When creating the 2014-2015 budget the Red Bank commissioners recognized the need for replacing old equipment and planned on borrowing money for the purchases. At the commission meeting Tuesday night, City Manager Randall Smith said when a city incurs public debt it must make the public aware of it. He reported that Red Bank has secured a loan for $261,934 at a very good rate of 2.37 percent for acquisition of the equipment.
Tuesday night the commissioners authorized contracts with various companies for those purchases.
A majority of the equipment will be for use in the public works department. A salt and sand spreader to be used in snow and ice will be bought for $17,498 and a new dump truck will replace one that the city has been using since the 1980s. It will cost $78,518.
The city has spent a great deal on repaving secondary roads recently. A pavement sealer will be bought at the cost of $36,630 that will help prolong the life of the new pavement. A contract for the purchase of a one-side arm mower for $33,937 will help the public works department to trim ditches and help clean up the roads. The sealer and mower will be bought with State Street Aid funds.
The fire department will be the recipient of a 2014 Ford pickup truck that will replace an old one that is used by Chief Mark Mathews. The cost of this vehicle is $25,869.
A van will be purchased in the amount of $33,238.50 for transporting prisoners to and from Silverdale Detention Center to court in Red Bank. The new van will replace an old one that was surplus property at the time it was purchased.
Commissioners voted to accept a Clean Tennessee energy grant from the state of Tennessee that is a 50/50 match for which the city will have to contribute $43,962. The total amount of $87,924 will be used to make municipal buildings more energy efficient by replacing items such as old windows and heat and air conditioning systems for energy savings.
The 2015 budget was amended in order to fund a full-time deputy court clerk for the judicial department. Since the previous clerk retired, said Commissioner Rick Causer, the judicial system has been overloaded. The person hired for this position will “keep paper flowing at an appropriate level,” he said.
Also approved was a new ordinance that will permit beer sales for special events. Mayor John Roberts said the city receives requests from organizations and corporations to serve beer at events such as company picnics at White Oak Park, but it has been prohibited. The unanimous vote of approval will allow that activity. A companion ordinance was also approved that establishes the requirements and how the permitting will be regulated.
In his report, City Manager Smith said that slope repair at the north end of Dayton Boulevard will begin Wednesday and that there may be traffic disruption. A new ramp is under construction by TDOT on the south end of Dayton Boulevard, which also will affect traffic.
Mayor Roberts announced that Aug. 12 the Chattanooga Lookouts will have a “North of the River Appreciation” night beginning at 6 p.m.
James A. Webster, a resident of Ashmore Avenue, came to the commission meeting to praise the chief of police and thank his department. When establishing a neighborhood watch program for the Midvale Park area, Police Chief Tim Christol sent an officer to advise what would be needed. Soon after that Mr. Webster observed activity at a condemned house next door to his home. He said an officer showed up in five minutes and a back-up arrived three minutes later. “It works,” he said. Mr. Webster also thanked Tim Thornbury and the public works department for putting up neighborhood watch signs within one week.