Officials in East Ridge have been reviewing and revising the municipal code as it relates to on-premise and off-premise signs and billboard regulations. They are trying to decide how to handle new LED signs which can be a concern because the lights are so bright they can blind a driver to on-coming traffic. Cities that allow these signs have regulations in place to control the extreme brightness. Fire Marshall Kenny Custer told the commissioners that East Ridge would have a problem monitoring the signs with only two code enforcement officers, and a lack of equipment.
He said that when delivered, LED signs come with a dimming device for night use. The problem is that owners, in most cases, reprogram them to remain brighter. City Attorney Hal North said LED signs need to be addressed in the ordinance either to exclude or put conditions on them. After more research is done about what will be allowed and how to control them, a first reading of the new sign ordinance will take place at the next council meeting in two weeks. At that time, there will either be an LED portion ready or language for a moratorium included in it.
The façade grants that East Ridge has offered to owners of commercial property in the city for improving the exterior of buildings along Ringgold Road has been amended. At this time, just one property owner has applied for the money. Mayor Brent Lambert believes it is because people are unaware of the offer from the city. To make it easier to obtain the grant, the council voted Thursday night to amend the ordinance so that a property owner can make an application without having a tenant in the building. The vote also will allow the grant money to be used to improve signs at the property.
A resolution was approved to accept a grant from Walmart for the fire and police departments in the amount of $1,500 each. No match was needed for this gift that was bestowed when a Walmart Neighborhood Market opened in the city.
The council also gave approval to make an application for three different grants and accept them if they are awarded to East Ridge. The National Recreation and Park Association Walk with Ease grant is a 100 percent award up to $4,000 for assisting people to form walking groups with the goals of safety and personal success.
Another application will go to the Petco Foundation for a request of at least $100,000 for a new facility to shelter and adopt animals and other quality of life items and programs. No match is required by the city. A third application will be submitted for the Tennessee Municipal League Property Conservation grant totaling $8,000 with the city providing $4,000.
Chief of Police J.R. Reed asked the council for $34,250 that was not budgeted to purchase software licensing for Mobile Cad devices for the police department in-car computer program. He told the council that the police department has raised $90,000 from the sale of 20 surplus vehicles and all other technology updates in the cars has been bought using this money. The software purchase will consist of 25 licenses for a total of $34,250.
The council also voted to accept the newest FEMA flood maps. This was necessary for residents to participate in the national flood insurance program.
The city has now established the process for which an applicant for a retail food store wine license can obtain a certificate of compliance. This certificate will be needed for submitting to the Tennessee alcoholic Beverage Commission. The applicant must at their own expense present proof of a current background check. The applicant must also affirm a location has been secured for the business that complies with all the zoning laws.
Director of Parks and Recreation Stump Martin presented the council with a check for $30,310 from the company that produced the Christmas Nights of Lights at Camp Jordan during the holiday season. A portion of this money will be used to fund the city’s 95th birthday party this coming year. Mr. Martin has been given the task of planning this celebration, and he asked the city for a budget so he can start booking bands. He was given $25,000 coming partially from the Nights of Lights profits and partially from money left in the Liberty Fest fund from last summer. The remainder of the money from the light show will be put toward the overtime expenses for police and fire personnel during the show.
Jason Martin from Henderson, Hutcherson and McCullough presented the audit results for the year ending in June 2015. East Ridge received an unqualified, unmodified opinion meaning no huge adjustments were made to the numbers that the city staff provided to the accountants, said Mr. Martin. The city ended with a total profit for the year of $520,000 from all funds. He warned the council to pay attention to the debt load and consider carefully, how to fund large, new projects such as the new road leading into Jordan Crossing.