Ringgold leaders are re-evaluating where it places their tourism advertisement on area billboards.

Currently, the city has billboards posted north and south of the city on I-75.

Wright told members of the Ringgold City Council March 10 that it is time for the city to establish its new billboard contract.

“The current locations are not the most prime spots because in some seasons the leaves block portions of the signs,” Wright said.

The city pays $500 per month per billboard from money it is required to spend on tourism from the hotel/motel tax, he said.

Wright said the city could get two billboards that are more visible for $1,000 per month.

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The Ringgold City Council is scheduled to hold a regular monthly meeting Monday, March 24 at 7 p.m. at City Hall at 150 Tennessee Street in Ringgold. For more information about the meeting, call (706) 935-3061.

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The city also occasionally has a billboard southbound on Alabama Highway.

Council member Bill McMillon asked if the city might gain better visibility by placing one on Battlefield Parkway.

“So people coming from Fort Oglethorpe can see it,” he said. “If instead of, or in addition to — its up for discussion.”

Wright said that the city currently has three billboards highlighting city events that the billboard company switches out throughout the year. He said costs for new canvas billboard covers can range from 800- $1,000.

McMillon said that the city should consider creating some billboards with lots of color and pictures and fewer words to draw attention to the city as cars drive by.

Council member Terry Crawford said essentially the change will double the annual billboard budget.

The council approved gathering additional information regarding options for advertising billboards along Battlefield Parkway and on I-75 near East Ridge on the southbound side.

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In other business Monday, March 10, at Ringgold City Hall, Ringgold City Council voted unanimously to:

* Approve allowing City Manager Dan Wright to contact Fort Oglethorpe to see if it will agree to a request by Ray Eslinger for Ringgold to accept sewerage from the Cloud Springs Road-U.S. Highway 41 area east of I-75. The area is part of the Fort Oglethorpe sewerage basin. If approved by Fort Oglethorpe, the city agrees to accept the sewerage.

* Approve the purchase of a Metrotech locate box for $2,131.

* Approve the purchase of a 10-foot diving board and .5-meter stand for the Martha Denton Pool for an approximate cost of $2,000.

* Adopt an attitude and chain of command policy for the Ringgold Police Department.

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