East Ridge council approves bond issue, transit contract, grants and multiple equipment purchases

The East Ridge City Council on July 24 approved multiple routine and budgeted actions covering city vehicles, transportation services, grants and annual contracts.

Key approvals included a request to initiate a Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund borrowing of up to $400,000 to buy a street dump truck (with snowplow and salt spreader) and a sanitation rear loader; purchase of a replacement pickup truck for the sanitation department after a vehicle was totaled in an off-duty accident; continuation of a transportation service agreement with the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) for senior and disabled residents; award of annual street department material bids; renewal of security-camera and fire-alarm maintenance; acceptance of an animal-friendly spay/neuter grant; and the city's application to the statewide School Resource Officer (SRO) program.

City Manager Miller provided project and finance details for the truck purchases and explained that the bond route was chosen to preserve a multi-million-dollar fund balance set aside for emergencies. Economic development administrator Cameron McAllister summarized grant awards: the city applied for 15 grants in fiscal 2024-25 and received 13 totaling roughly $2.18 million with a local match of about $362,522. McAllister also presented the city's acceptance of a $1,100 Tennessee Animal Friendly Grant to fund spay/neuter vouchers for East Ridge residents meeting eligibility criteria.

The…