Collegedale Commission adopts official zoning map, approves off‑duty vendor switch and airport layout work order

The Collegedale City Commission on April 21 adopted the city's official zoning map and approved a series of routine contracts and administrative items, including a change in the vendor that manages officers' off‑duty employment and a work order to update the city's airport layout plan.

The actions, taken during the commission's regular meeting at Collegedale City Hall, included a second reading and public hearing for Ordinance 1157 adopting the official zoning map; approval of a service agreement with Off Duty Management (ODM) to manage off‑duty police employment; authorization to send two surplus police vehicles to a government‑only auction; and acceptance of a work order with Garver to update the airport layout plan at a contract amount of $265,200 with a local share of $14,035. The commission also accepted the city's March finance report.

Why it matters: the zoning map formalizes the city's current parcel zoning for public reference; the ODM agreement changes how off‑duty officer assignments, liability and payments are handled; the airport layout plan work is the required planning step to qualify for associated grant funding and to guide future airport property or facility changes.

Zoning map (Ordinance 1157) The commission conducted a public hearing on Ordinance 1157 and, with no speakers from the public, approved the ordinance. A city speaker summarized the ordinance as "not changing any zones or anything. It's more of just a snapshot of our current zones" and described the map as an "official zoning map" for public reference. The roll call vote on the ordinance was unanimous.

Off‑duty policing vendor Assistant Chief (unnamed) told the commission the city previously used a vendor called Roll Call to manage off‑duty employment and is transitioning to Off Duty Management (ODM). The assistant chief summarized the rationale: "they offer ... coverage, that liability coverage. They handle all of the, payment stuff. They ... make sure that the officers are taken care of while they are off our clock." He said the ODM fee structure is the same as the previous vendor: "I believe the fee is, like, 12%, of what we charge on an hourly rate." The commission approved the service agreement.

The discussion included the current hourly rates the city charges for off‑duty assignments: $60 per hour for standard assignments, $70 per hour for holidays, a $10 late‑booking fee for assignments made within 48 hours, and a $5 vehicle fuel fee when officers use a personal or patrol vehicle for the assignment.

Surplus police vehicles The commission approved sending two decommissioned Dodge Chargers (a 2016 and a 2013 model), stripped of police markings and reusable equipment, to an auction restricted to other government agencies. Perry Collins, identified in the packet as the fleet custodian, coordinated the planned auction.

Airport layout plan work order Mr. Blyford, a city staff member, presented a Garver work order to update the airport layout plan. He said the total contract amount for the grant portion is $265,200 and that the city's local share is $14,035. When commissioners noted portions of the packet appeared redacted or elided, the city attorney Sam advised that earlier redactions in similar contracts often removed venue or indemnity language and flagged potential legal issues. Sam said that such indemnity language "is illegal under Tennessee law" and that the city should ensure objectionable indemnity clauses were removed. He also told the commission that because the contract exceeds $250,000 the agreement must include required state contractor disclosures and other statutory language; Sam recommended adding the city attorney's recommended provisions and anti‑collusion language before final execution. The commission approved the work order with those attorney recommendations added.

Finance report and administrative updates City finance staff presented the March finance report and noted the city was at about 75% of the fiscal year with 73% of projected revenues collected and 82% of budgeted expenditures. The report said business tax revenue was approximately $8,000 higher than the same time last year and that an administrative expenditure overrun related to a new parking lot accounted for much of the variance. The commission approved the March financials.

Other reports and routine items Staff and commissioners reported routine operational items: the new city parking lot opened; library remodeling will add three study rooms and an expanded children's area and will include a temporary pop‑up location and summer programs (including a planned story time with Officer Eaton); the city airport fueled a helicopter that landed while supporting firefighting operations; and the commission discussed bridge and road project timelines with anticipated construction completions later this summer. The commission also approved a resolution (Resolution 549) commemorating the 120th anniversary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the 30th anniversary of Ooltewah Post 1697.

Votes at a glance: - Ordinance 1157, adopting the official zoning map — motion to approve (mover/second not specified on the record); roll call: Commissioner Baker: yes; Commissioner House: yes; Commissioner Johnson: yes; Vice Mayor Sadler: yes; Mayor Lloyd: yes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 549, commemorating VFW anniversary — motion to approve (mover/second not specified on the record); roll call unanimous. Outcome: approved. - Service agreement with Off Duty Management (ODM) — motion to approve (mover/second not specified); roll call unanimous. Outcome: approved. Note: assistant chief stated ODM charges a fee "like, 12%" of the hourly charge. - Sale of surplus police vehicles (2016 and 2013 Dodge Chargers) to government‑only auction — motion to approve (mover/second not specified); roll call unanimous. Outcome: approved. - Airport layout plan work order with Garver, contract amount $265,200 (grant portion), local share $14,035 — motion to approve with city attorney recommended edits added; roll call unanimous. Outcome: approved. - March finance report — motion to approve (mover/second not specified); roll call unanimous. Outcome: approved.

What the commission did not decide: commissioners asked for clarification on redacted/deleted pages in the airport packet and asked staff to ensure the city attorney's recommended contract language and required state disclosures are added; the commission did not defer the airport work order but approved it with those edits.

The meeting closed after routine commission reports and a motion to adjourn.