Shown left to right are Larry Phillips, Gail Phillips and Mack Newman of the recently dissolved Pioneer Frontier group. The city voted Thursday to take over maintenance of McBrien Elementary’s playground, a park the Pioneer Frontier committee took care of for 13 years.
photo by Hannah Campbell
The city of East Ridge voted Thursday night to take over maintenance and repairs of the 13-year-old Pioneer Frontier Playground next to city hall. The volunteer group that cared for the park all those years gave the city $10,000 to take care of expenses.
“We felt like it was time to get the city to take over,” said Pioneer Frontier committee president Gail Phillips. “We feel good about it. It’s a community playground.” The committee dissolved Oct. 1.
The Pioneer Frontier committee, made up of parent volunteers, raised over $90,000 to build and maintain the playground in 1993 and 1994. Hamilton County gave $60,000 and the committee raised the rest. East Ridge citizens built the playground and the Pioneer Frontier group saved the extra money, investing it and using it to take care of repairs over the next 13 years. The account’s remaining $10,000 will go to aid the city.
Mrs. Phillips said since the park was built the Pioneer Frontier group has added a track, restrooms and landscaping and replaced two slides. A pavilion is in the works. All told, she said it costs about $1,000 per year to maintain the park. East Ridge volunteers have helped make that possible, and Mrs. Phillips commended especially the East Ridge High School ROTC for their energetic work.
“They’ve been my biggest help during work days,” she said.
East Ridge has been leasing the school playground property from Hamilton County for $1 a year. If McBrien Elementary ever moves its location, the property reverts back to East Ridge.
-- Tour of Frawley Lake --
All citizens are invited to a grand opening of The Village at Frawley Lake, a housing development at Ringgold Road and Frawley Road. Two house plans have been constructed and decorated to tour this Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free refreshments will be served, including hot dogs and donuts.
“It’s one of the most unique lifestyle communities in the Tri-State area,” said developer Mike Reed. “I think it’s certainly an asset to the city of East Ridge.”
He said the community sits on the shores of a two-acre lake with walking trails and a swimming pool. Homes are between $169,900 and $259,000.
“I’m hoping that will capture some of these folks who’ve been going off to North Georgia,” said Vice-Mayor Jerry Petty.
-- Other Business –-
The East Ridge Council adopted a United HealthCare insurance plan for its employees this fiscal year and expects to save over $200,000.
The city passed a resolution stating that it will begin cracking down on housing discrimination based on race, color, sex, disability or familial status. The resolution cited that such discrimination is prohibited by Title VIII of the 1968 Civil Rights Act as amended. The city plans to monitor contractors and sellers and reminded citizens that they can file complaints if they suspect such discrimination.
The city will purchase 15 desktop computers for the police department with a $14,698 grant. The computers will cost $11,625 and additional money will be used for software and a server later.
-- Community Center Food Drive Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.