Paving begins this week on a project that will see about half of Red Bank's side streets repaved.

Public Works Director Tim Thornbury advised residents that the paving will be in several different phases, including clipping the roads (cutting away grass), putting on a leveling course, and then applying the topping.

To help pay for the project, the Red Bank Commission authorized up to $500,000 in notes. Interim City Manager John Alexander said the actual amount should be between $300,000 and $400,000.

The notes will be repaid from the city's share of the gasoline tax over a 12-year period.

The Red Bank Commission will spend the day next Tuesday interviewing five city manager candidates. The first interview at City Hall will be at 9 a.m. and the last at 3 p.m. Finalists - all from out of town - are George Hayfield; Charles Beale, David Strohl, Andrew Hyatt and Randall Smith.

The public is invited to sit in on the interviews, but will not be allowed to ask questions.

Two days later - on Thursday, Sept. 27 - there will be an open house at the old gym and auditorium at Red Bank Middle School (originally Red Bank High School) on Dayton Boulevard. Mayor Monty Millard said residents are invited to take a look at the facilities that had been planned to be torn down. Architect Vance Travis is proposing that they be saved and that the gym be renovated for a replacement Red Bank City Hall.

Mayor Millard said the commission needs to make a decision by the end of October or first of November.

Ruth Jeno, who is not seeking re-election, spoke against the idea of using the old buildings. She said the city had already paid architect Travis for plans for a new city hall next to the current one. She said $70,000 was spent for the plans and $50,000 to buy the lot and old house that was torn down.

"I don't see throwing that money away," she said, stating that the gym "is in terrible shape. It would take lots and lots of money to fix it up. I think it would be a money pit."

Mayor Millard said the new city hall would be 6,000 square feet. He said the revamped gym would have 18,000 square feet of space, which he termed "absolutely enormous."

The regular meeting on Oct. 2 will start at 5 p.m. instead of the regular 7 p.m. time to allow commissioners to take part in opening of the new pavilion at the Kids Korner Park on Redding Road.

The site includes an area for a band and a sound system. A band will perform that night.

It also has five pieces of public art that are being leased by the city.

Commissioner Jeno said the additions to the park came at no expense to Red Bank taxpayers.

Commissioner Kenneth Welch said Thursday night is the final game to be played on the old Rankin Field at the current middle school. He said the field has been in use for some 75 years.