In the coming months you will begin to notice some wonderful changes happening in East Ridge. In conjunction with Thompson Engineering, the City Council and staff have been hard at work behind the scenes to progress the City’s transportation stimulus projects to construction. Already the new traffic light at Camp Jordan has been installed and Mack Smith Road is now freshly paved. Be on the lookout in August and September for the paving of Camp Jordan’s greenway, installment of bike lanes and planters on Ringgold Road and updates to the City’s school zone signals. We are excited that these projects will further beautify our community, providing an attractive environment for residents and visitors alike. These enhancement efforts are made possible by stimulus money granted to East Ridge from the State of Tennessee.

Of course none of this would have been possible without the hard work of the Council and City staff. Day-in and day-out, we’ve all stayed in touch with the State to ensure that East Ridge received stimulus money for these great projects. These projects are a huge accomplishment for the City and are just the beginning of our grand future!

Additionally, I want to congratulate Public Safety Director Eddie Phillips for being elected by the Tennessee Fire Chiefs as the 2010-2011 President of the Tennessee Fire Chief’s Association. Chief Phillips will represent all paid and volunteer chief officers in the state and will work closely with the fire service coalition partners, the state legislature, and the Governor’s office to address fire service and fire safety issues in Tennessee. I and Council are honored and privileged to have the East Ridge Fire Chief elected by his peers to direct and enhance public Safety initiatives for the State of Tennessee. Congratulations and best wishes for a successful year!

The community pool has been an asset to East Ridge for more than 40 years, providing the community with a recreational opportunity that is refreshing and enjoyable in high summertime temperatures. The East Ridge Youth Foundation has done a good job over the years in providing this positive feature to the community. As many of you know, the City Council recently purchased this property for approximately $125K. Before opening the pool, Council’s first priority is to make sure that all safety codes and standards are addressed and adhered to. We must not forget the importance of safety for our community—our family members, friends and neighbors.

When the City obtained ownership of the pool, we knew there were many safety concerns that needed to be addressed. City Council, staff and I agree that this recreational opportunity is vital and important to the community. We understand and concur that the pool has provided generations of children with educational opportunities, engaged pool-goers in a fitness-oriented lifestyle and brought the community together. I, my children and grandchildren have created wonderful memories at the East Ridge Community Pool. City staff is already hard at work restoring and managing various maintenance projects.

I personally believe the community deems the pool as a value-add to East Ridge. With that said, the City needs the assistance of the community now more than ever. We are asking for this great community to join City staff in beautifying the pool property. We are seeking volunteers for the upcoming pool workday: Saturday, July 10 from 9 a.m. until noon. Volunteers will be painting safety curbing in parking lot and on the sidewalks as well as picnic tables. This is the first of several volunteer workdays planned for repairing the pool to ensure all safety requirements are met. Those interested in volunteering should contact Amanda Miller before July 6 by calling (423) 490-0078 or E-mailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

On behalf of the City Council, we thank you for your understanding and patience as we work diligently to repair this valuable, important asset to the community. I encourage you to visit our Web site often to review pool updates. Repairs and projects can be found under the “Administration” link. We hope you will join the City’s effort in making the pool the safest, most enjoyable pool in the area!

City Council and staff, representatives from BI-LO and members of the media joined me last month for our official biodiesel program kick-off. I am proud to announce that East Ridge is among the first cities in Tennessee to utilize a self-produced biodiesel blend to fuel their City operations fleet, and we’ve already started to see national recognition for our progressive, environmentally responsible decision.

To move towards Council’s goal of becoming more green, City Council decided to act locally by switching the City’s diesel-powered fleet to a biodiesel blend. This clean alternative to diesel fuel not only will make the air cleaner in East Ridge and reduce the City’s fuel dependency, but will save the City money, which helps keep our City taxes lower. By switching to a biodiesel blend, the City of East Ridge will reduce its operating costs for essential services such as garbage collection, mowing, roadway maintenance, fire/rescue and street sweeping. In order for this program to be successful, the City needs your help to make it a success.

I personally want to ask the citizens of East Ridge, residents of neighboring communities and area businesses to participate in the program by recycling their used cooking oil. There is no cost to participate. Participants may use any closed, sealed container or one of East Ridge’s designated collection containers to collect their used cooking oil.

Residents may pick up a designated East Ridge collection container at any East Ridge Swap Center. These containers—once full with cooled used cooking oil—may be swapped for an empty one. Non-designated containers may also be dropped off at one of the Centers. The Swap Centers are located at:

· BI-LO, 3715 Ringgold Rd. (located on the west end of East Ridge)

· BI-LO, 6723 Ringgold Rd. (located on the east end of East Ridge)

· City Hall, 1517 Tombras Ave. (located by the outside door of the library entrance)

I hope you all will participate in this program and that you will talk about it with your friends, family and coworkers. This is an exciting progressive step for East Ridge and our citizens, and a great way you can personally reduce your environmental impact along with the City. Join me in making East Ridge more Green!

Summertime is just around the corner and I couldn’t be happier to have long warm days to spend out and about in our community and with my family. As a parent and grandparent, I know that summertime can also present many challenges. With school being out it can be difficult to keep our young people safe, busy and on the road to success while making sure they enjoy their summer.

That’s why East Ridge has built a partnership that allows our young people to attend a Summer Academy that will focus on education, wellness, fitness and social development. I believe this is the beginning to a successful program that will have a significant long-term impact on our community.

Thanks to the YMCA’s financial assistance programs and our sponsors, scholarships are available so don’t overlook this opportunity based on limited income. East Ridge has a growing reputation for providing excellent education for our youth and we want to continue to build that momentum. Registration is going on now and space is limited so don’t wait. Call to reserve a space today.

When: Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 7 through July 30
Where: The East Ridge Community Center, 1517 Tombras Avenue in East Ridge
Who: Any child five to 12 years of age can register for the academy
Cost: Enrollment is $50 weekly for East Ridge residents and $95 for nonresidents
How: Register for the Summer Academy by contacting Shawnna Skiles, East Ridge Community Center Director, at 423-867-6406 or via E-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

I want to take this opportunity to thank our partners: the J. A. Henry YMCA, East Ridge Revitalization Program, the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, The United Way and the Weldon F. Osborne Foundation. Without them we wouldn’t be able to provide this affordable and exciting program.

Our children require support, education and positive experiences to help them succeed. Together we all can build a successful future for the children of East Ridge.

This month the City of East Ridge and local real estate agents kicked off a new campaign to attract homebuyers to the city. The campaign is targeted toward young professionals, first-time homebuyers and those starting a family. The idea behind the name “Future in the Making” is based not only on the future of East Ridge—a growing, progressive community—but on the future of individuals. Anyone deciding on the future, whether growing a family or making a career change, need not to look further than East Ridge.

The campaign focuses on “cost, community and convenience,” three key messages that will be emphasized utilizing a variety of tactics.

Cost: East Ridge has a stable housing market, and homes here historically hold property value very well. Our homes are less expensive than those in neighboring communities, and our taxes nearly half; this allows homebuyers here to get more home for their dollar, which goes a long way in this economy. Those looking to move into a larger home can more easily afford one in East Ridge, and renters will find that they can get a nice home in East Ridge for a comparable monthly payment.

Community: As you know, East Ridge is a community of neighbors helping neighbors. We support our local businesses and look out for each other. We enjoy a low crime rate, and our police and fire departments achieve fast response times. In fact, our fire department is in the top four percent nationally. East Ridge has an award-winning elementary school, and will soon be home to a new elementary school slated to be the largest and most modern elementary school in the area. Plus there are many great outdoor activities in East Ridge, providing fun for friends and family—Camp Jordan and our community pool provide many opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Convenience: We’re just 10 minutes away from downtown Chattanooga, Hamilton Place Mall and are very close to the new Volkswagen plant. Our location is ideal for those wanting to be close to the action without paying the high price-tag typically associated with such convenience.

East Ridge offers small town security with big city opportunities, and that is exactly what “Future in the Making” will be communicating to potential homebuyers in the region. When speaking with friends and family who are thinking of moving, please communicate these messages to them and tell them to visit the Web site: www.futureinthemaking.com, which is where they will find more information about living in East Ridge and can review our available housing inventory.

I encourage you, too, to visit www.futureinthemaking.com. This is not just a place for visitors but for residents. Join the message board; post and view community events; read East Ridge news; make community announcements; access the East Ridge directory and more.

To review the Mayor’s State of the City speech, please click HERE

To review the Mayor’s State of the City speech in Spanish, please click HERE

East Ridge is partnering with the U.S. Census Bureau to help achieve a complete and accurate count of our population as part of the 2010 Census. Conducted every 10 years, the census defines who we are as a nation but also as a community. It guides critical decisions on the national, state and local levels of government and provides insight into population, state and local government funding.

Census data affect us all, which means achieving a complete and accurate count is essential. Every year, the federal government distributes more than $400 billion to state, local and tribal governments based on census data. This data also helps determine congressional representation and guides local decision-makers on where to build new roads, hospitals, child-care and senior centers, schools and more. A full and complete count of all citizens is vital for the financial and economic well-being of East Ridge.

This March, I’ll continue to share information with you about upcoming census events, including those hosted in East Ridge. I’ll also share information about key dates for the 2010 Census, including:

·March 2010: 2010 Census forms mailed to homes

·March – July 2010: Complete Count Committee activities take place.

·April 1, 2010: Official Census Day-Responses to the census form should include everyone living at your address.

·May – July 2010: Census workers visit households that did not mail back forms to take a count in person.

·Dec. 31, 2010: Census Bureau presents the 2010 apportionment counts to the President of the United States.

I can’t thank the East Ridge 2010 Census Complete Count Committee for their committed efforts towards informing the community about the census. The Committee has been hard at work implementing a communications plan they developed last year. They’ve been working diligently for many months on implementation of several strategies to spread the word about the importance of filling out this year’s Census. The committee is made up of citizens, city staff and Waterhouse Public Relations staff.

With the assistance from the Committee, you can be sure that when the census arrives in your mailbox this March East Ridge will be fully saturated with information and messaging. Already the East Ridge Count Committee has spread the Census message by placing flyers and signage in highly visible areas, placing informative Census articles in the Hometown News distributed to all citizens of East Ridge, emphasizing the importance of filling out the Census in the City’s electronic newsletter, incorporating Census messaging into Chamber breakfasts, working with community organizations to spread the word and scheduling speaking engagements with local churches and civic groups.

Lastly, the Census is completely confidential and your participation makes a difference. The 2010 census is only 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Ten minutes determines your country’s future, your community’s future and your future.
If you have any questions at all about the Census, please don’t hesitate to contact City Hall at 867-7711.

As a new year and a new decade have arrived, I can’t think of a better way for the City to start the year off than by unveiling the new City of East Ridge flag. On Wednesday, January 6, the city’s flag, designed by one of its very own residents Vice Mayor Tom Card, was raised for the first time by Congressman Zach Wamp and East Ridge City Council. I always feel an overwhelming sense of pride every time I see the City flag flying high alongside the United States of America flag and the State of Tennessee flag at City Hall. In the spirit of progressing forward on the day of the flag ceremony, I felt it was important to brief Congressman Wamp on the East Ridge Academy, an initiative and partnership with the J. A Henry YMCA and East Ridge Revitalization Program to assist youth in achieving greater academic success.

Speaking of academic success, I automatically think of the excellent reputation McBrien Elementary School has brought to this community since 1954. As many of you know a new elementary school is in the process of being built and the City will obtain ownership of the McBrien Elementary School building. On Thursday, January 21, East Ridge residents were invited to attend a visioning session regarding the future of the McBrien Elementary School building. The citizens in attendance offered numerous interesting and useful suggestions, all of which will be given significant consideration. The City has not yet decided on how best to utilize this facility but recognizes the resident’s of East Ridge are a vital component of this decision making process.

It is my pleasure to invite the citizens of East Ridge to the upcoming State-of-the-City Address on Thursday, February 18 at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Amongst the items I will talk about is the record of success pertaining to the top 10 goals the City Council chose in 2009. Before the Address, I and the City Council will host a reception for all East Ridge citizens in the City Hall lobby beginning at 5:30 p.m. It is my hope to see a large number of residents in attendance for this important speech that will detail achieved goals that are establishing a foundation for the City and forming a framework for the future.

Armed with a new symbol and renewed optimism, the City of East Ridge is prime to develop as it never has before. I am truly honored to serve as your mayor during such a transformative and positive time in our City’s history.

As the year comes to an end, I have various thoughts and reflections on the challenges the City and citizens of East Ridge rose above in 2009. The downturn in the economy has either affected us directly or we have family and friends who have struggled throughout the year. As a City, we overcame flooding issues with a determined pioneer spirit. Results from the flood are still impacting families in our community and time commitments from our City manager and staff.

We learn from the past, but like tearing a page from the calendar, we do not focus on the past; the City of East Ridge is clearly focusing on the future. Looking forward, there are numerous exciting opportunities on the City’s horizon. The City has secured major baseball and softball tournaments for 2010 with a potential economic impact to our community of $3 million. In addition, the City will co-sponsor the Bug-A-Paluza event at Camp Jordan. This event will bring an overwhelming amount of positive energy and recognition to East Ridge. The City will also become a greener city in 2010 with the launch of the new biodiesel program.

During this holiday season let’s not forget our friends and neighbors during these tough but exciting times. I want to ask that we all step up and reach out to those in need. This might mean helping your next door neighbor or a charitable organization where you volunteer your time. This might mean contacting our local hard working non-profit agencies to assist someone you don’t even know. Working together we can make a difference!

As we say goodbye to 2009, let’s show that old fashioned pioneer spirit East Ridge is known for and make 2010 a great new year.

Have wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

God Bless all of you.

Although our great city has recently seen devastation from massive flooding, it has been a time in which our community has come even closer together. Our citizens and City staff have done an excellent job helping each other and lending a hand in the clean-up process. Even those who, too, have lost belongings and whose homes have suffered damage have shown great fortitude in helping neighbors. I encourage you during this process to discard of any items in your home that flood waters have reached as the sewer overflow and other possible contaminants may be in this water. Dumpsters have been placed in the hardest hit neighborhoods in East Ridge for purpose of discarding larger items impacted by flood waters. We plan to spread lime in the near future to disinfect neighborhoods, streets and play areas. Although the City is looking into federal fund opportunities that might be available to build a levee, it could take as long as 10-20 years for such a detailed process to be complete. In the meantime, we have requested help from FEMA to assist our city’s immediate recovery.

With heavy hearts we made the decision to cancel our fall festival planned for this year. We all need to focus our efforts now on helping our neighbors and repairing the damage that has been done by floodwaters. Our main concern is helping the hundreds of individuals who have been displaced, clearing the debris and addressing both safety and health issues resulting from the flood. Thank you all for your hard work and help in pulling together to overcome this disaster.

In a time when so many communities are standing still, I am proud to be the mayor of a city that is determined to move forward and improve itself. Our city has received a great deal of good press lately and has taken on a number of bold initiatives to make East Ridge even better. The best part about these initiatives is the amount of public support they have received. It is obvious that everyone who lives in East Ridge loves the community and is deeply concerned with its well-being.

I think the concern for the community was very clearly illustrated by the attendance at the Breakfast Connection this past weekend. It was good to see so many people take a legitimate interest in how decisions affecting the city are made. I was impressed by how polite, respectful and innovative the discussions with the City Council members were. You let us know what the city’s greatest strengths are, such as low crime rates and affordable housing, along with suggestions for areas needing improvement. The event was a great success, and the idea behind it has captured the attention of the local media. The Chattanooga Times Free Press has written an article about the event, which can be found below.

http://timesfreepress.com/news/2009/aug/22/east-ridge-planning-breakfast-meetings/

During the Breakfast Connection, it became clear that if East Ridge has one consistent problem, it has been its image. To visitors driving down Ringgold Road, East Ridge doesn’t give off the best first impression. Fortunately, this is a problem we can fix! The city has been making an effort to beautify and rebrand the city to look as good as its residents know it to be. Efforts like the Exit 1 project, combined with stricter zoning and code enforcement, will do wonders to clean up the city’s image. Most everyone who lives in East Ridge knows it is a wonderful city; it just needs to look the part. It’s wonderful that our plans to improve the city’s appearance have also captivated the media’s attention. The Times Free Press has written an article detailing a number of the initiatives to make East Ridge look more attractive.

http://timesfreepress.com/news/2009/aug/23/east-ridge-leaders-try-to-reshape-towns-image/

Not all of the city’s efforts are being directed towards making East Ridge look more attractive to visitors. I am extremely excited about the Fall Festival taking place on Saturday, October 17, that will be an entertaining and enjoyable all-day event for our community. It will be an opportunity for everyone to interact and have a good time, regardless of interests or age group. The festival will take place all throughout scenic Camp Jordan, with attractions like a “two wheels” parade, face painting, a chili cook-off, and much more. Mark your calendars! More details to come.

East Ridge does not want to slow down. Despite what is happening in other communities, our city has the urge to continue improving and growing. To do this, however, we will need more people to move to East Ridge. Therefore, initiatives invested in our city and its beautification will not have immediate results, but will assist in making our city more attractive to visitors. East Ridge has extremely affordable housing prices, is a very safe place to raise a family and has a great deal to offer its residents. These virtues need to be communicated to anyone looking to start a new home or relocate. If you have any friends or family looking to settle down somewhere, recommend East Ridge; you know first-hand that they won’t regret moving here.