Deal could stop mining along Cumberland Trail

There's a tentative deal that could end the mining of "mountain stone" along the Cumberland Trail.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported Friday that a subcommittee of the State Building Commission this week unanimously approved paying a Florida company $500,000 for part of its mineral rights near Soddy-Daisy.

If accepted by Lahiere-Hill LLC of Destin, Fla., the deal would end a three-year legal wrangle over digging up the stone along the state-owned footpath.

Lawyer Elizabeth McCarter, in the state Attorney General's Office, said the subcommittee's unanimous approval was the first step. The full commission would have to approve the payment, as would the state comptroller and the governor.

Company attorney Rick Hitchcock said he was unable to comment.