The East Ridge City Council voted to spend $120,000 to acquire land adjacent to Camp Jordan Park, Thursday in its last meeting of the month.
The purchase of the 20 acre parcel from Jay Desai will fulfill a requirement under a “conversion” plan to allow seven acres of Camp Jordan Park to be used by the Redwolves soccer club.
The Redwolves intend to make improvements to the Weldon Osborn soccer stadium and adjacent land inside Camp Jordan Park to use as a practice facility and host other high-profile soccer events, officials said.
To accomplish this, the city was required by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and the National Park Service (NPS), to acquire land for public use.
The purchase of the property, most of which is in the flood way, is contingent on approval by TDEC and the NPS of the “conversion,” officials said. The city could be reimbursed the $120,000 purchase price by the state under the Border Region Act.
City officials said the new addition to the park will be used for fishing, canoeing/kayaking, and frisbee golf.
The council approved by resolution spending $50,000 for engineering work by ASA. ASA will do design work for four new soccer fields, additional parking, stormwater and irrigation improvements.
On first reading, the council amended the temporary beer permits ordinance to address existing contradictory provisions in the current ordinance. The amendment addresses time frames in which entities must apply and the length of time in which the permit is valid.
The council approved by resolution a “use on review” allowing various indoor/outdoor recreational uses on property being developed inside Jordan Crossing.
The council appointed individuals to the Personnel Review Board. They include Pamela Beard, Charles McCullough, Doris Rogers, Robert Jones and Jane Sharp.
Councilman Mike Chauncey appointed Lee Ramey to fill the unexpired term of Kelly Still on the city’s Industrial Development Board.