East Ridge Considering Options For Fire Hall At Site Of New Bass Pro Shops

  • Friday, December 19, 2014
  • Gail Perry

Previously, the East Ridge City Council approved a resolution to purchase three acres of land to build a replacement for Fire Station #2. The old one is situated at the location where Bass Pro Shop will be built. The new property is at the intersection of Ringgold and Scruggs Roads. The agreed upon proposal was to pay $70,000 for each of three acres and another would be given to the city by the sellers, for a total price of $210,000. At the city council meeting Thursday night, City Attorney Hal North said the seller has reconsidered the original proposition because a Bi Lo Grocery store has made an offer on a portion of that property, which would interfere with the planned access route to the fire station.

 

A revised proposal from the seller is the same price for three acres but the city must pay $70,000 for the fourth.

Trip Brown, representing the seller, told the council that the owner is willing to build a new road that will be given to East Ridge to use as a city street. The driveways to both the fire station and the grocery store would have access from that road.

 

After he became aware of this change, Vice Mayor Larry Sewell said he did a little research and found that the old fire hall building could be moved instead of being bulldozed, a new pad could be built to include space for an additional bay, and it could be reconstructed in a matter of 18 days for a cost of around $99,000. He proposed moving the building to land the city already owns at Camp Jordan or said it could be placed in another location.

 

Commissioner Jacky Cagle made a motion to abandon the land purchase because the conditions changed. Commissioner Marc Gravitt said he did not like the agreement being changed in mid-stream, “but I don’t want to cut our nose off to spite our face,” he said, and suggested keeping the option to purchase the Brown property open.  

 

The council members were told that the city’s insurance company advised Fire Chief Mike Williams that a new station should be located on the western side of I-75 in case of a disaster to the bridge which could prevent a fire truck from getting across the interstate.

 

Whatever is decided - whether it is to build a new facility or move the old one - the city’s future needs should be considered, said Mayor Brent Lambert. Either option will need to provide a bay for adding a new ladder truck that is planned for the city.  Timing is also critical since the city must be off the old property by Feb. 1.That allows only five weeks from now. Approval was given for City Manager Andrew Hyatt to consult with an engineering firm to determine the best option and put it out for bid.

 

The city manager said each year that meeting schedules need to be established. It was decided to continue holding city council meetings on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. The planning and beer boards will also meet on those days. It was noted that because of the increase in economic development in East Ridge, the planning board will become more active. The first council meeting in 2015 will be held Jan. 8.

 

Earlier discussions determined that meeting times would be altered slightly in the coming year. Agenda meetings that determine issues to be decided at the following meeting will now begin at 6 p.m. The commission meeting will immediately follow at 6:30. In the event that the agenda meeting is not completed by that time, it will resume when the commission meeting ends.

 

Mr. Hyatt also made a recommendation concerning board appointments. Currently, members of the various city boards, including the planning, beer, personnel, library and zoning boards, begin terms at differing times throughout the year. The city manager suggested they all be consistent and that terms on each be staggered so people will rotate off to prevent having a completely new board each year. He said in most places he has worked, the terms begin July 1 and end June 30 which coincides with the budget year.

 

Two new appointments were made Thursday night. The planning board consists of the mayor and one council member along with three other appointees made by the mayor. Larry Sewell was appointed to fill the vacant council position on that board. Frances Pope was nominated and accepted a vacant place on the personnel board.

 

Mayor Lambert told the commissioners that he would love to see a process for citizens to apply for board positions. He said this would provide a ready pool of people to draw from that are willing to serve the city.

 

The last issue taken up by the council was a discussion of Christmas bonuses for city employees. This had been put on the agenda by Councilman Denny Manning. He proposed those working full time be given $500 and that $350 go to each one working part time or as volunteers. “How much is that going to cost?” asked Mr. Gravitt.

 

After determining the number of people involved, City Treasurer Thad Jablonski figured that the total amount would be around $73,600. “Where’s the money coming from?” asked Mr. Gravitt. It was not put in the budget because when the budget was drafted, employees said they would prefer a yearly raise instead of a Christmas bonus, he said. "I value our employees but consider the excellent health insurance benefits and a leave buy-back as part of their compensation package," said Mr. Gravitt.

 

Mr. Manning then suggested taking the money from reserve funds. Mayor Lambert countered with a proposition to give full time employees a gift of $100 each and $75 for part time and volunteer workers. The cost to do that would be around $15,000, taken from reserves, and was approved by a unanimous vote.

 

Vice Mayor Sewell told Mr. Manning that if he wanted to do this each year, it needed to be put in the budget.

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