The Red Bank Commissioners have voted to enter into an agreement with the Trust for Public Land to make possible the creation of two new trails that will join the city's White Oak Park to the existing Stringer’s Ridge Trail. One will partially follow an old road bed and is being referred to as “the commuter route.” It is 1.25 miles and the easier of the two. The second one that is being called “the single track route” will be .9 miles and will be a little more difficult.
It will be used for mountain biking in addition to hiking. Work is expected to begin on both trails sometime this summer.
The acceptance of a TDOT grant was also approved at the commission meeting Tuesday night that will make pedestrian safety improvements along the section of Dayton Boulevard from Greenleaf Street to Meadowbrook Drive. Safety improvements such as pedestrian islands and signal push buttons will be made. TDT funding will provide 80 percent of the $450,000 project. Only Commissioner Rick Causer was opposed to accepting this grant.
Passed unanimously was an ordinance that will subject alternative financial institutions to distance requirements of 1,320 feet in land use zones, will set minimum set back and distance separation requirements from residential properties and prohibit the location in certain other zones. These are businesses such as payday lenders, check cashing businesses and pawn shops among others that are non-banking.
The current zoning ordinance was amended to allow the building separation distance in Planned Unit Developments (PUD) to be reduced from 15 to 10 feet. There was no opposition from the fire marshal and had been recommended by the Red Bank Planning Commission.
Also with no opposition, approval was given for the city to abandon a public right-of-way that is between 3301 and 3305 Berkley Dr. Access to the property exists off Gaylord Street. Owners of the two properties said that the right of way runs through the middle of a driveway, and the property cannot be sold without the change. The planning commission also had recommended the revision in order for the property to be split.
Red Bank has several employees who have accrued in excess of 400 hours of vacation pay. The commissioners voted to authorize a one-time payment for those employees. The 2015 operating budget was amended in the amount of $98,448 in order to make these payments.
A vote also allowed the city to enter into a contract with Martin Law Enforcement Services, LLC. To provide “blood draw” services for use in DUI and/or drug-related arrests by the Red Bank Police Officers for evidentiary purposes.