East Ridge council approves YMCA feasibility study, manager extension, road and cybersecurity actions; several items set for Feb. 13

East Ridge City Council on Jan. 23 approved a set of resolutions and administrative items ranging from a YMCA feasibility study at Camp Jordan to a one‑year employment extension for the city manager.

The council voted unanimously on each resolution listed on the meeting agenda, with roll calls recorded for each motion.

YMCA feasibility study (Resolution 3641) The council authorized the mayor to enter into an agreement with Triangle 2 Solutions to perform a market feasibility study assessing whether a new YMCA facility would be viable at Camp Jordan Park. Baron Hertel, president and CEO of YMCA Metropolitan Chattanooga, and consultant Casey Klein of Triangle 2 Solutions presented the study plan, which the consultant described as an 8–10 week data project that combines at‑least‑400 phone surveys with an online survey and standard market mapping.

Klein described deliverables including projected membership, pricing assumptions, program priorities and fundraising potential; he told the council that for similar projects Triangle 2 uses both phone and online surveys to reach at least 400 valid responses, producing an estimated 95% reliability on the demand estimates. During questions council members asked whether YMCA memberships would be reciprocal (Hertel confirmed members can use other Y branches in the Y’s service area) and about likely amenities. Hertel and Klein said the survey will prioritize which amenities (pools, gymnasiums, pickleball courts, etc.) the community wants most.

Meeting discussion also noted a grant restriction: part of Camp Jordan is LWCF‑converted property, and that designation could require National Park Service review before an indoor, membership facility is placed on a different site in the park. Council and staff discussed that 4–10 acres (members cited 5–7 acres as a typical available parcel in previous documents) would be a workable range for a YMCA site; staff said final placement would require coordination with the National Park Service if the city moved the converted property footprint.

The consultants’ quoted proposal amount was discussed during the meeting; councilmembers referred to a figure of $14,333 in the proposal and the YMCA indicated it would contribute toward the cost; the motion to authorize the study passed on a unanimous roll call (Tyler: Yes; Cagle: Yes; Ezell: Yes; Witt: Yes; Mayor Williams: Yes).

City manager employment extension (Resolution 3642) The council approved a resolution extending the employment agreement for Jay Scott Miller as city manager. Miller told the council he requested a one‑year extension with a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment and a 1% performance increase consistent with other city employees. The extension passed unanimously (Tyler: Yes; Cagle: Yes; Ezell: Yes; Witt: Yes; Mayor Williams: Yes).

Scruggs Road reconstruction local match (Resolution 3643) Staff recommended submitting a commitment letter to the Chattanooga Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for federal/reprogrammed TIP funds for a proposed reconstruction of Scruggs Road from the Georgia line to SR‑41 (Ringgold Road). The city is being asked to commit a 20% local match equal to $104,647.60 to be used as part of the application for STBG‑M program funds; the MPO program period runs through FY2029. ASA Engineering provided preliminary cost estimates and was present for questions.

Council members asked whether the design could be engineered to better withstand heavy truck traffic (which members identified as a primary cause of pavement failure). ASA staff said the recommended design increases base stone and pavement thickness and includes drainage/culvert work; they also noted concrete pavement is an option to evaluate as a higher‑initial‑cost but longer‑lived alternative. The motion to submit the commitment letter and the local match passed unanimously (Tyler: Yes; Cagle: Yes; Ezell: Yes; Witt: Yes; Mayor Williams: Yes).

Cybersecurity grant (Resolution 3644) The council authorized the city to accept a fiscal year 2025 Public Entity Partner (PEP) cybersecurity matching grant to fund a network vulnerability scan. Staff explained the city will contract with Lightfoot Technologies (the city’s IT vendor) to perform an initial vulnerability scan within 30 days of approval and quarterly scans for one year; the service will identify security weaknesses and provide remediation recommendations. The vulnerability scan cost was noted as approximately $38,100 and the PEP grant award is $2,000 (a partial reimbursement); staff said the city also applied for a larger state/local cybersecurity grant (staff cited $43,000) to help fund remediation if the scan identifies additional needs. Resolution 3644 passed unanimously (Tyler: Yes; Cagle: Yes; Ezell: Yes; Witt: Yes; Mayor Williams: Yes).

Parks and recreation partnership (Resolution 3645) and bids The council approved a one‑year partnership agreement with DBAT Chattanooga to provide weekend batting‑cage access at Camp Jordan for spring, summer and fall seasons. Parks staff said the agreement reduces the participant fee to $5 (from $10 last year) for swing sessions on weekends and includes free skills clinics and coach outreach. The resolution passed unanimously (Tyler: Yes; Cagle: Yes; Ezell: Yes; Witt: Yes; Mayor Williams: Yes).

Parks staff also reported that a single sealed bid was opened for infield conditioning and grading for fields 9–12 (River City Athletics, $22,800). That bid was advertised 30 days; staff said the award will be presented at the Feb. 13 council meeting.

Other agenda items and follow‑ups Staff and council discussed: possible use‑on‑review for an off‑premise sign for Frawley Baptist Church (staff flagged setbacks, distance from other off‑premise signs, and right‑of‑way issues that the council will review at the Feb. 13 meeting); a petition to abandon a portion of Old Ringo Road related to an Osborne Shopping Center redevelopment (staff noted abandonment typically conveys half of vacated right‑of‑way to adjacent property owners but said staff will research and confirm); and the proposed mobile food vending ordinance (Title 9, Chapter 11), which council members asked staff to place on a future agenda after members have time to review the draft.

Ending All voted resolutions listed on the Jan. 23 agenda were approved by recorded roll call. Several action items and contract awards will return to the council for final approvals at the Feb. 13 meeting.