The city of Ringgold is wrapping up its Exit 345 Phase II Sewer Project.
“We’ve got a massive sewer extension from the city out toward Exit 345’s truck stop,” said Mayor Nick Millwood. “And it opens up a lot of property in that direction. That opens it up to economic development opportunities by putting necessary infrastructure in the ground for businesses to locate in that area.”
The original completion date was in October, but that got pushed back. Millwood said he expects the project to be completed sometime this month.
“It is a lot of sewer line,” he said. “The only debt we have as a city is getting our sewer line laid out. Even though we had to take a debt to get bonds it’s such a valuable piece of infrastructure. It’s an easy decision to move forward on that [the sewer line].”
In other business:
* Millwood is requesting that the city purchase a computer and a printer for his office at Ringgold City Hall. “Our last mayor did not have much use for a computer,” he said. “Technology is a big part of today’s world. I need a desktop computer in the office to communicate through. Technology is a powerful tool and you can be more efficient using it.”
* Alvin L. Mashburn, of Remco Business Center LLC, and Alvin and Janet Mashburn Trust are requesting rezoning of properties within existing development so zoning classification matches existing and surrounding uses. “He is just wanting to rezone commercial,” Millwood reported. “It’s the area around Cracker Barrel and Los Reyes. It was industrial. He wanted to make it commercial. We are excited to let him to do that. That means something can happen there for businesses in the city.”
* The City Council unanimously appointed the city’s new vice mayor: Terry Crawford.
* The council appointed Councilman Jake Haynes to serve on the Ringgold Downtown Development Authority Board to take Millwood’s former spot. The Ringgold City Charter says one council member must be on the DDA, according to Millwood. “He’s excited about it,” Millwood said, referring to Haynes. “He really wanted to get on there. He’s been searching for more ways to serve the city and he’s committed to making the city a better place.”
* The council appointed Lee Tubbs, Tony Hullender and Mark Higgs to the Ringgold Planning and Zoning Board. “We voted on the council and tallied up to name the three with the most votes,” Millwood said, adding one of the new appointees is to replace Sara Clark, who is now a City Council member. “It was a time that I actually got to vote.”
* The council voted to send Vice Mayor Terry Crawford to represent the city at the Georgia Municipal Association Special Membership Meeting. “It is a training weekend,” said Millwood, adding Crawford will go to cast the vote for the city since Millwood is unable to attend.