AHO candidate James Exum
The East Ridge City Council will advertise for an administrative hearing officer opening, though two potential candidates made pitches on Thursday night.
Kyle Hedrick was serving East Ridge, Collegedale and Red Bank, but he was recently appointed Circuit Court judge by Governor Bill Haslam in the position formerly held by Neil Thomas.
Attorney James Exum, who was a finalist for the Circuit Court judge post, said he is applying for all three AHO openings. He lives on Signal Mountain.
Chris Harris, a Ringgold, Ga., attorney, is also interested in the position. He said he represents the Catoosa County Planning and Zoning Board so is familiar with code violation cases. He said he was a former table and bathroom cleaner at the old Tripp's Seafood.
Mayor Brent Lambert said attorney Hedrick was the first AHO in the state under a bill passed in 2011 and was "a trailblazer." He said the AHO can handle code cases more quickly and put down stiffer penalties than the city judge.
The council again tabled the issue of whether to increase the pay of the city court clerk.
Patricia Cassidy, the current clerk, earlier told the council that the pay was not in line with the duties and requirements.She recommended the change coincide with the term of the person winning the next election.
Councilman Jacky Cagle recommended tabling "to get more information on some stuff I hear is going on."
City Manager Scott Miller said the circular 1B ramp at Exit 1 of I-75 at Ringgold Road will be closing permanently next Tuesday.
He said motorists eventually will have four lanes at the 1A ramp, which will be aligned with the entrance to Camp Jordan. He said they will be able to go either straight ahead or left or right on Ringgold Road.
Mayor Lambert said it will be "a huge safety improvement."
City Manager Miller said the bridge over the freeway at Exit 1 is old and deteriorating. He said he is urging TDOT to replace it at the same time several nearby bridges are changed out during the I-24/I-75 interchange project.
The council approved $20,000 for "professional services" for the East Ridge Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Chairman Darwin Branum said the group has been borrowing the services of East Ridge staff to date.
At a meeting on Wednesday, the authority voted to adopt a revised redevelopment study map. It includes commercial property along Ringgold Road as well as some nearby residential sections.
Officials said the authority will be able to target blighted property and redevelop them for the public good.
Owners of property within the area will be notified once the East Ridge Council acts on the study map.
Jeff Fisher, a resident of Harris Hills, said a neighbor has put in six kennels and brought in dogs that bark constantly. He said the dogs were left outside during the recent single-digit weather.
He said he was shown an online advertisement for the property listing it as a breeding and kennel facility.
He said there have been as many as 10 cars a night at the property.
During the meeting, Councilwoman Esther Helton said she received a text from Wendell Feltman, owner of 802 Harris Lane. He said he had leased the property to Ben Duval as single-family and not for a commercial operation.
He said he was "in favor of whatever the neighbors need."
Randy Sewell of McDonald Heights brought complaints about the nearby Waverly Motel. He said there were "major issues" there and said there had been drug busts with criminals apprehended. He said there were weapon charges and officers injured in connection with the motel.
Officials said motel occupants are not suppose to stay more than 30 days. Councilman Larry Sewell, a county school bus driver, said he had been told to begin picking up a child at the Waverly. City Manager Miller said he will check out the situation.
Mayor Lambert said he and the city manager have been in talks with the Waverly, which is on the opposite side of the freeway from the entrance to Camp Jordan. He said steps may be taken that will lead to the motel being taken down and the site re-developed.