preservation efforts approached the City of Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen with a proposal (attached) the creation of the Carter Hill Battlefield Park. Key to this proposal is the acquisition of two properties located immediately south of the Carter House (the Lovell tracts) for $2.8 million. To date, an American Battlefield Preservation Grant of approximately $1.3 million has been obtained and approximately $500,000 in other private donations has been raised. It is proposed that in exchange for $1.5 million from the City that the City would receive 11 properties valued at $6.97 million. This property along with property alredy owned by the City and the State of Tennessee-owned Carter House property would comprise a 20-acre battlefield park (Carter Hill) to be operated by the City of Franklin.
Financial Impact
The financial impact of this project is being considered in three categories: development of the park from the master plan; operations/personnel and capital request (attached). The funding components include:
· Acquisition ($1.5 million). The proposal is for the City's payment of $1.5 million be spread out over seven years (approximately $214,300 per year). Funding would be expected to come from the City's Hotel/Motel Tax Fund and need be appropriated in future budgets.
· Site Development ($116,290). These are costs associated with putting up fencing, establishing a trail system within the park and other various site development casts. Many of these components may be able to be completed by City staff. Funding for this work could be provided through either capital funding, the City's general fund, or the Hotel/Motel Fund.
· Operations ($59,153 per year). The additional operating costs associated with the new park will provide for the maintenance, mowing and upkeep of the park and facilities. The City also be able to use some existing equipment and crews to assist with the maintenance. Funding for these annual costs would come from the City's general fund.
Recommendation
rec
The material included in the presentation is to provide the Board of Mayor and Alderman the full scope of services needed to purchase, develop and operate prior to considering the new fiscal year 2016 budget.