Additions And Improvements At Camp Jordan Arena Coming Soon

  • Friday, October 24, 2014
  • Gail Perry
photo by Gail Perry

Additions and improvements are coming to Camp Jordan Arena in the near future. At the Thursday night meeting of the East Ridge city council, approval was given for buying new playground equipment. It will come from Gametime, a locally-based company. The VP of Marketing lives in East Ridge and made a proposal to set up the playground at Camp Jordan so his company could use it for photographing the equipment for brochures. Instead of dismantling it, an offer was made to Parks and Recreation Director Stump Martin, to sell the assembled playground to the city for $35,000. The equipment installed is worth $100,000. The council unanimously agreed to this “sweet deal.”

A bid for the purchase and installation of HVAC units for Camp Jordan Arena was approved. It will be paid for with a 50/50 matching TDEC Clean Energy Grant for $145,000.

In-car cameras will be bought for 12 new police cars. Included in the bid for the car cameras, were body cameras for the police. Both types of cameras are part of a single-contained system that downloads into the same server that is currently being used, said Police Chief J.R. Reed. Buying both car and body cameras as a package provides a discounted price for the body cameras. The 12 new systems will be bought for the low bid of $59,400. Money for this purchase will come from the capital improvement fund.

City Treasurer Thad Jablonski proposed that the city make applications and provide acceptance for three grants. The 2015 Building Better Communities Grant is funded 100 percent by the Tennessee American Water Company. It will provide $150,000 toward a natural play park for the city.

The 2015 Tennessee Parks and Greenways foundation Grant is also a 100 percent grant that will provide $2,500 to install benches and trail markers at Camp Jordan Park and will require no money from the city.

The 2015 TDOT Transportation Alternatives Grant with a match of 80/20 percent will give East Ridge $520,000 from the state and will require $130,000 from the city. This money will be used to improve East Ridge Road and Moore Road by redesigning existing bike lanes and sidewalks, combining them in an attempt to create the appearance of a boulevard.

A decision was made to change the time of agenda work sessions. They will now begin at 6 p.m. before the start of the regular city council meetings at 6:30 p.m. If the agenda meeting needs to be extended, it will continue immediately after the end of the regular meeting.

A group from the River City Corvette Club proposed that it partner with the city to raise money for the Forgotten Child Fund. It asked to have the fee waived for using Camp Jordan Arena for a car show on the first Saturday in August and told the council that all the money raised would go to charity. Councilman Marc Gravitt questioned its status as a non-profit organization since the rental fee of $1,500 is only waived for non-profits.

The current president of the club said that status was being applied for. Because it will help their cause, the councilmen decided on giving permission to use the facility for no charge, contingent upon the club having obtained the status by the time of the event.

All city employees came to the meeting wearing pink T-shirts. Fire Chief Mike Williams explained to the audience that this was to show support for breast cancer awareness during October.

City Manager Andrew Hyatt announced that the Vietnam Veteran’s memorial at city hall is almost completed and will be ready by Veterans Day when there will be an unveiling ceremony.

Mayor Brent Lambert proposed a resolution and the council agreed, honoring Luther Masingill, saying he was a very special individual and that he will be missed.

 

 

 

photo by Gail Perry
Latest Headlines
Breaking News
Latest Hamilton County Arrest Report
  • 3/19/2024

Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report: AWOLOWO, APRIL 105 EUCLID STREET ATHENS, 373030000 Age at Arrest: 36 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff THEFT OVER $1000 BARNETT, ... more

Senator Colton Moore Challenger Hits "An Incumbent Bent On Self-Promotion Instead Of Humble Leadership"
  • 3/18/2024

Angela Pence, a Chickamauga resident who is making a race against 53rd District Senator Colton Moore, said she aims to bring principled, effective leadership "to a district that has gone unheard ... more

Wamp Pushing For Tighter Local Lobbying Rules, Tax Abatement Policies; Bigger Share Of Sales Tax
  • 3/18/2024

County Mayor Weston Wamp spoke to the Pachyderm Club on Monday about the significance of a state basketball title, the need for local lobbying regulations and tightening up on tax abatement policies. ... more