Commissioner Rick Causer told those gathered at the Red Bank Commission meeting Tuesday night that the budget was an easy project this year. “I’ll second that,” said Mayor John Roberts. After a public hearing a unanimous vote approved the fiscal year 2016 budget on the second reading.
Mayor Roberts said the budget was created with no tax increase.
Some items included are $100,000 to revamp the Red Bank swimming pool and $50,000 to $60,000 to construct parking at White Oak Park where new walking trails will be created to join others coming from Stringers Ridge Park. There also is money to provide a three percent pay increase for city employees, excluding the commissioners. And, said Mayor Roberts, there is $50,000 for education. The money will go to the local schools in Red Bank. Three Dodge Chargers for the police department will be replaced with fuel-efficient Volkswagens. The rest of the budget is just basic, he said.
As a bookkeeping matter, the 2014-2015 budget was amended to reconcile estimates that were used to create the operating budget with actual costs during the year.
The commission voted to adopt the new Hamilton County basic emergency operations plan. The county developed this plan as a way to deal with emergencies, natural disasters, technological accidents, enemy attacks and other major events that might impact the county and municipalities and unincorporated areas within it. The new plan provides roles for each of the cities or areas. City Manager Randall Smith explained that the city already has a plan of its own, but he said when another municipality is in need of help due to an emergency, those included in the Hamilton County plan will share resources when needed.
Also approved was a revocable license agreement that will allow Lane Funeral Home to use Kids Korner Park for a series of gospel music concerts on select dates throughout the summer months. The series of concerts will begin in July.
The Mayor and commissioners had no choice but to deny a beer permit for a special event that was being planned as a fundraising project. Tim Williams had made the request to benefit a non-profit foundation to help an orphanage in Northern India. The event was to have two kegs of beer at a concert at the Meeting House, a coffee shop on Dayton Boulevard.
Police Chief Tim Christol told the board there were two problems with the application, a background check required to get a beer license must be done by the TBI is not yet complete. The location is also a problem since the city code specifies that 300 feet must separate a location selling alcohol from day care centers, schools and churches. The Meeting House is in close proximity to a day care center. Because of the two issues, Chief Christol recommended to deny the beer permit. Mr. Williams was encouraged, however, to reschedule or relocate the event. It will be held Saturday night at the Meeting House without serving beer.
City Manager Smith reported that a new audio-video recording system has been set up in the commission room, primarily for use in the city courts. Road markings and striping have been completed on the south end of Dayton Boulevard. The goal is to make the markings more visible at night.
Mr. Smith also said the YMCA is holding a summer feeding program for young children. There are two locations in Red Bank. One will be set up at White Oak Park. Lunch will be served at that location at 11 a.m. At noon, the lunches will be held at Kids Korner Park. More information about this program can be found on the city’s website.
Mayor Roberts told the commissioners that he had attended the re-opening of Erlanger Hospital North. He said this demonstrated how much the area has changed and grown since a hospital was needed on the north side of the river.