After failing to successfully hold a special call meeting due to lack of a quorum several weeks ago, the Red Boiling Springs council met in regular session last Thursday night, July 10, and filled two vacant council seats from a field of six applicants.

Applying for the seats vacated by the resignation of Billy Whitley and the recent death of the late Jimmy Neal Roark were Billy Joe Carver; Shelly Dean; Lee Henderson; Lawrence Hollis; Jack Pelham; and Mike Silvio.

Former councilman Lawrence Hollis was nominated by Ray Bilbrey for the first seat to be filled, with the nomination seconded by Etheridge. Hollis received the votes of all four sitting council members.

Shelly Dean was also nominated by Bilbrey, seconded by Newberry. Ms. Dean also received four votes and the appointment to the second vacant seat. The two were sworn in at the end of the council meeting under the agenda item "other business."

The parked city vehicle issue was raised by RBS Police Chief Danny Tuck, who asked the mayor and council for an exception for the police chief and assistant chief for reasons of emergency backup and in the interest of public safety.

Chief Tuck noted that he lived less than a mile from the city limits, and Assistant Chief Steve Evans lives within the city.

"It doesn't make sense for us to have to drive past an officer at night who is in need of assistance to come down town to pick up our cars and equipment," said Tuck.

The council agreed with Chief Tuck, and also authorized the city's two police patrol officers, who live in Lafayette, to take their patrol cars home if they reimburse the city for the fuel used to travel between Red Boiling Springs and Lafayette.

THE PARTICIPATION BY TWO OFFICERS IN THE COUNTY'S SWAT TEAM had been discontinued by Mayor Kenneth Hollis, who said he'd heard the organization was to be disbanded, and that the tight budget situation did not allow for the four to five hours per month of overtime for the officers to participate in monthly training sessions.

However, maintaining that the officers already had the necessary equipment and training, Councilman Etheridge argued that the city "couldn't afford NOT to have" the city's officers participate in the SWAT team, should the need arrive.

On a motion by Newberry, seconded by Etheridge the council agreed to continue the city's participation in the county SWAT team.

In other business the council passed a balanced 2007-08 budget on second and final reading; tabled discussion of city employee pay scales between a committee of three council persons and employees; approved a Charter change allowing an increase on the spending limit to $10,000 without advertising for bids; and ruled that all civic organizations must get approval for fundraisers from the city prior to the event if the city's name was to be used in promotion of the fund raising.

Assistant Police Chief Steve Evans was given permission to plant a tree in the city park in memory of his late wife, Leticia, with several council members offering to help him plant the memorial tree.

Fire Chief Danny Knight informed the council that Kenethia Woodard, stepdaughter of the late Assistant Fire Chief, had agreed to serve as secretary for the fire department, filling out official fire reports as her father had done previously.

And Pamela Dean appeared to ask the city's permission to hold a possible antique truck and tractor pull on the weekend following the annual car show held Labor Day weekend, and the weekend before Cycle Mos Motorcycle Show in September.

The council agreed to check on insurance and any possible cost to the city. The organizers, Ms. Dean and Robert Stoop, wish to donate 40 percent of the proceeds to the city's police and fire departments in return for permission to name the event the "Red Boiling Springs Antique Truck and Tractor Pull."