Mayor Shane McFarland discusses minor league baseball, road projects, an airport control tower, the local economy, and more in the latest edition of “The Insider.”
Listen to “The Insider” at https://cityofmurfreesborotn.podbean.com/. “The Insider,” the City’s official podcast, is also available for viewing on YouTube https://youtu.be/QkRYFfz8jzA
This edition of Insider with Mayor Shane McFarland includes:
- Murfreesboro was recently approached by organizers/developers of a minor league baseball team and the American Association of Professional Baseball, a partner of MLB
- McFarland speaks to the challenges of the Cannonsburgh Village and Historic Bottoms area in terms of public safety and future investment
- The conversation includes possibly creating a Sports Authority which might allow Murfreesboro to collect a greater amount of tax dollars from associated revenues, an opportunity that could be assessed in future economic development and feasibility studies
- Housing planned for the Broad Street Redevelopment project includes condominiums and apartments in an area of the downtown proper that the mayor says currently has no residential living space needed to create a vibrant City center
- The Broad Street project includes plans for a Downtown Hotel to help expand the existing 5,500 units in Rutherford County. Tourism advocates argue the city needs more rooms
- The bidding process for construction of the Daylighting Town Creek is expected by the end of 2023, early 2024, with businesses along Broad relocating
- The Federal Air Traffic Control Tower program could approve a control tower for Murfreesboro in three to five years after application is submitted following Council approval
- Blackman Park on 153 acres off Veterans Parkway is currently in the design phase for a community park after a land swap with MTE
- City-owned land off Hwy 96 west of Veterans Parkway could be developed into a Park for baseball and softball fields in a community considered in need of such facilities
- City Sales Tax Revenue is currently above projections for the FY23-24 Budget, but the mayor credits much of that to inflation
- High interest rates instituted by the Federal Reserve’s effort to reduce inflation are postponing some development projects and hurting affordability
- City’s financial condition, based on conservative policies and the sale of the electric department, is well-positioned for investments in infrastructure projects, such as the new bridge over I-24
- Forty to 50 current Road Projects include the widening of Old Fort Pkwy., Hwy 99, Thompson Lane and more
- Public Trust in government, especially at the federal level, is perhaps at its lowest ebb, which also impacts local government
- Solving local problems includes dozens of people who serve on the City’s board and commissions who are needed to be part of the process in providing guidance and leadership. Online applications are available at www.murfreesborotn.gov for citizens to apply for public service.
Mayor McFarland was first elected mayor of Murfreesboro in 2014 as the youngest mayor in the City’s history and was reelected in 2018 and 2022. Prior to being elected mayor, McFarland was elected to the City Council in 2006. A 1997 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and former Student Government Association president, McFarland owns Shane McFarland Construction, a custom residential and commercial construction firm.
This latest edition of “The Insider” is available via Podbean, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music/Audible and Google Podcasts. Podcasts can be accessed on the City of Murfreesboro’s website. Just click the “Podcast” link on the bottom of the homepage under “Connect With Us” https://cityofmurfreesborotn.podbean.com/ then click the latest episode or listen to previous episodes.
“The Insider,” hosted by Mike Browning, originates from City Hall, and is produced by award-winning producer Michael Nevills.
Murfreesboro CityTV can be found on Comcast Channel 3 and 1094, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, YouTube, and the City website www.murfreesborotn.gov/citytv.
For City News online, visit www.Murfreesborotn.gov.