A new 1.3-mile section of walking trail will connect the city of Red Bank with Stringer's Ridge Park.
The city of Red Bank receives yearly gifts from the Red Bank Soddy Daisy Charitable Foundation. The $29,000 received last year was originally set aside to build a skate park at White Oak Park.
Red Bank Commissioners on Tuesday night voted unanimously instead to move that money into a project that will extend the Stringer’s Ridge Trail.
Mayor John Roberts said that the city has been working toward doing this for five years. The lengthy new section will join White Oak Park in Red Bank to the existing Stringer’s Ridge Trail, making the path a total of three miles.
City Manager Randall Smith said the trail will roughly follow an old road bed in a valley between two hills. There will also be a second more strenuous section that will branch off that path. Parking will be available through the entrance gates of White Oak Park or behind Niki’s Restaurant.
The gift of $26,130.50 received from the foundation this year is being used to purchase an informational digital sign that will be placed in front of city hall.
Final approval was given to appropriate $152,500 for the settlement of a wrongful termination lawsuit brought against the city by former Chief of Police Larry Sneed. The balance of the settlement of $225,000 will come from the city’s insurer. Mayor Roberts said this will finish this chapter from the past and keep the city moving forward.
In other business, approval was given to amend the current contract between the city and Preferred Computers for IT services from $450 per month to $562.70 to monitor additional computer hardware not originally included. Also, Deputy Fire Chief Brent Sylar was appointed to the Hamilton County Address Review Board that has recently completed an in-depth geographic information system (GIS) study of the county.
Commissioner Terry Pope gave information about the city’s pool. It will officially open May 23. He said a season pass can be purchased or the daily general admission is $3.50. Sign-ups for the swim team will be on the first and third Sundays in May at the Red Bank Community Center. There are teams for children beginning at age five or six, up to high school seniors, he said.
The 2015 Red Bank Jubilee and New Moon Pie Festival will take place May 2. This will be the biggest festival so far, said Marian Ingram with the Neighborhood Pride Association, organizer of the event. There will be a 5K run to benefit Relevant Hope and the work it does with the city’s homeless. And, also included will be a “Yappie Mile Run” for dogs that will be a fundraiser for homeless pets in Red Bank.
Other activities include live music by Barefoot Nellie & Co., good food, 60 craft vendors, a Moon Pie eating contest and a parade beginning at 10 a.m. More information is available on the festival at www.redbanktn.gov.