The Red Boiling Springs City Council deadlocked on a two-to-two vote and failed to hire a full-time city police officer last Thursday night, September 13.

With a choice of three qualified applicants, councilman Jimmy Roark complained that council members had not been provided with advance copies of the three applications and the men's' qualifications.

Mayor Kenneth Hollis and Police Chief Terry Tuck both recommended the council hire current part-time patrolman Jeff Hix to fill the position. The mayor was asked why he had changed his mind about Hix, and he explained that he had been watching the part-time officer's performance for the past several weeks and had simply changed his opinion based on closer observation.

However, a motion to hire Hix received “no” votes from Roark and Ray Bilbry. A second motion by Roark to hire former RBS police officer Tracey Bilbrey also failed with only two votes for Bilbery.

With two council members absent (Etheridge and Newberry) four council votes were required to make a decision. If three votes had been cast for either man, Mayor Kenneth Hollis could have cast the deciding vote. The third man, former county sheriff's deputy, Jessie Gentry, had also applied for the position.

Chief Tuck noted that this was the first time in 14 years the council had not agreed with one of his recommendations to hire an officer.

Nevertheless, the council agreed to advertise again for 30 days before bringing the subject up again.

In other business, Mike Silvio, owner of Cyclomo's Motorcycle museum appeared before the council to ask permission for visitors to be able to park vehicles in the City Park across from the museum for an Antique Bike Show scheduled for the weekend of September 22.

Silvio had initially asked for an exemption from the city's Peddlers Permit and sought permission for vendors of antique motorcycle parts and memorabilia to set up in the City Park.

However, Silvio withdrew his request when he found a city ordinance would have to be changed (requiring two readings) in order to grant the vendor variance request; he instead asked that “overflow parking” be allowed for the out of town and local visitors, asserting that the crowd would be as well mannered as the Antique Car Show crowd.

RBS Rescue Squad members have agreed to patrol the parking area, and the council instructed city attorney Jon Wells to draw up an agreement with Silvio making him responsible for any damage that might be sustained by the park due to the parking.

Only councilman Ray Bilbrey objected, and the council approved Silvio's request.

Mayor Kenneth Hollis said ithe Antique Bike Show would be “great for the town.”