East Ridge council approves electrical code adoption, road change orders, YMCA feasibility study and several equipment and grant items

The East Ridge City Council on Sept. 11 approved a package of ordinances and resolutions including first reading of an ordinance adopting the 2023 National Electrical Code and multiple change orders and purchases.

The council unanimously passed first reading of Ordinance 12-32 to adopt the 2023 National Electrical Code as the city’s official electrical code. Building official Mike Howell told the council the state requires exempt municipalities to adopt the latest codes within seven years to retain exempt status; the council approved the first reading by roll call (Tyler, Cagle, Ezell, Witt, Williams — all yes).

Council approved Resolution 37-34, a change order for the North Max Smith Road widening and improvements project to address 16,250 square feet of unsuitable soil. City Manager Miller said excavation and replacement with crushed stone and membrane were required; the council approved a not-to-exceed change order of $156,214.18. Councilmember Witt moved the motion; Vice Mayor Tyler seconded. Roll-call votes were recorded as yes by Vice Mayor Tyler, Council members Cagle, Ezell and Witt and Mayor Williams.

Resolution 37-35 authorizes a change order with Caldwell Paving and Grading LLC for reconstruction at the McDonald Road intersection (removal of a hump and resurfacing) in an amount not to exceed $48,004.95. Miller said the work benefits upcoming businesses at that intersection; the council approved the change order by roll call (all yes). The funding will come from the city’s road resurfacing account.

Resolution 37-36 authorizes the city to participate in funding a capital-campaign feasibility study for a potential YMCA facility at Camp Jordan Park. Miller said the feasibility study cost is $30,000, to be split 50/50 between the YMCA and the city (city share $15,000). The resolution passed unanimously.

The council approved equipment and technology purchases for the police department: Resolution 37-37 authorized purchase of two Ford Explorer SUVs from Lonnie Cobb Ford under state contract for $100,050 (Miller said $18,290 will come from the drug fund to cover upfitting; remaining $81,760 from the general fund). Resolution 37-38 authorized purchase of an EaglePrint fingerprint system for $13,180.86 to replace the department’s paper-and-ink process. Resolution 37-39 authorized acceptance of a Tennessee Highway Safety Office high-visibility grant for $10,000 (0% match) for saturation enforcement and related equipment.

The council also approved Resolution 37-40 authorizing submission of a $1,000 application to the Hamilton County Health Department’s Teaching Garden Grant program to support vertical planters outside the library.

All roll-call votes recorded for the above motions were affirmative (Vice Mayor Tyler; Council members Cagle, Ezell, Witt; Mayor Williams). Where a mover and seconder were recorded on the transcript, those names are included above; where the transcript recorded only the motion and a unanimous roll call, the action is reported as approved by roll call.

Why it matters: The electrical-code adoption updates the city’s technical safety standards and preserves its exempt jurisdiction status under Tennessee code; the road change orders will increase short-term project costs but address field conditions discovered during construction; the YMCA study begins fundraising exploration for a major recreation facility; the equipment purchases and grants affect police operations and library programming.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance 12-32 (first reading) — passed first reading; Resolution 37-34 — change order not to exceed $156,214.18 — approved; Resolution 37-35 — McDonald Road intersection work $48,004.95 — approved; Resolution 37-36 — YMCA feasibility study $30,000 (city share $15,000) — approved; Resolution 37-37 — purchase two SUVs $100,050 (drug fund $18,290) — approved; Resolution 37-38 — fingerprint system $13,180.86 — approved; Resolution 37-39 — Highway Safety Office grant $10,000 (0% match) — approved; Resolution 37-40 — Teaching Garden grant application $1,000 — approved.

Council members and staff said the approvals allow construction and procurement work to proceed, and Miller noted he had authorized some work to avoid contractor downtime pending council action.