Longstanding partnerships with organizations promoting soccer, radio control flying and river-borne sightseeing have received kudos and support from the Chattanooga City Council.
The City Council has accepted a $20,000 donation from the Chattanooga Radio Control Club in return for paving the group's flyer runway at the Summit Landfill and approved a proposal to simplify agreement duration terms with the North River Soccer Association, which operates and maintains the North River Soccer Complex on Access Road.
"Unless this is something that is competitive every single year for bid, it seems like we're coming back and revisiting things every year when organizations are stepping up and maintaining - frankly - our property and doing big community support," said Councilman Ken Smith during a recent strategic planning session.
Upon Smith's recommendation, the City Council voted to enter into a two-year agreement with the North River Soccer Association, with three remaining options to renew, overriding an initial proposal to enter into a new one-year agreement with four options to renew.
It comes down to the organization's stability over its 12-year relationship with the city and its commitment to the soccer complex property, Smith said. In that time, only one soccer association board member has left the organization, he said.
Retired board member Jim Fields, who served as the soccer association's treasurer, received praise from North River Soccer Association President Mark Harrison for his long service to the organization.
Councilman Larry Grohn called the paving agreement with the Chattanooga Radio Control Club a "win-win."
The proposed paving project not only assists club operations, but it will eliminate potential environment concerns related to standing water over a city landfill site, Grohn said.
He said the club's $20,000 donation to the project underscores its commitment to serving the community, which includes its traditional June fundraiser for Siskin.
The city has also entered into its last renewal option to lease ramp access to Chattanooga Ducks, which offers waterfront tours using renovated World War II-era amphibious military vehicles originally designated as DUKWs when designed in 1942.
Chattanooga Ducks owner Alex Moyers expressed gratitude for the city's support over the organization's 18-year tenure on the city's riverside and said he is eager for the relationship to continue past the May 1, 2017, term of the current agreement.
"We have a great relationship with the city," said Moyers, citing partnerships with the Chattanooga Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and Riverbend promotions. "We really are a big part of the city waterfront."
Chattanooga Ducks is one of around 26-28 DUKW tour operators in the United States and takes on an estimated 50,000 riders annually, Moyers said.
"It's beautiful down there," he said of the Tennessee River and the Chattanooga waterfront. "It's the best tour of the city."
Contact staff writer Paul Leach at 423-757-6481 or pleach@timesfreepress.com.