Volunteers have been hard at work organizing the annual Red Bank Festival and Parade, said Commissioner Ed LeCompte at the Red Bank commission meeting Tuesday night. It is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6, from noon until 7:30 p.m. at the city park on Dayton Boulevard. The parade will begin at 5 p.m.
City Manager Randall Smith said he will be closely following the weather forecast that now is predicting rain that day.
The call will be made by noon on Friday whether to postpone the event and, if so, notification will be posted on the Red Bank website. The rain date is Dec. 13.
Those interested in being a vendor for the festival should get in touch with Commissioner LeCompte and anyone interested in taking part in the parade should contact City Recorder Ruth Rohen.
Mayor John Roberts announced that a new business is opening in the city. A coffee shop, The Meeting House, will hold a grand opening this coming Friday at 7 p.m. The business is planning to have live music from time to time, and is viewed as a new place for people to congregate.
Jay Patel, owner of My Discount Tobacco, 2105 Dayton Blvd., came to the meeting to request a license to sell alcohol in his business that already sells beer and wine. City Attorney Arnold Stulce explained that the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC), not the city, would issue a liquor license. Because Mr. Patel already has been vetted by the Red Bank Police when a beer permit was obtained, requirements of the city have been satisfied. Therefore, the mayor and commissioners gave their approval before sending the new request to the Tennessee ABC.
On second and final reading, an ordinance was passed that will increase the spending limit of department heads when buying supplies and equipment. In the recent past they have had difficulty in obtaining the required three bids because of the spending limitations in the city’s ordinance. The limit has been raised from $250 to $750.
Another resolution approved new signature cards for the city manager, Finance Director John Alexander, City Recorder Rohen, Mayor Roberts and Vice Mayor Eddie Pierce, to be used for city accounts. Mr. Stulce noted that of the two signatures that are needed, one must be either the mayor or vice mayor.
Authorization was given to establish a new policy for city employees. They now will be allowed to donate sick leave to another employee. This new benefit was recommended by the city manager.