East Ridge, which was hard hit by the recent flood, is taking steps to be better prepared for the next deluge, City Manager William Whitson said.

He said the city has formed a hazard mitigation team that will work with the county on possible purchase and razing of certain flood-prone properties and other issues.

Mr. Whitson said the city's pipes and drains were installed 40 years ago when they had to carry less water, and may need to be upgraded.

And East Ridge is also considering whether to pay the remainder of the legal bill for Mayor Mike Steele, who won an ouster case brought by a group of citizens, but was left with a legal bill of around $16,000.

Mr. Whitson said, "It's a fairness issue. The mayor did nothing wrong, but he was left with this large bill."

The matter was delayed until Oct. 29 when all council members are expected to be present.

East Ridge is also asking the Legislature to enact a bill that would require those who bring such ouster actions and lose to pay the full bill.

Attorney Dee Hobbs said the total bill was $21,646, and the citizens were only ordered by Criminal Court Judge Don Poole to pay $6,851.

He said Mayor Steele paid $1,720 out of his own pocket on an earlier ouster suit brought by then-City Attorney Cris Helton. That suit was dismissed without a trial.

East Ridge also wants the Legislature to allow the sale of fireworks along Exit 1 of Interstate 75. Fireworks sales are currently banned in Hamilton County.

Officials said the sales would be a boon to the local economy.

East Ridge is also installing an extensive new landscaping ordinance.

Officials said having more trees and shrubs and attractive landscaping was high on the list in the recent city visioning process.

On new projects, the ordinance directs that no parking space shall be more than 60 feet away from a tree. It cites a new for breaking up large expanses of asphalt, for providing shade and for reducing glare.

There is a list of preferred trees, along with those that are disallowed, including privet, bush honeysuckle, kudzu, tree of heaven, silver maple, mulberry and mimosa.

Mr. Whitson said the city received 41 applications for the new position of economic development director, and the list has been cut to 21.

He said the remaining candidates have been sent questionnaires. Those will be reviewed and scored by the Municipal Technical Assistance Service.

After the field is reduced to four or five, they will be brought in for interviews.

The new economic development director will be paid between $60,000 and $70,000, plus benefits.

All front-line East Ridge Police and reserve officers are being outfitted with new, smaller, upgraded tasers.

Cost of the 50 tasers is $40,447. It will be covered by a $17,549 Byrne grant and money from the drug enforcement program.

The council was told that attorney David Higdon of the law firm of City Attorney John Anderson has been providing legal services as a "citizen advocate" since the outbreak of the recent flood.

The charge to the city is $3,500 per month and is ongoing until terminated, it was stated.