As many of you may know there had been a local court challenge to the red light cameras the city installed last May. The city's legal staff defended the case in city court and won.

A month or two ago the Tennessee State Attorney General reviewed similar questions posed on red light cameras that our city staff researched for their trial.

The Attorney General provided the same conclusions that our city attorney and city court had come to and that was there were no legal issues to impede the use of the cameras.

Today the first two defendants to challenge their tickets, after the previous court ruling on the cameras, were found guilty of running the red lights.

For those that may not recall or for new readers of my emails, the cameras take both still shots and 10-12 seconds of video on every car that runs a light. The car, its plates and the stop light are clearly visible and the video is available for those who need to review it.

The Clarksville Police Department reviews all tickets and has final say and approval on each.

The only way to get a ticket is to cross the white line, positioned at each stop light, after the light turns red. As long as you have part or all of your car past that white line, before red, you are okay. On right turn on red, make sure you come to a complete stop before proceeding.

ALL camera ticket fines go ONLY to two special funds and are split 70%-30%. One fund is for buying police equipment and gets the 70%. The other fund goes to the Greenways and receives the remaining 30%.  

From Councilman Bill Summers

There has been talk about what happened with the firm (RUST) that pulled all of it construction equipment off the marina/park site.  Rust defaulted on their contract and could not complete it. As with all big projects the city requires all companies to be bonded.

The bonding company will make a decision within the next couple of days to either pay money to the remaining marina/park firms (such as TMS) to do the work or hire another firm to come in and finish the job.

Only 5% of the remaining dirt work was left to do. The weather has been a killer and that is why little is happening at this time due to the mud. TMS, the general contractor, is working all issues and plan to have construction back on track as soon as a bond decision is made.

The final plans for the Wilma Rudolph Pavilion are being made. The new pavilion will have side and rear glass walls that can be raised when the weather is good.  The rear part will face the lake and amphitheater area. There will be kitchen and bathroom areas in the pavilion and these will be located to the front of the building, closest to 48/13. The interior will be open and could house 500 people.  The statue of Wilma Rudolph may be moved to the entrance of the new building.

Along the front brick, 10 shadows of Rudolph in various racing positions (starting in the blocks, take off, etc) will be place every 10 yards to represent the 100-yard dash for which she won a gold medal. At each 10-yard mark a quote from Wilma will be placed on the sidewalk.

The back of the pavilion will overlook the step-downs to the football size performance field.  These step-downs will be the seating for events and are similar to the seat/steps at the river amphitheater and are made up of grass and block/concrete.  However, they will be bigger with trees planted to provide a natural and shaded seating area.  This "seating" area will hold 4,000 people. Parking will available for all attendees for events within the park.

The lake is about finished and has over 5000 bluegill in it. Catfish and bass will be added in the coming months. Clearing of overgrowth and preparation of wetland areas has started.

Also, the marina is still under projected budget.

That's a wrap for now. 

Thanks

Bill Summers, Ward 10