RESOLUTION NO. RS2009-629

A resolution requesting the Tennessee Delegation to the United States Congress to introduce and enact legislation that would allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to lease property to state and local governments for primary grade public education facilities.

WHEREAS, Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations governs the Parks, Forests, and Public Property entrusted to the federal government; and

WHEREAS, Chapter III of Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations pertains to property owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and

WHEREAS, Part 327 of Title 36, Chapter III of the Code of Federal Regulations sets the rules and regulations governing public use of water resources development projects administered by the Chief of Engineers; and

WHEREAS, § 327.1 of Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations provides that it is the policy of the Secretary of Army to “manage the natural, cultural and developed resources of each project in the public interest, providing the public with safe and healthful recreational opportunities while protecting and enhancing these resources”; and
WHEREAS, the J. Percy Priest Reservoir, completed in 1968, has 213 miles of shoreline with a total project area of 33,054 acres; and

WHEREAS, there remain large tracts of unused acreage at the J. Percy Priest project site; and

WHEREAS, the J. Percy Priest Reservoir is contiguous with a number of local communities of Middle Tennessee (Donelson, Hermitage, Antioch, LaVergne, and Smyrna); and

WHEREAS, the primary mission areas of the J. Percy Priest Reservoir include (1) Navigation, (2) Flood Damage Reduction, (3) Hydropower, (4) Environmental Stewardship, (5) Recreation, (6) Emergency Response, and (7) International and Interagency Support; and

WHEREAS, there are numerous greenway parks contiguous with the J. Percy Priest Reservoir (Stones River Greenway Trail, Alta Lake Greenway Connector Trail, Smyrna Greenway Trail, Couchville Greenway Trail, Bryant Grove Greenway Trail, Volunteer Greenway Trail, Jones Mill Greenway Trail); and

WHEREAS, the inclusion of public education as a primary area in the J. Percy Priest Master Plan would allow municipalities to lease reservoir land on which to construct primary grade public education facilities (grades K-8) with a focus on environmental education and greenways; and

WHEREAS, a portion of the ‘Greenway Schools’ and associated public environmental education programs located on Corps of Engineers property could be jointly administered by the local Boards of Education and the Departments of Parks and Recreation; and

WHEREAS, the designation of the public schools as ‘Greenway Schools’ will enhance the Environmental Stewardship and Recreation mission areas of the Corps of Engineers; and

WHEREAS, the placement of public schools on the J. Percy Priest acreage will assist the local public school systems in providing an enhanced learning environment for the students, administrators, teachers, and staff of the local public school systems.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting the Tennessee Delegation to the United States Congress to introduce and enact legislation that would allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to lease property to state and local governments for primary grade public education facilities.

Section 2. That the Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to each member of the Tennessee Delegation to the United States Congress, to the President of the United States, to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, to the Metropolitan Board of Public Education, to the Rutherford County Board of Education, and to the Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation.

Section 3. That this Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Bruce Stanley, Phil Claiborne