The Red Bank Commissioners voted Tuesday night to amend the city code regarding the location of alternative financial services. These services include businesses such as pawn brokers, title pledge lenders, deferred presentment services and check cashers. The new code which is intended to limit the number of these companies in the city limits specifies they can be located no closer than 1320 feet (one quarter mile) from one another. These businesses must also be at least 50 feet from a residential zone.
Commissioners also authorized an agreement with Southeast Tennessee Development District for providing local planning advisory services to Red Bank and the city’s planning commission.
Nine months ago Pratt Homebuilders bought property that is adjacent to their headquarters for constructing mini-warehouses at 1724 and 1730 Dayton Blvd.
The builders need an extension of the time limit they were given to get the project in work. Mayor John Roberts said the business has been an asset to the city since they renovated buildings for their company to use. The vote was unanimous to extend the deadline for construction until Sept. 2.
Each year Red Bank applies for a Tennessee Municipal League risk management pool safety grant. This grant provides a match up to $5,000 to benefit the fire and police departments on alternative years. The commissioners voted to apply again this year which is planned for use by the police department to purchase protective gloves that are used when patting down a suspect. Police Chief Tim Christol said often there are needles and knives in pockets and police officers are cut.
The mayor announced that a new farmer’s market is coming to Red Bank. It is the same group that holds the market on Lookout Mountain and Audubon Acres. It will be held at the Red Bank Methodist church every Monday night from 4-7 p.m.
The YMCA has had a lunch program for children in Red Bank this summer. City Manager Randall Smith said that they would like to have greater participation from youth under the age of 18, and would like the public to know about it. Lunches are held at White Oak Park and Kids Corner Park.
Commissioner Ed LeCompte reported that he recently completed the level two training at the Elected Officials Academy that is offered by the TML.