COLLEGEDALE — The Collegedale Commissioners approved multiple infrastructure and public safety projects on July 6, 2026. Approvals included a PAPI (Precision Approach Path) visual lighting system for the Collegedale Municipal Airport runway, emergency repairs at a sewer pump station, camera coverage for city facilities, and the purchase of new equipment and vehicles.

Commissioners approved the lighting system to replace indicators that have been non-functional for close to 10 years. A study was also approved to evaluate conditions and design the system, including necessary tree trimming and equipment placement. The study is scheduled for completion within 90 days of the grant award funding the work. The lighting system is expected to cost $30,000, with $15,000 covered by the city.

City Manager Jon Holmes recommended forming a formal airport board. An unofficial 'ad hoc' airport board has provided advisory services since 2022. The city will follow the state-approved process to establish this board, and its meetings will be subject to the Sunshine Law. A vote on establishing the airport board is slated for the next commission meeting.

The commissioners authorized an emergency repair for the discharge pipe at the new sewer pump station after leaks were identified during pressure testing. The repair work is subject to a September deadline to utilize TDEC grant funding and costs an additional $35,430. The total cost for the pump station upgrade amounts to $3,378,959. The commission also approved a change order request of $24,545 to cover increased costs associated with meetings regarding sewer pump station services.

The commission approved issuing separate task orders for larger projects under a contract with Cannon & Cannon for on-call engineering services. Task Order Number 1 was authorized for an amount not to exceed $25,000. Additionally, the city agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding with WWTA, allowing Collegedale to temporarily accept wastewater from Cambridge Village, a proposed new development.

The commission accepted a recommendation to use Preventia Security for camera coverage at city facilities, valued at $64,979. This initiative had been sought by the Collegedale Police Department and the Building Department. Coverage will include city hall, the parks and recreation and public works building, Thacher Park pickleball courts, the shooting range, and the library. Preventia Security's bid was not the lowest of the four quotes received, and the service will incur a monthly fee ranging from $900 to $1,500.

Purchases of new equipment and vehicles were approved for the beginning of the new fiscal year. The total cost for these purchases concluded under the budgeted amount. The public works department will receive an excavator, a skid steer, a front-end loader, and three mowers. An F150 4x4 truck is slated for the building and codes department, and a Bronco Sport AWD will be acquired for the planning department.