 Leslie Johnson Deputy Director, Public Works |
A Word from Deputy Director of Public Works Leslie Johnson
What are Red Bank's Planning Initiatives? Why does it matter? The Red Bank City Commission allocated significant funding and staff resources toward several planning initiatives to include the following: 1. City-wide Comprehensive Plan. 2. Small Area Study of the former Red Bank Middle School site. 3. Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment with Master Plan. 4. City-wide Stormwater Asset Management Plan. 5. City-wide Pavement Condition Index and Management Plan. 6. City-wide Sidewalk Inventory and Improvement Plan. 7. City-wide Signage inventory and Management Plan. Through these ambitious planning initiatives, Red Bank will have the necessary data and tools critical to guiding the City's future in community and economic development for generations to come. So, why do planning initiatives matter? While planning processes can seem daunting, the resulting benefits of planning initiatives far outweigh the challenges. Planning initiatives are the cornerstone of effective urban development and redevelopment, offering a collaborative, structured approach to assist in shaping a community for the betterment of its citizens. The resulting plans will serve as roadmaps for Red Bank in prioritizing future allocations of funding and facilitating data-driven decisions on land use, infrastructure, transportation, housing, and economic development. What are the benefits from planning initiatives? First and foremost, Community Engagement and Participation: Planning initiatives provide opportunities for community engagement and stakeholder input that foster a sense of ownership and collaboration among residents, businesses, civic organizations, and elected officials. Further, including and prioritizing the community’s diverse voices in the decision-making processes will help ensure that the resulting plans reflect the needs and desires of the entire community. Strategic Growth Management: Comprehensive plans will enable Red Bank to define and manage desired growth strategically while preventing haphazard development. By identifying areas for preferred density, conservation, and redevelopment, Red Bank can optimize land use and public infrastructure investments that foster sustainable development and encourage growth.
Enhanced Quality of Life: Through thoughtful, engaging, and collaborative planning, Red Bank will have the opportunity to preserve natural resources, protect green spaces, and promote walkability and accessibility. These measures lead to improved air and water quality, increased recreational opportunities, and better public health outcomes, ultimately enhancing residents’ overall quality of life.
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Economic Development Opportunities: A well-crafted, public engagement-driven comprehensive plan with clear goals and expectations has the effect of attracting investment and spurring economic development. By designating and defining areas for commercial, industrial, and mixed-use development and encouraging redevelopment, Red Bank’s planning initiatives can revitalize business districts, attract new employers, and generate job opportunities for its residents.
Infrastructure Efficiency: Planning for improved and efficient infrastructure needs such as multi-modal transportation networks, public utilities to include stormwater management, and public facilities ensure efficient services and effective use of allocated resources to help reduce costly retrofits in the future. By aligning infrastructure investments with growth projections and a community's development desires, Red Bank can avoid unmitigated congestion, improve public connectivity and address safety while enhancing levels of public service delivery.
Resilience and Adaptation to Change: In an era of rapid urbanization, federal mandates, environmental regulations, and technological innovations, planning initiatives can help Red Bank build resilience and adaptability through solution-oriented development regulations. Further, by identifying and considering long-term community development trends and potential risks, Red Bank can implement future-proof infrastructure plans to optimize disaster preparedness and promote sustainability. Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Comprehensive land use plans serve as the legal framework for zoning ordinances, development regulations, and other land-use policies that ensure consistency and compliance with state and federal laws. By adhering to established planning principles through adopted land use plans, Red Bank can avoid potential legal disputes while promoting orderly growth and economic development. Grant Funding Opportunities: Formally adopted planning documents will enhance Red Bank’s competitiveness in state and federal grant funding opportunities by clearly demonstrating a strategic vision and alignment with funding priorities, leveraging data-driven processes, fostering collaborative partnerships, building capacity for sustainability, and ensuring compliance and accountability. By integrating grant-funded initiatives into the broader framework of planning initiatives, Red Bank can maximize the impact of grant funding and achieve the community's long-term development objectives more effectively. In conclusion, Red Bank's planning initiatives will be essential in laying the groundwork for creating a more desirable, livable, sustainable, and resilient community for generations to come. The City of Red Bank is committed to a proactive and holistic approach towards community and economic development planning initiatives, with a goal to highlight a multitude of benefits for its residents, businesses, and community members. And while the planning process does require time, resources, collaboration and, commitment, the long-term rewards will be well worth the investment. Are you ready to participate? Your voice matters and we want you to be a part of planning Red Bank’s future! The City will host its first in-person comprehensive plan community engagement meeting at the Red Bank Community Center located at 3653 Tom Weathers Drive on March 14, 2024,6:00 pm. Be on the lookout for more community engagement opportunities to be scheduled for 2024. You can follow us on social media and check out our website for regular updates! ______________________________________________________________ |
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Red Bank Police Department: St. Patrick's Day Safety Tips.
The Red Bank Police Department would like to offer some St. Patrick’s Day Safety Tips to help you safely navigate the festivities.  Drinking and Driving is an unlucky combination. Don’t push your luck on St. Patrick’s Day. ST. PATRICK’S DAY DRIVING TIPS - Plan ahead. If you plan to consume alcoholic beverages, arrange a safe way to get home before the festivities begin.
- Before drinking, designate a sober driver and give that person your car keys.
- If you’re impaired, call an Uber, Lyft, a Taxi, or a sober friend or family member to get you home safely.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, promptly contact your local law enforcement agency.
- Remember, “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk”. Make other arrangements to get them to their destination safely.
Remember, the tragedies and costs of driving drunk are serious and real. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for drunk driving are significant. ______________________________________________________________
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Watch vs Warning. Severe Weather Awareness It's that time of the year again, the flowers start blooming, the trees start budding, the smell of fresh cut grass is in the air, and the possibility of Severe Weather is right around the corner. Tennessee’s Severe Weather Awareness Week is February 25th through March 2nd. In this month’s newsletter we will talk about the differences between a watch and a warning as we also provide some important safety tips for you to keep in mind in the event of severe weather. Severe Thunderstorm Watch The Storm Prediction Center (SPC), located in Norman, Oklahoma, plays a crucial role in monitoring and forecasting severe weather events. Let’s break down what a severe thunderstorm watch entails: Definition: A severe thunderstorm watch outlines an area where an organized threat of severe thunderstorms is expected generally during a three- to six-hour period. It serves as an early warning for potentially hazardous weather conditions. Issuance Process: Consultation: Before issuing a severe thunderstorm watch, the SPC collaborates with local National Weather Service Forecast Offices (NWFOs). They discuss the current weather situation and assess the likelihood of severe thunderstorms. Preliminary Watch: The SPC issues a preliminary Severe Thunderstorm Watch, which provides a heads-up to the affected NWFO. Adjustment and Public Issuance: The NWFO adjusts the watch based on local conditions and then issues it to the public via a severe weather statement. Watch Duration: Severe thunderstorm watches typically last for 4 to 8 hours and are issued well in advance of the actual occurrence of severe weather. Purpose: During the watch, the NWFO keeps the public informed about the evolving weather situation within the designated area. They provide updates and notify when the watch has expired or been canceled. Analogy: Think of a severe thunderstorm watch like preparing a taco dinner. You have all the ingredients (atmospheric conditions) necessary to produce a severe thunderstorm, but just like you’re not ready to start cooking tacos immediately, Mother Nature may not be ready to unleash the storm yet. Remember, a severe thunderstorm watch is a proactive measure to keep people informed and prepared for potential severe weather impacts.
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Severe Thunderstorm Warning A severe thunderstorm warning is a critical alert issued by your local National Weather Service Forecast Office (NWFO) when specific conditions are met. Let’s break it down: Criteria for Issuance: Radar Indication: The warning is triggered when a severe thunderstorm is indicated by radar. Spotter Reports: It can also be issued based on spotter reports of a thunderstorm producing hail one inch or larger in diameter and/or winds equal to or exceeding fifty-eight (58) miles per hour. Immediate Action: When this warning is issued, people in the affected area should seek shelter immediately. Tornado Risk: Severe thunderstorms have the potential to produce tornadoes, sometimes with little or no warning. Lightning Frequency: Unlike lightning frequency, which is not a criterion for issuing this warning, the focus is on other severe weather aspects. Duration: Severe thunderstorm warnings typically last for one hour and can be issued independently, even without a prior severe thunderstorm watch. Information Included: The warning specifies where the storm is located. It identifies the towns that will be affected by the severe thunderstorm. The primary threat associated with the storm (e.g., hail, strong winds) is communicated. Additional Considerations: If the severe thunderstorm also causes torrential rains, the warning may be combined with a Flash Flood Warning. After issuance, the NWFO provides periodic updates through severe weather statements, keeping the public informed about the storm’s status. Now, all the ingredients are in place, and Mother Nature is now cooking up the storm! Tornado Watch A tornado watch, similar to a severe thunderstorm watch, is issued by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, Oklahoma. Here’s how it works: Consultation: The SPC communicates with the affected local National Weather Forecast Office (NWFO). They discuss the current weather situation and share their insights. Preliminary Watch: The SPC issues a preliminary tornado watch. Adjustment and Public Issuance: The NWFO adjusts the watch based on local conditions and then issues it to the public via a severe weather statement. Watch Area: During the watch, the NWFO keeps the public informed about the weather conditions within the designated area. Expiration or Cancellation: The NWFO notifies when the watch has expired or been canceled. |
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Tornado Warning A tornado warning is a critical alert issued when a tornado is either indicated by radar or reported by a spotter. Here’s what you need to know: Immediate Action: If you’re in the affected area, seek safe shelter immediately. Duration: Tornado warnings typically last for around 30 minutes. No Watch Required: Unlike a tornado watch, a warning can be issued without a prior tornado watch being in effect. Tornado Facts: Timing: Tornadoes tend to strike during spring and summer months, often between 3 and 9 p.m., but they can occur at any time. Sound: A tornado sounds like the roar of a freight train or an airplane at takeoff. Destructive Power: Tornadoes can uproot trees, damage structures, and turn harmless objects into deadly missiles within seconds, causing incredible destruction and injuries. Safety Tips During a Tornado: Basement or Storm Cellar: Seek shelter in a basement or storm cellar. Interior Rooms: If no basement is available, go to the smallest interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level. Avoid Corners: Stay away from corners. Windows: Do not open windows; seek shelter in a bathtub. Protection: Use a mattress, blanket, or couch cushions to protect yourself from falling debris. Emergency Supplies: Keep a flashlight and an emergency supply kit handy. Sturdy Cover: Get under something sturdy like a heavy table, bed, or stairs. Car Safety: If in a car or truck, get out immediately; do not seek shelter under the vehicle. No Shelter: If no shelter is available, lie flat, face down, in the nearest ditch or depression, covering your head with your hands. Remember: Watch: We're going to cook tacos for dinner Warning: We're eating tacos Stay low, stay informed, and take tornado warnings seriously. We hope that now you have a better understanding of Severe Weather Watches and Warnings and use the safety tips we shared with you in this article to stay safe this Spring, and as most of you have heard on radio “Its Springtime now go play in the yard." ______________________________________________________________ |
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The Hamilton County Health Department Announces the Reopening of the Dental Clinic and Introduces New Dental Team.HAMILTON COUNTY, TN – The Hamilton County Health Department announces the reopening of the Dental Clinic after a 3-month hiatus. In addition, the Health Department would also like to welcome two new dentists to the dental team, Alaina Marinello, D.D.S. and Megan Harris, D.D.S. The dental clinic provides preventive, restorative, and emergency care to patients 4 to 20 years of age. Dr. Marinello says, “Growing up in Chattanooga, I attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville as an undergrad and then continued my education at the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry. It is an honor to be helping the community I grew up in live healthier lives with bright smiles. After all, you can't spell overall health without oral health.” “I recently graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry and was born and raised in Dayton, TN. I am thrilled to serve in the Chattanooga area, which is close to home and my heart. I’m looking forward to working with such an incredible team with a heart for providing quality dental care to the underserved residents of Hamilton County,” says Dr. Harris. Dental Services are only offered at the Health Department’s 3rd Street location. Appointments can be made by calling 423-209-8100. Walk-ins are accepted, but patients with appointments are given priority. The Dental Clinic accepts patients without insurance or those with TennCare Children or CoverKids. Uninsured adults can also be seen for emergency dental care only. To learn about the Health Department’s Dental Clinic and the services offered, visit Health.HamiltonTN.org. Additional resources • Questions? Call the Health Department at 423-209-8000. • Free interpretation services are available at all Health Department clinics. • For Health Department information, visit: Health.HamiltonTN.gov • To read this information in Spanish, visit the Health Department’s Spanish Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SaludHamiltonTN _________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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Join Us for the 3rd Annual Red Bank Weed Wrangle!
Join us for the 3rd Annual Red Bank Weed Wrangle® at the White Oak Connector Trail on Saturday, March 2 from 10 am to 1 pm. Park at White Oak Park, walk south to the White Oak Connector trail entrance off Midvale. Continue walking up the gravel path and we will be focusing our efforts on removal of invasive woody Chinese privet and Japanese bush honeysuckle on the first section of dirt track trail past the gravel clearing. Weed Wrangle® is a one-day national volunteer effort to help eradicate non-native invasive species in our public parks and green spaces through hands-on removal of harmful trees, vines, and shrubs. Supervised by experienced volunteers in invasive weed management, Weed Wrangle® volunteers can learn, practice and begin a habit of maintaining an area free of non-native invasive plants. This is a free, family-friendly event, though kids will require supervision. Dress for outdoor work with sleeves, jeans, and closed-toed shoes recommended. Bring water, gloves, and any garden tools you have such as loppers, pruners, maddocks, weed wrenches, etc. extras would be much appreciated! Let's beautify our city while improving habitat and making room for native species to thrive. ______________________________________________________________ |
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The warmer weather has us dreaming of spring! Speaking of Springtime, we have just opened vendor applications for the 2024 Jubilee which will be held on May 4th from 10am-4pm. We are looking for vendors selling unique items, food, and other fun wares. Once you submit an application we will reach out with approval and a link for payment. All Food, Beverage, and Active Vendors (using tools, machines, etc. to create an item at the event) must provide the City a Certificate of Insurance (COI) adding the City of Red Bank 3105 Dayton Blvd, Red Bank, TN, 37415 as additionally insured. If you are selling non-food products and will not be using tools or machines at your booth you do not need a Certificate of Insurance, please just upload a picture of your goods. We look forward to your applications and will see everyone on May 4th! _____________________________________________________________________________________ |
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The City of Red Bank Public Works, Storm Water Division, Receives New Jetter Truck.
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The City of Red Bank Public Works Department, Storm Water Division recently received a new piece of equipment commonly referred to as a “Jetter Truck” by staff. This piece of equipment was made possible through a federal ARPA grant administered by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). The cost of this asset was zero dollars to the taxpayers with no outlay from the general fund (property taxes). 100% of the cost of this Jetter Truck was paid for with grant funding. Incidentally, this piece of equipment is replacing a similar 44-year-old unit that is no longer fully functional, parts are hard to locate as it has become unsafe to operate as well as frequently breaks down when used.
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In November of 2022, Deputy Director of Public Works Leslie Johnson successfully submitted a TDEC grant application and a Storm Water Utility Assessment Plan to TDEC which successfully secured the grant for the city. Along with the purchase of the Jetter Truck the grant also allowed Public Works to hire a consultant to map out our entire Storm Water utility system which is crucial for compliance with the grant requirements. One of TDEC’s many objectives is improving water quality. In early 2022 one of the City Commission goals from their annual workshop was to revamp the Storm Water Ordinances, fees, and operations. When these goals are fully implemented this will improve the quality of storm water run-off into Stringers Branch, over time, and mitigate the potential for flooding in the basin. The purchase and deployment of this Jetter Truck is just one way the Storm Water Team is helping to achieve the Commission’s Goals while delivering increased levels of Storm Water service to the citizens of Red Bank.
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Pictured here, are key players of the Public Works Staff that will either operate and maintain the equipment or were instrumental in the procurement process: L-R Michael Edwards (Storm Water Division Heavy Equipment Operator), Randy Bell (Fleet Manager and Master Technician), Adam Knudtson (Fleet Services Technician), Logan Ridge (Laborer II and Commercial Driver), Jimmy Ruffner (Laborer II and Commercial Driver), Ricky Reeves (Streets Division and Storm Water Division Supervisor), Justin Headrick (Facilities Manager and key to the procurement process on which type unit to purchase for this endeavor), James Allen (Solid Waste Supervisor and Commercial Driver).______________________________________________________________
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Partial Road Closure for Water Main Replacement. Tennessee American Water Company has reached out to the City of Red Bank to notify officials of a partial road closure from 274 Sims Dr. to 300 Sims Dr for water main replacement. The start date is March 4th and the end date is tentatively March 15th. TAWC’s contractors will be allowing residents that live in the work zone through but will have signs posted reading NO THROUGH TRAFFIC. There will also be DETOUR signs posted to direct through traffic around the work zone. Please obey traffic control signs that are in place during this period in order to keep all workers safe as they improve the water infrastructure in the City of Red Bank. ______________________________________________________________ |
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Looking Ahead March 5th - Regular Commission Work Session - 5 PM Regular Commission Meeting - 6 PM
March 19th - Regular Commission Work Session - 5 PM Regular Commission Meeting - 6 PM
March 13th - Planning Commission Work Session - 12 PM March 27th - Regular Planning Commission Meeting - 6 PM
* City offices will be closed March 29th in observance of Good Friday |
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