At Thursday’s interviews for interim sheriff, County Commissioner Larry Henry wondered aloud if the commission had to choose anyone to be interim before the Aug. 7 election.

“I was a little disappointed that (Deputy Chief Allen Branum) decided to put in his application (for interim),” he said. “I really saw no reason why he couldn’t continue in that capacity until this election.”

Mr. Henry argued that the county would save about $54,000 in salary by opting to not hire an interim.

“That amount would be better spent on a (school resource officer),” he said.

Mr. Henry also said putting in an interim who lacked intimate knowledge of the sheriff’s department’s workings could do more damage than good.

State law stipulates that the position “shall be filled by the county legislative body” but does not set a time frame.

County attorney Rheubin Taylor has said officials have interpreted the time frame as “as soon as reasonable.”

Sworn police retirees are no-shows

The Chattanooga Police Department held a celebratory ceremony last week for retirees and individuals recently promoted, but none of the sworn police retirees attended.

The department honored several civilian promotions, along with one sworn police promotion to assistant chief, five to captain, seven to lieutenant and 18 to sergeant.

Civilian and sworn retirees were also on the program, but all six sworn police retirees — Sgt. Kelley Miller, Sgt. Mary St. Clair-Warner, Lt. Alan Chance, Capt. Vivian Hixson, Deputy Chief Charles Cooke and Deputy Chief T.E. “Skip” Vaughn — were noticeably absent, attendees said.

Chief Cooke and Chief Vaughn had filed suit against their former employer last June, alleging their positions were eliminated because of age discrimination.

Incline prices could rise in April

The price tag to ride the CARTA-operated Incline Railway up Lookout Mountain may go up this spring.

Tom Dugan, executive director of the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority, told board members at last Thursday’s meeting that there’s a proposal to raise prices one dollar for adults and children. That would make rates increase from $12 to $13 for adults and from $6 to $7 for children, he said.

Mr. Dugan said a public hearing will have to be held on the proposal, and he plans to bring the topic back to the board for its approval at next month’s meeting. The increase, if passed, would go into effect April 1, he said.

He said Rock City and Ruby Falls are increasing their prices, and he knew CARTA would have to consider a price hike on the Incline.

“This is a matter of basically keeping that service at a market price,” board chairman Stephen Jett said.

More voter complaints

In addition to voters who complained to election officials at Tuesday’s meeting of the Hamilton County Election commission, a number of other voters have said they encountered problems on Feb. 5.

Heather R. Williams said she did not get the right ballot at her precinct on Moore Road.

“I signed the book for District 6 and proceeded to get my ballot to vote,” she wrote in an e-mail to Duffy Hudson, a Barack Obama campaign worker. “When I opened the folder to fill out my ballot, I noticed that the general election candidates for District 6 were not on it. When I started questioning the people working about it, they tried to tell me that it was because I did not live in District 6.”

Ms. Williams said she eventually received the correct ballot but saw frustrated poll workers and other voters having problems.

Also in an e-mail, another voter said he had problems at the precinct at Ooltewah Seventh-day Adventist Church.

“There were no signs on the table that indicated which worker was distributing Democratic ballots and which one was distributing Republican ones,” he wrote.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Elections Administrator Bud Knowles said election officials would work to correct problems by the Aug. 7 election.

Shuttle talk

Mr. Dugan told board members Thursday that there’s some talk of expanding North Shore electric shuttle service to the burgeoning Manufacturers Road area west of the Market Street Bridge.

The North Shore shuttle began service last August when the bridge reopened. Mr. Dugan said it would make sense to run the service down to the Moccasin Bend National Archeological District, where an interpretative center is planned.

“We know that’s going to be a natural extension at some point in time,” Mr. Dugan said.

He said there’s also “going to be more and more pressure to look at the Southside” for shuttle service.

City gets grant for Heritage House

East Brainerd’s Heritage House is expected to benefit from a $25,000 state grant that will help renovate the facility’s second floor.

“I am thrilled to receive this grant that will allow EAC to begin renovating the (second) floor of Heritage House,” Department of Education, Arts & Culture Administrator Missy Crutchfield said in a news release.

She said the updates will make the second floor usable for art instruction and other activities.

The facility was constructed in 1963 and is Chattanooga’s “exclusive arts and cultural civic center,” according to the release.

Frigid on the freeze

County Commissioners on Wednesday once again brought up a topic that has caused them much heartburn in recent months: the property tax freeze for senior citizens.

Commissioner Richard Casavant said county officials should note that “wealth and income are two different things,” and that a wealthy resident older than 65 could be eligible for the program if they meet the income requirements. He also asked what could be considered income, including tax-exempt municipal bonds.

A senior must make $32,890 or less in 2008 to be eligible.

Dr. Casavant asked County Finance Administrator Louis Wright if he could provide documents detailing the impact of the tax freeze over a 20-year period.

“I have not done that yet,” Mr. Wright said.

Mr. Wright did say, however, that the freeze would have a “compounding effect” over time.

The County Commission is planning to come to a decision by May on whether to implement the tax freeze.

Compiled by staff writers Lauren Gregory, Matt Wilson and Michael Davis

E-mail Lauren Gregory at lgregory@timesfreepress.com

E-mail Matt Wilson at mwilson@timesfreepress.com

E-mail Michael Davis at michaeld@timesfreepress.com