Attorney Hal North
The East Ridge City Council, at a special called Saturday morning meeting, voted to continue providing fire and police services for the tiny municipality of Ridgeside. However, a question of jurisdiction arose.
Councilman Marc Gravitt said East Ridge City Judge Cris Helton advised him that he has no jurisdiction over Ridgeside - just East Ridge.
Ridgeside Mayor Janet Jobe said Ridgeside, which has no fire and police departments of its own, earlier unsuccessfully tried to get cases heard in General Sessions Court Sessions Court.
She noted that at one time Ridgeside was patrolled by a private security company.
Officials said East Ridge Police officers are deputized in Ridgeside, which has 412 residents.
The East Ridge City Council agreed to add codes enforcement to the services it furnishes Ridgeside. The annual cost charged by East Ridge to Ridgeside will rise to $98,311.
Mayor Brent Lambert said there are a few codes issues currently in Ridgeside, but hopefully there will be little call for the codes services after those are straightened out.
The council also approved the budget on first reading, though the issue of salaries has yet to be addressed.
It was noted that Councilman Denny Manning has requested a pay increase for City Attorney Hal North.
It was noted that attorney North had not asked for the raise. Councilman Manning said, "We have never had the attorney bring paperwork saying he wants a raise."
Attorney North, who was apparently unaware of the move, asked, "How much is it?" - drawing laughter from the audience.
The council in March of 2013 approved raising the monthly pay of attorney North from $7,500 to $10,000 - bringing it to $120,000 per year.
A special budget session will be held on June 10 at 11 a.m.
To accommodate the schedule of council members, the regular council meetings for June have been moved to June 16 and June 30. They will start at 6 p.m. They will have to be moved to the rear of city hall because court is held on Tuesday nights in the regular council chambers.
Action was delayed on the new contract for City Manager Andrew Hyatt after he asked for time to bring details of it to the council.