[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6659773,"mediaKeyId","2445692-bca04fc3d36fdade274c5b8ca62e52fe","parentId",2445692,"title","City reports town center construction progress; council weighs naming, dog-park relocation and animal-shelter sound work","audioSeconds",3003,"startMs",435740,"endMs",3439210,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2445692-bca04fc3d36fdade274c5b8ca62e52fe&start=435&end=3439","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2445692-bca04fc3d36fdade274c5b8ca62e52fe/thumbnail_435740.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6659773/East-Ridge/Hamilton-County/Tennessee/City-reports-town-center-construction-progress-council-weighs-naming-dog-park-relocation-and-animal-shelter-sound-work","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6659773-705ad042c45f876dd57ee75cad1b1879/orig.mp4?Expires=1770675157&Signature=NbuIQijGZrphysCClHF-UFCQT68F1BYJcVk3OQNeLj8o9ORZmymrxLLvtcWHX~I5Z7QxD2lArJfLY0yoi1IHG3VGW1d554WJWBCiMsvJFi0AxjG~1-Wr0dTNfXlPAwTVRgyKh13~7OY2tbg8b6rm5TqV0A-b3Rm-67UZIpEsUbdQf3o1mWMOVqFgrDasTFgbwAM2oiFkbFWbIkjqiTbvNsblyo5zxbsml-r~k0DzUNKa0UtT8LadEDjkm3-4~bdRBe12q-Q12tcepq5DfVWHE2PdJJRtFbRYaFFZ0RUhWRaSr8ndxHUu0WnDtAh6wgTKPKjGxJWayrI8ueehjEX18g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","East Ridge","date","2025-02-28T01:09:12.253Z","article","City Manager Miller provided multiple construction and operations updates at the Feb. 27 East Ridge City Council meeting, reporting progress on the new town-center multipurpose facility and discussing related event-planning, naming and park-use questions.

Miller said the 12,000-square-foot multipurpose facility behind city hall and the community center is progressing: foundations have been excavated, underground plumbing and electrical conduit are installed, footers will be poured next week (weather permitting), and interior floor pours are planned after additional site preparation. He said underground fire-protection work is roughly 85–90% complete and a fire hydrant has been installed.

Miller also said the community-center expansion is generating contractor interest after a Feb. 19 pre-bid meeting that drew an estimated 40 contractors and subcontractors. The expansion is roughly a $1 million project, with about half the funding expected from state sources and the remainder by the city; bids are due March 11 and, if schedule allows, a contract award could be on the March 27 council agenda or, alternatively, April 10. Miller said a start date in April or May is likely with an estimated 270-day construction schedule.

Council members discussed naming the new facility and whether the broader downtown area should be referred to collectively as the “Town Center.” Miller said he favored using “Town Center” as an umbrella name for the cluster of civic assets that includes city hall, the library, splash pad, community center, museum and the new multipurpose facility. Council members suggested options and discussed inviting public input or making a council decision in March.

Because the new facility is intended to host private events such as weddings, receptions and banquets, Miller recommended relocating the existing dog park, which sits close to the project, to avoid noise conflicts when garage doors are open for events. He proposed Springvale Park or Camp Jordan as relocation options and said grants may be available to offset costs. Council members had previous survey results indicating Springvale Park was a frequently requested location in resident feedback; staff also noted some fixtures (benches, some hardware) could be salvaged to reduce relocation costs. Miller said the original $25,000 grant used to develop the current dog-park site did not come from a state grant program and would not automatically require state payback if the city moves the park.

Miller also updated the council on sound attenuation work for the recently built animal shelter. The city opened bids earlier in February and received one proposal from Input Group that priced the scope at more than $200,000, which the city considered too high. Staff and the bidder discussed three options: interior acoustical panels, exterior panels in exposed kennel areas, and construction of a 15-foot sound wall. Miller said staff recommended a combination of ceiling acoustical panels inside the building and a 15-foot sound wall; Input Group agreed to refine its pricing and return with a revised figure expected to be under $200,000. The city currently has roughly $217,000 reserved from shelter construction funds that staff said could be applied to the attenuation project if the revised proposal comes in under budget.

Miller asked the council to consider naming options in coming weeks and to decide on a dog-park relocation site so the city can apply for grants that require a location. He also said the town-center facility aims to be substantially complete by the end of the year, and that staff needs several months for sign design and fabrication to have new signage ready for the facility’s grand opening.

No formal votes on naming or dog-park relocation occurred at the Feb. 27 meeting; staff said those items will appear on future meeting agendas for formal action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting 2/27/25","oneSentenceSummary","City Manager Miller reported the 12,000-square-foot town-center multipurpose facility is moving forward — foundations, underground utilities and fire-protection work are largely complete — and asked council to consider naming the complex and relocating the nearby dog park.","taxTitle","East Ridge, Hamilton County, Tennessee","taxId",70972,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6659777,"Council approves development agreement for Whataburger site in Border Region district; staff projects $3.5M investment",472,1976165,2448744,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2445692-bca04fc3d36fdade274c5b8ca62e52fe&start=1976&end=2448","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2445692-bca04fc3d36fdade274c5b8ca62e52fe/thumbnail_1976165.jpg","/articles/6659777/East-Ridge/Hamilton-County/Tennessee/Council-approves-development-agreement-for-Whataburger-site-in-Border-Region-district-staff-projects-35M-investment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6659777-61d84bf4fe0f4cf99b9ce28c739d8e77/orig.mp4?Expires=1770675157&Signature=f56T6~cAaudaeyRL6zsMLRayC40rb5xe5aZN~jGGGrTzVLaslwQemHWU-kt8fyPlh9HSojfqlP0PAkSKFQ~bABDuG31dUTle1SNYpx6mHyQfxS~Lj7HrhuLHY1~FYe6tm-OAN6wvtptYC~YBoPEh75KNbtkT75XucypEDDFBfVCTYveZQgcmJQm4jHqD-KkC8QXwo9CEZ56gor5AX5Yx7PIQX3f0i--leyjNPoLLvgSVtv8Z5uvESYztmrAoVSzS8ycXk8XW5JF1MaoRVl8shQVSgQzYm8StEcf~9gvGaCMS1s06aLEE17Tab~NmFGddcG9Yfm7k9tfcHwZkXdV0qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The East Ridge City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 27 to approve a development agreement with BKW Properties LLC related to a planned Whataburger at 6521 Ringgold Road.

City staff told the council the project is projected to involve about $3,500,000 in investment and that projected taxable sales were modeled beginning at $4,000,000 with an assumed 2% annual growth for purposes of the Border Region Retail Development District allocation calculation. Staff emphasized the baseline amount — the state sales tax previously generated at the parcel — is approximately $73,000, a figure supplied by the state and used in the district math.

Under the border region allocation described to the council, a portion of the state sales tax that would otherwise flow to Nashville is returned to the city. Staff presented an allocation proposal in which 90% of the border-region portion would go to the developer and 10% to the city; when the city’s baseline and other arithmetic are included, staff said the effective division over time is closer to a roughly 65/35 split in the city’s favor when the baseline is considered. The project previously received unanimous approval from the Industrial Development Board (IDB).

A staff presenter said the developer had submitted projections and plans, and that the city had already received plans for review. The administration told the council the project would bring tax revenue to the city by activating a parcel that currently produces only baseline state-sales-tax returns; staff noted the baseline historically reduced the district allocation while the property was vacant.

The council approved Resolution 3654 by roll call. The recorded vote was unanimous in favor. The presenter noted the agreement and the allocation mechanics are tied to the state-administered border region program and stressed there is no local guarantee that state sales tax returns would be redistributed except through the border-region mechanism.

No local property-tax incentives or direct city capital were approved at the meeting; the item is an agreement to participate in the border region allocation and to authorize the development agreement and related city actions.

City staff said they will proceed with contract steps and with ministerial approvals needed for site and building-plan review. The developer representative and staff were present to answer council questions about seats and parking; staff estimated a typical seating-to-parking ratio when describing site need.

Council action: Resolution 3654 approved; IDB had previously forwarded the measure with unanimous support.","The council approved a development agreement with BKW Properties LLC for a planned Whataburger at 6521 Ringgold Road under the Border Region Retail Development District program; staff projection and allocation mechanics were explained to council.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6659781,"East Ridge council approves abandonment of portion of Bullringle Road right-of-way over objections",639,800750,1439850,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2445692-bca04fc3d36fdade274c5b8ca62e52fe&start=800&end=1439","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2445692-bca04fc3d36fdade274c5b8ca62e52fe/thumbnail_800750.jpg","/articles/6659781/East-Ridge/Hamilton-County/Tennessee/East-Ridge-council-approves-abandonment-of-portion-of-Bullringle-Road-right-of-way-over-objections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6659781-89a570403530db4f3db6aa5fa9bd201a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770675157&Signature=cKGTWCipQr1A9-RsQPYzevz1QZwYhH9g6urZuUFugDVEHs99Se15nF2uqVNN7QtLJdFlUGYfBD0XtwyVzxwhAEBwOL0frO3mCXbwQPnMQZernXWQWOnY~ct7xQ5u7Q41v-Z4IiV9XqK7I4RALo1rryRNHNbTjhQrD3kf~zvfcAbkTsZpefGdBr28AYK4iBHmUyuv5QFn0U7jLo1pDTAACfcLlWhdQWfBjAcgrIHcmaWvmCWl1KB6sCBcdTnKL8fueQflcZ~gkIz7hyPk21SIdInANmbc167Jp-8LeG9~0kbyhpz76xJAjflDND8kedmt1YfVfS3LnqhI8WieF3uDoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The East Ridge City Council voted 4-1 on Feb. 27 to adopt Ordinance 12-15, abandoning a portion of right-of-way within the 3600 and 3700 blocks of Bullringle Road.

The ordinance will transfer the 30-foot width of the roadway to the adjoining property owners in equal parts (15 feet each) when the right-of-way is formally abandoned, staff said. Council members discussed whether a full abandonment — which would permanently remove the right-of-way — was appropriate for a corridor that residents use regularly.

Council debate included a failed motion to table consideration and an unsuccessful proposal to pursue a temporary closure/permit system instead of abandonment. After the tabling motion failed, the council returned to the original motion to adopt the ordinance. The final roll call was: Vice Mayor Tyler — yes; Council member Cagle — no; Council member Ezell — yes; Council member Witt — yes; Mayor Williams — yes. The ordinance passed on second and final reading.

Brad Shumpert, executive vice president of Urban Story Ventures, told the council the property owner and developers have contacted other adjacent property owners and envision converting the abandoned portion into pedestrian-friendly space and programming. “We do plan to reuse it, much more than just 1 day a month,” Shumpert said, describing plans for planters, lighting, parking reconfiguration, pop-up events and activities intended to draw foot traffic and support retail recruitment.

Council members questioned how frequent the developer would use the closed space and whether surrounding residents and property owners would have to consent to repeated temporary closures. One council member asked whether the proposed use would require property-owner agreement for each closure; staff replied the underlying right-of-way abandonment would transfer ownership and that temporary closures or permits could be handled afterward.

A separate motion to table the ordinance while staff investigated a permit-based closure alternative was introduced and seconded; that motion failed on a roll call vote. The council then proceeded with the original adoption vote. No amendments to the ordinance were adopted during the meeting.

The council record shows the ordinance applies to tax parcel identifiers listed in the ordinance language; staff said the abandonment would vest a portion of the former right-of-way in the adjacent owners. The city attorney was present during the discussion and confirmed the legal effect of abandonment would be the conveyance of the right-of-way interest to adjacent property owners under local practice.

The council did not adopt any additional restrictions on future use of the abandoned strip at the meeting. City staff indicated that any future temporary closure permits or site improvements would be handled through the city’s permitting process.

The item came before the council as the second and final reading of Ordinance 12-15; the council passed the ordinance following public discussion with the developer’s representative and questions from council members about traffic patterns and property-owner consent.

The council agenda packet and the ordinance text list the parcel IDs for the affected properties; residents or interested parties seeking more detail were directed to the city recorder for record copies and maps.

Council action: Ordinance 12-15 adopted on second and final reading.","The East Ridge City Council approved Ordinance 12-15 to abandon a portion of right-of-way in the 3600–3700 blocks of Bullringle Road, despite a failed motion to table and questions from council members about traffic and access. Developer representatives said they plan to convert the space into pedestrian-oriented uses and periodic events.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6659768,"East Ridge council approves ordinances and resolutions; auditors, sponsorships and concessions among approved items",2232,101905,2334335,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2445692-bca04fc3d36fdade274c5b8ca62e52fe&start=101&end=2334","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2445692-bca04fc3d36fdade274c5b8ca62e52fe/thumbnail_101905.jpg","/articles/6659768/East-Ridge/Hamilton-County/Tennessee/East-Ridge-council-approves-ordinances-and-resolutions-auditors-sponsorships-and-concessions-among-approved-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6659768-cd0c69184f0522cf6b46ce16690596e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770675157&Signature=Gc2xa5fx0IC~cs628o-7i71n0u4YZU4dPmtjsuz2UfED-ToCa3h6K5TuwvTH1Pnid8jy3TcSllXJhSn~x9W6fIE3KwCpsoFXP~6k17reOZm~8QiGaLPnAk6iN6y3Z4rmCl13HqwX8eMDOEunkZgKkN59p9pYu0bR1X0mdEKvi7xLigw4~kYRKfZjeOynYalULXhmiYlzn2aE5X7tbtIN~snQvLEjX1-NBhmy8Xyd9MD5W2pw1mpAz3-LyDtWo~V8euYcl5Ll3twJfazIcFupxrUY4gqqy-EM3I2TJs3~A9575gDEsg9~O~NDED4Ww2U~1foIE2EKYzePLzAGCEWX3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The East Ridge City Council conducted routine business and approved several ordinances and resolutions at its Feb. 27 meeting.

Highlights: the council approved the consent agenda (minutes of Feb. 13, 2025 and the December 2024 financial report); passed Ordinance 12-16 on first reading to amend local building-code language to align with state energy-code rules; authorized an engagement letter with auditors HHM for the FY2024–25 audit (not to exceed $58,000 if a single audit is required); accepted a sponsorship increase from Academy Sports Outdoors; authorized an RFP for food-and-refreshment concession services; and approved a development agreement with BKW Properties LLC related to a proposed Whataburger.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (approval of Feb. 13 minutes and Dec. 2024 financial report): Approved by roll call (Tyler yes; Cagle yes; Ezell yes; Witt yes; Mayor Williams yes).

- Ordinance 12-15 (abandonment of a portion of right-of-way on Bullringle Road): Approved on second and final reading (Tyler yes; Cagle no; Ezell yes; Witt yes; Mayor Williams yes).

- Ordinance 12-16 (amend ordinance 10933 to align with state energy-code rules; first reading): Passed first reading by roll call (Tyler yes; Cagle yes; Ezell yes; Witt yes; Mayor Williams yes). Staff said the change formalizes existing practice and will not change construction operations.

- Resolution 3651 (audit engagement letter with HHM CPAs for FY2024–25): Approved. Staff said the engagement will not exceed $58,000 if a single audit is required; otherwise the fee will be lower.

- Resolution 3652 (annual sponsorship agreement with Academy Sports Outdoors): Approved. The company increased the sponsorship from $2,000 to $2,600 and adjusted in-kind support to a $1,000 gift card in lieu of starter kits.

- Resolution 3653 (authorize RFP for park concession services): Approved. Staff said the RFP will run to April 12 with a two-year contract and a one-year renewal option; the RFP does not include the new town-center multipurpose facility (that venue will use separate event caterers).

- Resolution 3654 (development agreement with BKW Properties LLC relating to a Border Region Retail Development District project): Approved unanimously. Staff provided projections and baseline sales-tax figures as part of the presentation.

Other business: staff updated council on town-center construction progress, community-center expansion bidding, the animal-shelter sound-attenuation proposals, naming options for the town-center facility, and potential relocation of the dog park to Springvale or Camp Jordan. The council received informational briefings on police equipment purchases (portable radios, mobile radios, and body cameras) that staff said are included in the current budget; those specific purchases were described but not voted on at this meeting.

Council adjourned after scheduling several board appointments and placing several purchasing and contract items on future agendas.","At its Feb. 27 meeting the East Ridge City Council approved the consent agenda, passed Ordinance 12-16 (first reading), approved an engagement letter for audits, a sponsorship with Academy Sports, an RFP for park concessions, and the development agreement with BKW Properties (Whataburger). See 'Votes at a glance' for outcomes and vote tallies.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City reports town center construction progress; council weighs naming, dog-park relocation and animal-shelter sound work

Council approves development agreement for Whataburger site in Border Region district; staff projects $3.5M investment

East Ridge council approves abandonment of portion of Bullringle Road right-of-way over objections

East Ridge council approves ordinances and resolutions; auditors, sponsorships and concessions among approved items