Ridgeside Commissioners Delay Action on Road Closures

Ridgeside commissioners decided Tuesday night, January 20, 2009, to withdraw the proposed resolution to close all but one of the city's streets. The three member commission will await further data before moving ahead with any plans to close Ridgeside streets.

Ridgeside resident Bill Stiles agreed to organize and lead a committee that will collect information about the consequences of street closings, and when the data are collected and analyzed, those findings will be shared with residents, and decisions will then be made based on the analysis of data and the conclusions of the residents.

In other business, the village auditor's report for the fiscal year indicated a surplus in the Ridgeside balance of funds. The auditor complimented the financial condition of Ridgeside.

Back lot lighting is an ongoing project, according to Commissioner Sanders, but the lights, when installed will be the financial responsibility of the homeowner. Sanders said the project has run into some road blocks, but the commissioner said he was not going to give up on improving lighting in the neighborhood.

Sanders said that we should no longer put any glass in the weekly recycle pick-ups. Glass, according to Sanders, presents a hazard to the Orange Grove workers who sort Ridgeside's recyclables.

One meeting participant said that the Community Kitchen will accept glass, but the glass must be taken to the facility and workers at the Kitchen will unload one's automobile.

The commission then voted to increase the budget line for fire and police protection from East Ridge, because East Ridge recently doubled its service fee to the village.

Depress the start button to begin the QuickTime

In the above QuickTime movie Mayor Brant Mason explains his and the village commissioners' efforts to determine and to implement the will of the community about safety, security and street closings. The mayor's comments are followed by resident Hugh Moore expresssing his concern about priorities for the commission and his fear that property on Shallowford Road may develop into a concern for the community in the future. Resident Bill Stiles voices his concern that the city make street closure decision based on the best and most reliable data possible. Stiles was named by the mayor to lead a research effort aimed at providing the commission and the residents with the information that will help in the decision process.

If you do not have QuickTime Player installed in your computer, it is a free download for both Windows and Mac Operating System computer from Apple: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/