Collegedale To Buy Land From Couple Who Sued Over Firing Range

Collegedale has reached an agreement with a couple that has been involved in a lawsuit with the city for over a year. In 2010 Collegedale bought property and built the police firing range on what was originally a cornfield that backed up to a house where the couple had lived for over 25 years. The owners of the house contended that the city was in violation of its own code which prohibits shooting within 600 feet of a property line.

 

City Attorney Sam Elliott announced at the city commission meeting Monday night that attorneys representing the property owners and the city had come to a settlement agreement by the city acquiring the property.

He asked for and received approval from the commission for authorization of the purchase of the land.

 

Mayor John Turner offered congratulations and made the presentation of a certificate of appreciation to City Manager Ted Rogers for achieving the status of Credential City Manager from the International City Management Association (ICMA). The mayor said this achievement recognizes the highest standard of integrity and commitment to professional development and to lifelong learning. It will benefit the city by allowing Mr. Rogers to have access to leadership programs and workshops that are only available to members. Mayor Turner said that he wanted to formally say thank you and to tell Mr. Rogers how proud the commissioners are of his accomplishment.

 

A board member of the Chattanooga Crime Stoppers, Steve Littell, came to the commission meeting to ask for a contribution to the organization which has the sole purpose of getting crime off of the streets. It has been working to that end since 1980 and has partnered with TV channel 3 which features a “crime of the week” during news broadcasts.

 

Mr. Littell said the group uses the “oldest motivators” known which are money and greed to get tips that lead to the arrest of criminals. He said the money is used wisely with the board deciding the payment that will be made for each tip that leads to an arrest. The average pay-out is $200 but goes higher for the most serious crimes such as murder. An average of one or two payments has been each month for the past year, and just recently two featured crimes occurred in Collegedale.

 

Mayor Turner told the commissioners that he thought it was appropriate to make a contribution because Collegedale has been helped but also the community as a whole has benefited. It will be discussed at the next workshop where a donation amount will be decided.