Roberts, Pierce Re-Named To Top Red Bank Posts; City's Progress Hailed

  • Wednesday, December 7, 2016
  • Gail Perry
New Commissioner Carol Rose is sworn in by Judge Johnny Houston
New Commissioner Carol Rose is sworn in by Judge Johnny Houston
photo by Gail Perry

At the first meeting of a new term for city commissioners in Red Bank, John Roberts was unanimously re-elected to serve as mayor for the next two years and Eddie Pierce was re-elected unanimously for vice mayor. One new member, Carol Rose, joined the board of commissioners, replacing Rick Causer, who did not run for re-election. The three were sworn in at the Tuesday night commission meeting by City Judge Johnny Houston.

 

Mayor Roberts, who has been on the board for six years, said that when he started, the mayor at the time told him they would turn the city around when others were saying it would never happen.

The newly installed mayor said Tuesday night that Red Bank is back and people are now calling the city about wanting to move their businesses into Red Bank, and about building housing. He said through hard work, some attributed to steps taken by the last group of commissioners, that the community is getting better.

 

City Manager Randall Smith thanked the police and public works departments for all the work they did before and during the Christmas festival and parade. He said that leaf pick-up has begun on the north end of the city at Gadd Road. The company clearing the leaves will be moving south, so residents are asked to get their leaves to the street so they can be vacuumed. He said it is especially important to get leaves out of the ditches to lessen the threat of flooding which the city has had problems with during the last several days. Some parts of the city have seen flooding caused by clogged drainage ditches.

 

Brian Wright from Johnson, Murphy and Wright, P.C. made a presentation of the fiscal year 2016 audit of Red Bank. He said that most city funds had operated with a surplus and that Red Bank was given an “Unmodified Report,” which is the best you can get. He said that the auditors gave a clean opinion, which is also the best that can be given. Red Bank is in great shape, said Mr. Wright, as he praised the way it is run.

 

An ordinance was passed to participate in the Volkswagen buy-back program. Mr. Smith said that Red Bank has a fleet of diesel Passats, the cars that had issues with air quality. He proposed to take the offer that is one of the options given for owners of cars that were affected. With the money received from the buy-back, plus $46,452, the city could buy seven new Ford Interceptor SUV police vehicles. This would provide the police with a new fleet of cars replacing some of the Volkswagens that were more than four years old. A vote approved the city manager’s proposal.

 

During the citizen participation portion of the meeting, Becky Browder spoke on behalf of the Midvale Neighborhood Association, which was asking for help with five concerns. The neighborhood has been upset by multiple car break-ins and a recent stabbing, the result of a domestic argument. The association asked for increased police patrols in the area. The duplex where the incident occurred has an out-of-town owner. The next-door neighbor said the lack of upkeep results in attracting the wrong type of people, and the property manager plans to do nothing, he said, so he turned to the city for help.

 

Even though the speed limit on Ashmore Avenue has been lowered to 25 mph it has had no impact on speeders, said resident Jon Baker. There is police presence, with patrol cars parked along the street at times, but it is recognized that they cannot be there full-time. With development in the area, the problem is expected to become worse, so the neighbors are asking for the city to come up with a solution.

 

Hamilton County EMS ambulance service is located on Ashmore Avenue, and when it was built, there was an agreement that ambulances would not use the neighborhood streets, said Ms. Browder, but they do. The association asked the city to contact Hamilton County Emergency Management to stop the use of neighborhood streets for the emergency vehicles.  

 

Recent work done by the railroad left old pipes and debris lying around and insufficient asphalt was used to do the work, according to the complaint. Ms. Browder asked when or if they are coming back to finish and clean up the site.

 

Another complaint is about flooding that is the result of the 68 new homes that are under construction by Bell Development on a hill behind the existing houses. Rains have resulted in run-off flooding and damaging some of the existing properties. The association was told by Jay Bell that the recent mud slides and flooding were caused by contractors that had removed drainage features. The city was asked by the association to make sure that inspections are done and to oversee the contractor by following up on reports and inspections.

 

 

Judge Houston gives oath to Vice Mayor Eddie Pierce
Judge Houston gives oath to Vice Mayor Eddie Pierce
photo by Gail Perry
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