East Ridge was not awarded a hoped-for $1.6 million stimulus grant to acquire 120 acres of low-lying land adjacent to Camp Jordan Park, City Manager William Whitson said Thursday night.

Mr. Whitson said there were 349 applicants for the funding and only three in Tennessee were chosen. He said the East Ridge project was #8 on the Tennessee priority list.

He said he is still hopeful there will be another round of the funding.

Mr. Whitson said the city will be looking for other grant possibilities to make the deal with Luken Properties possible.

The purchase price for the land along I-75 was $500,000. As a part of the deal, Luken was to continue to reap the benefits from two billboards that are on the property.

In other action, Mr. Whitson said the tiny city of Ridgeside has agreed to up its annual payment to East Ridge for police and fire protection by $65,000.

He said Ridgeside had been paying far too little for the help from East Ridge.

Mr. Whitson said Ridgeside has agreed to begin paying $57,505 for police protection and $38,376 for fire protection.

He said the amounts are based on a "per capita" formula based on the same rate East Ridge citizens pay for their own police and fire protection.

The East Ridge Council passed a budget on final reading that reduces spending from $10 million to $9.7 million and saves taxpayers $233,010 (.08 in property taxes).

The budget provides for a new economic development director, executive assistant to the city manager, and a grants coordinator.

It shifts garbage service to an automated system with citizens provided 95-gallon containers by Sept. 1. The new service will not take full effect until new garbage trucks are delivered by Jan. 1.

Mr. Whitson said since East Ridge Council members are now paid, they can also take part in the city's insurance program through Cigna. He said the city would not make a contribution to the council coverage so it would be no cost to city taxpayers.

Greg Ezell said the Energize East Ridge group will have its own office provided by the Luken firm at the Osborne Office Center next to Little Caesar's Pizza.

There will be an open house on Saturday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Provided will be pizza, drinks, door prizes and "We Believe In East Ridge" T-shirts.

Jack Jordan apologized to the council for his actions at the last meeting when he was mad about a certain number of veterans being honored and not others. He said, "My mother raised me better than that."

Dot Guinn, who has been in the same house on Orlando Avenue for 57 years, reiterated that, "I love East Ridge."

She said she will join in the Energize East Ridge effort "head over heels."

She said, "I can tell them what to do and what not to do."