Anna Mayes and Police Chief Tim Christol
photo by Gail Perry
An ordinance to amend the budget was approved unanimously at the Red Bank Commission meeting Tuesday night to provide money for funding the purchase of a building that will become the new city hall. A building at 3105 Dayton Blvd., just two doors south of the current city hall, became available due to a foreclosure in August and the city won the bid at the foreclosure sale on Aug. 20. The purchase price was $275,000 and, adding associated back taxes, appraisal fees and title fees totaling $26,800, the final price paid was $301,800.
Mayor John Roberts extended kudos to everyone involved in the sale, with special thanks to City Manager Randall Smith and City Attorney Arnold Stulce. He said the city has been running out of space where it is now, and said he was excited to be able to acquire this building for a great price in comparison to what it would have cost to build a completely new structure.
The city manager gave a reminder that the city will be holding a community safety expo Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. It will be in the parking lot of Food City at 3901 Dayton Blvd. The focus will be on child safety including bicycles, car seat inspections, drug take back and a crash extrication demonstration. Mr. Smith said there will be representatives from many area public safety agencies as well as food and local vendors and activities for children.
The police department was honored with a gift from the Dallas Bay Baptist Church in Hixson. The event was organized by the church to thank and give tribute to area police officers. It was headed by Anna Mayes. The group hosted a dinner at the Maple Street Biscuit Company and offered free meals to all police officers and their families. The event, paid for by church members, included live music, and door prizes.
It also raised $3,000 that is being divided among the Red Bank Police Department, the Chattanooga Police Department and Officer Dennis Pedigo, the Chattanooga police officer who was injured in the military shootings in July.
A check for $1,000 was presented to Red Bank Police Chief Tim Christol Tuesday night in honor of the department. The chief said that the money would be put into his department’s “backpack program.” Each patrol car will carry a backpack filled with items in it for a child that is in need. He said this is one way the Red Bank Police are attempting to make a connection with a new generation of children to let them know police are there to help and not to be feared. He said all the money will go back to the community.