After spending Tuesday afternoon discussing police policy and procedure, the Chattanooga City Council took 28 minutes Tuesday night to run through its agenda and two public comments.
The council approved $94,192.55 for cleanup and damages from a sewer backup at the Bridgeway Apartments, located at 2415 Bridge Circle in the Tyner area. Jeff Rose, a city employee for four years who was appointed director of the city’s Wastewater Systems Division, said the payout was among the largest he could recall.
Rose said the city handles between five and 10 sewer backups annually, all the result of heavy rains in areas where the manhole covers are higher than basements of buildings. Backflow preventers were not required when the apartments were built, but the city installs preventers as part of the cleanup and repair. The Bridgewater repair included $53,439 in cleanup and $40,753 in repairs.
At the request of District 2 Councilman Jerry Mitchell, the council delayed approving a million-dollar contract with ENCO Utility Services, which handles sewer billing for the city. In addition, the council approved two new short-term vacation rentals, deferred another and rejected one when the applicant failed to appear.
The council’s next regular meeting is at 6 p.m. on Feb. 5.