Vice Mayor Eddie Pierce and Mayor John Roberts are shown with Financial Director John Alexander
photo by Gail Perry
Improvements and work along Dayton Boulevard will begin soon. At the Red Bank Commission meeting Tuesday night, City Manager Randall Smith received approval from the commissioners to enter into a contract with TDOT on the next phase of paving Dayton Boulevard. Resurfacing has recently been finished from Memorial Drive to Greenleaf Street. The upcoming work will continue up Dayton Boulevard from Greenleaf Street to Browntown Road.
Mr.
Smith also wanted citizens to be aware that in the coming weeks drivers might encounter delays, stopped traffic or detours on Dayton Boulevard in front of the construction location of a new Bojangles restaurant. He said that the utilities run along the opposite side of the road and will have to cross to hook up to the new building. There will be an attempt to keep one lane open at all times, he said.
In his report, the city manager also gave an update to the dog park. With dry weather, the grass has now been cut and mulch has been placed. He said that both dogs and their owners are happy.
Another road issue addressed Tuesday night was the right-of-way located between 3301 and 3305 Berkley Dr. The planning commission review recommended abandoning it because access is available to the property from existing exits off Gaylord Street. The commission voted to accept the recommendation.
The Red Bank zoning ordinance was amended on first reading to alter the building separation distances of houses in Planned Unit Developments (PUD). The new requirement will change the distance allowed between houses in a PUD zone from a minimum of 15 feet to 10 feet. A public hearing on this issue will be held May 19 during the regular commission meeting.
Approval was given for the purchase and installation of an audio/video recording system for city hall. It will be used for city court sessions and at the board of commissioner meetings. The new digital system will replace small portable recorders that have bad sound quality. City Attorney Arnold Stulce said good recordings are a means of preservation in the event that a case needs judicial review. The equipment is a budgeted item in the 2015 budget, but the cost of $22,321 required approval of the expenditure by the board of commissioners.
The first draft of the 2015-2016 budget has been given to the commissioners for review. A presentation will be made at a workshop May 20 at 5:30 p.m. where the public is invited. Mayor John Roberts said the budget has no request for a property tax increase. He said that city officials have been “beating the bushes” to increase commercial development in the city to head off taxing homeowners.
In individual reports, the mayor and commissioners all commended the organizers of the Red Bank Jubilee and New Moon Pie Festival for the successful event last weekend. There was a 5K run, a parade, live entertainment, and food and craft vendors. A featured event was a Moon Pie eating contest. For the second year in a row, the team made up of Mayor Roberts, Vice Mayor Eddie Pierce and Finance Director John Alexander brought home the trophy for winning first place. In just three minutes, Mayor Roberts consumed seven Moon Pies, the vice mayor was able to eat five and Mr. Alexander ate four to win first place.