City Council offers Red Flag updates
RED BAY — Earlier this year, multiple departments in Red Bay were asked to recognize a “Red Flag Law” to protect citizens and city departments from identity theft.
In his annual “Red Flag Law” report to the council, Red Bay mayor Bobby Forsythe said every department that was asked to participate has signed on and is secure.
“An ordinance was passed last year putting the law into place,” he said. “Many entities from the city of Red Bay have made the necessary changes to their computer systems, hard copy files, storage of finances and even buildings to make sure everything is locked up and secured from identity predators.”
The Federal Trade Commission implemented an Identity Theft Program to entities in Red Bay as a requirement back in May 2009.
An ordinance passed and adopted on May 19 implementing an identity theft prevention program with the Red Bay water and gas board gives a look at a summary of the “Red Flag Law” goals including:
• To identify relevant patterns, practices and specific activities that signal possible identity theft relating to information maintained in the board’s customer’s accounts, both those currently existing and those accounts to be established in the future.
• To detect Red Flags after the program has been implemented.
• To respond promptly and appropriately to detected Red Flags to prevent or mitigate identity theft relating to the board customer account information.
• To ensure the program is updated periodically to reflect any necessary changes.
A packet containing documents from Red Bay city hall, police department, water and gas board and a sales tax auditing and collection service shows that everyone are in compliance of the law.
In other business:
• Bids were taken for the EECBG 17 project (sewage energy grant to update wastewater lagoon). All bids were declined and council voted to rebid.
• Brittany Boyd was hired as part-time dispatcher for the Red Bay police department.
• Road construction though downtown Red Bay to continue. Mayor Forsythe asks everyone for their patience, as it will look wonderful when they are finished.
• Red Bay Fun Park will close the evening of Sept. 6 and will remained closed for the season.
• Sales tax receipts for the month of June are up. Councilwoman Charlene Fancher appreciates everyone shopping Red Bay first.