Another business will be locating in Red Bank. At the commission meeting Tuesday night Mayor John Roberts made the announcement that a new coffee shop, tentatively named Creek Top Coffee Shop, will be opening in the location of the former Athletic Shop on Dayton Boulevard, across the street from Bi-Lo. The business will be a bistro in addition to selling coffee.
City Manager Randall Smith informed the commission of grants that are available for the city and asked for and was given authorization to apply for two.
The Tennessee Municipal League offers a 50/50 matching grant to municipalities for the purpose of helping them to buy safety equipment. Mr. Smith said that each year proceeds from this grant rotate among the public works, police and fire departments. Both Red Bank and the TML will contribute $1,500 to fund the purchase of $3,000 worth of equipment for the fire department, which is the beneficiary this year.
Police Chief Tim Christol told the commissioners that $35,230 is in the budget for purchasing video/audio equipment for new police vehicles. This money came to the city from the Governor’s Highway Safety Office. Approval was given to attain a contract with Turn Key Mobile, Inc. to supply and install the high definition cameras. The quality of images produced by these new cameras will give the police “a lot of evidentiary value,” said the chief.
He also asked the commissioners for authorization to participate in the state of Tennessee office of criminal justice programs grant. This is a 75/25 matching grant with the state contributing $15,000 and Red Bank contributing $5,000. A vote to apply for the grant was unanimous. If the city receives it, the money would be used to purchase an additional four cameras for police cars.
The city manager was given authority to enter into an agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway on behalf of Red Bank. This is needed because of the proximity of the road to the railroad tracks and will help expedite paving that is being done on Dayton Boulevard.
Approval was also given for the purchase of a new diesel powered riding lawn mower for $11,000. This mower will be a commercial grade machine and should have a longer service life than the residential equipment that the public works department has used in the past.
At the second meeting of the quarter, acknowledgment was given for “Employee of the Quarter” from the public works, police and fire departments. Tim Thornbury, director of public works, recognized Jonathan Broyles and Chief Christol honored Sergeant Don Seymour for his work in training and accreditation and daily operations with the IT department. Fire Chief Mark Matthews chose four of his employees to recognize for helping a motorist who crashed in front of the Fire Department on June 13. He said that Joe DeMary, Drake Terry, Preston Binegar and Robert Sprague went above and beyond what they had to do.