Teachers who work in Collegedale but live outside the city will be exempt from library fees after a 4-1 decision from the Collegedale Commission Monday night.

Commissioner Debbie Baker said some teachers no longer use the library after Collegedale took the reins from the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County last summer and instituted $60 fees for individuals. Ms. Baker said teachers usually receive $200 a year to buy classroom materials, using half that amount for main office supplies.

“A lot of the schools don’t have the resources [for books],” Ms. Baker said. The commissioner works as a special education teacher at Apison Elementary School.

Commissioners Katie Lamb, Larry Hanson, Debbie Baker, and Mayor John Turner voted yes to the measure. Vice Mayor Tim Johnson voted no.

Ms. Baker said almost 60 teachers in surrounding schools such as Ooltewah Middle, Collegedale Adventist Middle, and Apison Elementary will be eligible. Residents of Chattanooga are not qualified.

Ted Rogers, city manager, said library revenues have exceeded $15,000 since opening as a Collegedale entity in August 2011.

Commissioners voted unanimously to change rules on the size and number of parking spaces required for apartments. On its second and final reading, Ordinance #794 reduces the standard space from 10 feet to 9 feet. Single-family dwellings now only need 1.8 spaces, down from 2.
Rodney Keeton, director of public works, presented the lowest public bid on plans for restrooms and a pavilion on the Greenway. The 800-square-foot buildings are planned next to the soccer fields at the Tucker Road entrance to the recreation area.

Collegedale would shell out $106,500 for the project. Mr. Keeton said he would use the public works department for some of the grading work to cut down the initial price tag, $199,000.

“That is just an insane number,” Mayor Turner said.

“That was the low bid,” Mr. Keeton said.

“I know the public wants it really bad, I don’t want to lose the $48,000,” Mr. Rogers said, referring to state grant money that expires next year. He said the grant did not permit much financial flexibility, but suggested contractors sometimes take advantage of due process mandated in government contracts.

Commissioners Hanson and Baker and Vice Mayor Johnson voted to approve the contract. Commissioner Lamb voted no. Mayor Turner abstained from voting.

A new administrative hearing officer was chosen and approved for the city. Kyle Hendricks will be the administrative hearing officer for Collegedale.