JC Commission to consider contract extension for Knob Creek overpass, playground

Johnson City commissioners will consider approvals for two rezonings and several contract extensions and proposals Thursday. The commission meeting is set to take place at 6 p.m. in the commission chambers, inside the Johnson City municipal and safety building at 601 E. Main St. Here's some highlights from the meeting's agenda. Antioch Road, Peoples Street rezoning After passing the planning commission, a rezoning ordinance for a 48-home development on Antioch Road is on first reading for the commission Thursday. Despite several Woodhill subdivision residents voicing their opposition to the rezoning at its meeting in March, the planning commission ultimately voted 6–2 in favor of the ordinance. On second reading, is an ordinance that would rezone a 1.26-acre lot at 2590 Peoples Street to accommodate a potential restaurant. The commission must approve and pass an ordinance on three readings before it can be adopted. Contract extension for Knob Creek overpass project The commission will consider a $200,000 contract extension with a design and engineering consultant for the city to finish up its part of the Knob Creek Road overpass project. Commissioners first approved a $200,000 contract with the consultant, A. Morton Thomas (AMT), in June 2024. This was doubled by an extension August 2025, and if commissioners approve this amendment Thursday, the contract will total to $600,000. For this contract extension, the state will reimburse 80%. According to Thursday's agenda, the city will request that Washington County take on half of the remaining 20%. Assistant City Engineer Jeff Harmon said Tuesday that the need for two additional contract extensions stemmed from design issues that arose after the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) took over the project in 2024. "They (TDOT) had to basically go all the way back through the original design and kind of check all the boxes," Harmon said. "But because they had never done this before. It was just unknown what problems we were going to find. That's why it was initially we thought 'well, $200,000 should cover this.'" Harmon said that as further designs took form, unanticipated issues with older designs popped up. "We started discovering problems with the railroad design … so some parts of that had to be looked at again," Harmon said. "There were issues with the property acquisition, things like that." Harmon said that he is near certain this is the last contract extension the city will need to complete its portion of the project. "I think we are approaching the end," Harmon said. "There are still quite a few items that have to be crossed off, so this project is still ongoing, still a lot of effort going into it, and hopefully we're just reaching the end of the design phase." In previous interviews, city officials have said the city's work on the Knob Creek area will be completed by October. After that, TDOT will take over the project completely. When complete, it will widen Knob Creek Road and replace a one-way railroad underpass tunnel with an overpass. $328k to replace Knob Creek Dock Road lift station The commission will consider approving a $328,000 contract with LDA Engineering to prepare a design for the replacement of the sanitary sewer pump station on Knob Creek Dock Road near the Bristol Highway intersection, according to the commission agenda. The selection of LDA Engineering for the project was approved by the commission in March 2022. $200,000 two-year contract extension for landfill repairs, maintenance An extension to a contract with Baker's Construction & Excavation for another two years for continual repairs and maintenance to Bowser Ridge Landfill is up for the commission's consideration. It will cost the city $100,000 annually. The city's original contract with the company was approved by the commission in 2022 and totaled $75,000 annually. Willow Springs Park $445k playground, splash pad A $890,000 contract with Recreational Concepts, LLC to install a playground and splash pad at Willow Springs Park is up for the commission's approval. Half of the project's costs will be funded by a Tennessee Local Parks and Recreation Fund Grant, while the city will pay the other $445,000. The additions to the park are expected to be completed by the end of 2028, according to the commission agenda. The grant began on Dec. 21, 2025. Upcoming road closures The following road closure notices were also included in the commission agenda: Thirsty Orange Festival, April 17: South Commerce Street between Main Street and Wilson Avenue will be closed 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. ETSU Forever Fest, April 24: Sevier Street, from West Walnut Street to State of Franklin, and Ashe Street, from Campbell Street to Sevier Street, will be closed 2:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Rail Jam, May 2: West King Street from North Boone Street to Montgomery Street will be closed 9 a.m to 6 p.m.