The Collegedale City Commission was told of the upcoming Collegedale Community Fest at the regularly scheduled meeting on Monday evening. Lauren Davenport, community director with the American Cancer Society, briefed the commission about the local organization’s participation in the Relay for Life event to be held on March 21 at Veteran’s Park.

Traditionally the Relay for Life event is held from Friday evening to Saturday morning, but this year in Collegedale it will run from 2 p.

m. until 8 p.m. on that Sunday afternoon. There is a cost of $10 per entrant in the race which will begin with a Survivor’s Lap to honor all the cancer survivors in attendance. Ms. Davenport invited the commission to form a team to raise money for the cancer society.

There will be tents set up for games and other vendors, as well as an entertainment stage. Ms. Davenport said, “Cancer is a not just big disease, but it is a personal one for those who have gone through it, either themselves or with a loved one.”

She also told of an informational meeting to be held on Feb. 4 in the West Room of the City Hall building. Their goal, she said, is to “paint the town purple.” Purple is the color chosen to represent the cancer organization.

Also under new business, the commission was presented with a request from the owners of 4918 McDonald Road to be annexed into the Collegedale city limit. The owner’s request is to take advantage of Collegedale fire and police protection, trash service and the opportunity to vote in city elections.

According to information provided, this is a “substantial amount of land and is contiguous with the city via Tallent Road,” according to city officials.

It was pointed out by City Attorney Sam Elliott that new procedures were now in place for this type of request and that it should be presented to the Planning Commission to be brought before the commission as a resolution at a future meeting.

Michael Newberry, a retired Air Force colonel, made a presentation to the commission concerning an upcoming “Arts in the Park” festival for the Collegedale community. Mr. Newberry, a resident of about a year, formerly headed up such a festival in the panhandle area of Florida. According to Mr. Newberry, the festival will be centered around kids and he is working with the Hamilton County Department of Education, as well as others to plan the event.

The festival, slated for Sept. 12, will involve a performance by the East Tennessee State Symphony, as well as hot air balloon rides and a soap box derby. It will, he said, involve all forms of the arts – visual, audio and performing. At this time Southern Adventist University and the City of Collegedale will be participants. McKee Foods and Wal-Mart are expected to be among the sponsors.

Commissioner Katie Lamb expressed her thanks to the Public Works department for getting the city through the recent snow storm safely and efficiently. Vice Mayor Tim Johnson added his thanks to the Collegedale Police Department.

Vice Mayor Johnson also gave accolades for the city’s new website for being easier to update, more current and better looking than what the city had had in the past.

The commission met without City Manager Ted Rogers, who is in Haiti providing relief services following the recent earthquakes in that country.