The East Ridge City Council voted to push forward with hiring an engineering company for services relating to improvements along the western end of Ringgold Road.
The City entered into an agreement with ASA Engineering for survey and storm water modeling, and a preliminary design for right-of-way and improvements which include sidewalks. The price tag for the work will be $385,000.
The scope of the project will be from Kingwood Drive to South Seminole, officials said. City Manager Scott Miller said funding for the project would come from city’s fund balance.
This project is the fourth phase of improvements along Ringgold Road. The city was previously awarded a “multimodal” grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation for improvements to the highway from Tombras Avenue to Belvoir Avenue. A Tennessee Alternative Program (TAP) grant for a multi-purpose path was acquired to make improvements from McBrien to Tombras. A third phase from John Ross Road to Kingwood Drive will provide for a multimodal path along the south side of Ringgold Road with a walking path on the north side. The City has contracted with ASA Engineering for the work in all four phases.
According to the resolution, the City will not apply for grant money for phase four but will be reimbursed from the Border Region Development District sales tax dollars.
Previous to the resolution being passed, Councilman Jacky Cagle made mention of an e-mail that he along with the rest of the council had received from Miller. According to Cagle, the email provided information on the City recently getting a $2 million check from the state as its Border Region reimbursement for the previous fiscal year. Of that, $1.13 million was passed on to Exit 1 LLC, the developers of the Bass Pro Shops and the future Jordan Crossing. Cagle said that left the city with a net of $930,000.
“Is that (amount) going down next year?” Cagle asked City Manager Miller.
Miller explained that the state sales tax on food will be reduced by 20 percent next year. Two of East Ridge’s four grocery stores are within the Border Region district, he said.
“We will probably lose $70,000 next year because of the reduction of the food tax,” Miller said.
However, Miller pointed out that the loss could be offset by additional tax revenue from Firehouse Subs and Dunkin Donuts, which will open in the near future. He also said that Chick-fil-A and a new Hampton Inn are being built in Jordan Crossing and additional tax revenue from these businesses could offset the reduction in revenue from the food tax.
The council passed an ordinance on first reading that would rezone a small parcel of land across Ringgold Road from the Fire and Police Services Center from residential to commercial. The property contains one of only two private homes that still exists on the city’s main commercial artery. Director of Community Services Kenny Custer said he anticipates the property to be sold to a developer.
The council passed on first reading an ordinance concerning air pollution control. Officials said state mandates had changed and that East Ridge will comply, In effect, the changes increase fees the city will charge to obtain burning permits.
The council approved a $2,400 change order in the construction of Fire Hall No. 2 on St. Thomas Street. The money would be used to provide LED lighting on the front of the building that is required by code. Miller noted that three change orders totaling $23,000 had been approved by the council. It was his opinion that on a building with a cost of $1.49 million that the change orders were reasonable.
The Council approved donating $500 to East Ridge High School to be used for the school’s athletic hall of fame.
The October 12 council meeting was cancelled as three members will be out of town during Hamilton County Schools fall break. The next meeting is slated for October 26.
