The East Ridge City Council on Thursday night voted 5-0 to purchase a site of about two acres on St. Thomas Avenue for a location for the displaced fire hall that was at the entrance to Camp Jordan Park.
That fire hall had to be dismantled recently because it was in the way of the Jordan Crossing development, which will feature a Bass Pro Shop.
The site, which is behind a Texaco station and near the Motel 6, has two small houses on it. They will be moved or torn down.
The former fire hall was moved to Camp Jordan and awaits being reconstructed - either at the new site or another city site. Some council members spoke in favor of using it for a replacement for the current animal shelter.
Councilman Larry Sewell said, with all the growth the city is experiencing, it may need a three-bay fire hall instead of two. He also said East Ridge should look into getting a taller ladder truck because of high-rise buildings that may be built in the city.
The council instructed staff to prepare an ordinance similar to one passed in Chattanooga that places a future limit on the number of pawn and payday loan businesses.
The council set a special meeting for March 9 to consider an update of the city's sign ordinance.