The city of Red Bank will be getting money from a Homeland Security Grant. Approval was given to appropriate the $36,080 in funds for buying digital radios for both the police and fire departments.
Some projects that the city received grants for in 2015-2016 were not accomplished during the fiscal year, said City Manager Randall Smith. The budget was amended at the commission meeting Tuesday night, to roll over that money into fiscal year 2016-2017 so it can be used to complete the work for which the grants were designated.
The city has received a gift of $10,000 from the Hamilton County Commission through Commissioner Jim Fields to repair the Dixie Youth ball field’s buildings at 640 Morrison Springs Road.
The city will also put in $10,000 for the necessary work.
A second and final vote gave approval to provide $22,309 for buying ballistic armor for the police department and $11,193 to repair a pipe on city-owned right-of-way that is adjacent to East Meadowbrook.
The city’s zoning map was amended to correct errors. At the first reading of this ordinance at the meeting on Sept. 6 two property owners complained that the changes would negatively impact plans for their properties. Both issues were resolved with the owners by the city agreeing to leave the zoning of their land as it was.
Commissioner Ed LeCompte reported on a Chamber of Commerce meeting that featured Valerie Radu, the executive director of the Chattanooga Family Justice Center in the Eastgate area. He said he learned that there is a branch of the justice center in Red Bank that operates from the United Methodist Church every Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The services they provide help people with problems such as domestic abuse.
He also announced that The Hub will be opening soon. This program will allow the public to use the library at Red Bank High School.
Christopher Beasley, a business owner at 2011 Dayton Blvd., came to the meeting to dispute the Red Bank Police Department’s handling of an incident involving road rage. In early June, he said an automobile pulled around his SUV passing him on the right shoulder and side-swiping his car. He photographed the car and tag. He claimed the other driver was at fault and that it left the scene. That driver later blamed Mr. Beasley when filling out a report for his insurance company. Mr. Beasley recently discovered no ticket had even been given to the driver and said he feels as if the police are not enforcing the law. Mayor John Roberts suggested a meeting between Mr. Beasley, City Attorney Arnold Stulce and Police Chief Tim Christol to facilitate resolving the issue.