At the first council meeting in the new city hall, the Lookout Mountain, Ga., council discussed and voted for several ordinances and agreements that will move the city into the future. The creation of a new zone, “office residential district,” was given final approval following the planning commission’s recommendation. The zone was first requested by Rock City in order to use a log cabin it owns on the other side of Patten Road from the attraction. The new zone is not tied to that one location and can now be used anywhere in the city.
The planning commission also unanimously recommended approving a new comprehensive plan for the city that has been in development for the past two years. The council approved the future development plan for the city, as well. The next step is for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to accept the plan, after which it will come back to the council to be adopted.
The Lookout Mountain Conservancy is continuing the process for acquiring the four and half to five acres of the Sims property. The conservancy plans to develop the area as a park. The city has agreed to waive any liens from expenses it incurred by removing asbestos from old structures and cleaning up the site.
Every five years the cities that are in Walker County: Lookout Mountain; Chickamauga; Fort Oglethorpe; LaFayette; and Rossville have to approve a TSPLOST intergovernmental agreement. The cities have to be in agreement for how the one-penny county sales tax will be divided for the next five-year period. This is determined by population and the number of road miles. Lookout Mountain received about $717,000 during the five-year agreement, which ends September 2022. The next five-year agreement, which starts in October 2022, will bring the city $1.125 million over the coming five years. The five cities reached an agreement, which the city council approved; it is subject to Walker County’s approval. This money is dedicated to transportation-related issues such as roads, paths and culverts.
Council member Caroline Williams, liaison with Fairyland Elementary School, informed the council of the current COVID-19 protocols. She said people are not being quarantined at this time, and that cases are reported to parents through emails. The school has managed to continue in-person classes. The playground at the school will receive updates, thanks to the Walker County Board of Education, which is providing every school in the county with $100,000 for playground improvements. The PTO will be working with the school to determine what is needed. Mrs. Williams added that the Fairyland Community Art Show will be held on March 1 at the Methodist Church next to the school.
Commissioner of the Fire and Police Department Taylor Watson gave the monthly department report that was prepared by Chief Todd Gann. In January, police patrolled 3,987 miles, made 22 traffic stops, and issued 13 citations and 15 warnings. There were two auto accidents. Four burglar alarms, two suspicious persons and 12 suspicious vehicles were investigated. Officers assisted five citizens, two motorists and the Lookout Mountain, Tenn., police department four times in January. The department responded to five fire calls and 13 medical calls.
Council member Kevin Leckenby thanked the public works employees and police for keeping the city going while moving offices into the new city hall and fire and police buildings, all while dealing with quarantine issues. He added that the public works department will focus on cleaning culverts in anticipation of the rainy season. The next dumpster day will be Saturday, March 5.
The city is creating another master plan, this for a network of trails, sidewalks and paths. They will be designed to connect different areas around the city. Eventually Covenant College, the city’s gardens, the Sims property and the new town center will all be joined by this system. A landscape engineer will be hired as a consultant to design the master plan. The work will be done in phases as the money is raised for different segments.
Mayor David Bennett said the opening of the new city hall on February 4, after 15 years of working on plans, was a fun event, with fourth, fifth and sixth grade students from Fairyland participating. He said the council and residents are excited about the great hall space that can be opened up to the front patio. The city wants to encourage residents to schedule its use for different events. He said that moving into the space involved a huge team effort, with much help from the public works and the fire and police employees. Everybody chipped in for the move, he said.
The planning commission also unanimously recommended approving a new comprehensive plan for the city that has been in development for the past two years. The council approved the future development plan for the city, as well. The next step is for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to accept the plan, after which it will come back to the council to be adopted.
The Lookout Mountain Conservancy is continuing the process for acquiring the four and half to five acres of the Sims property. The conservancy plans to develop the area as a park. The city has agreed to waive any liens from expenses it incurred by removing asbestos from old structures and cleaning up the site.
Every five years the cities that are in Walker County: Lookout Mountain; Chickamauga; Fort Oglethorpe; LaFayette; and Rossville have to approve a TSPLOST intergovernmental agreement. The cities have to be in agreement for how the one-penny county sales tax will be divided for the next five-year period. This is determined by population and the number of road miles. Lookout Mountain received about $717,000 during the five-year agreement, which ends September 2022. The next five-year agreement, which starts in October 2022, will bring the city $1.125 million over the coming five years. The five cities reached an agreement, which the city council approved; it is subject to Walker County’s approval. This money is dedicated to transportation-related issues such as roads, paths and culverts.
Council member Caroline Williams, liaison with Fairyland Elementary School, informed the council of the current COVID-19 protocols. She said people are not being quarantined at this time, and that cases are reported to parents through emails. The school has managed to continue in-person classes. The playground at the school will receive updates, thanks to the Walker County Board of Education, which is providing every school in the county with $100,000 for playground improvements. The PTO will be working with the school to determine what is needed. Mrs. Williams added that the Fairyland Community Art Show will be held on March 1 at the Methodist Church next to the school.
Commissioner of the Fire and Police Department Taylor Watson gave the monthly department report that was prepared by Chief Todd Gann. In January, police patrolled 3,987 miles, made 22 traffic stops, and issued 13 citations and 15 warnings. There were two auto accidents. Four burglar alarms, two suspicious persons and 12 suspicious vehicles were investigated. Officers assisted five citizens, two motorists and the Lookout Mountain, Tenn., police department four times in January. The department responded to five fire calls and 13 medical calls.
Council member Kevin Leckenby thanked the public works employees and police for keeping the city going while moving offices into the new city hall and fire and police buildings, all while dealing with quarantine issues. He added that the public works department will focus on cleaning culverts in anticipation of the rainy season. The next dumpster day will be Saturday, March 5.
The city is creating another master plan, this for a network of trails, sidewalks and paths. They will be designed to connect different areas around the city. Eventually Covenant College, the city’s gardens, the Sims property and the new town center will all be joined by this system. A landscape engineer will be hired as a consultant to design the master plan. The work will be done in phases as the money is raised for different segments.
Mayor David Bennett said the opening of the new city hall on February 4, after 15 years of working on plans, was a fun event, with fourth, fifth and sixth grade students from Fairyland participating. He said the council and residents are excited about the great hall space that can be opened up to the front patio. The city wants to encourage residents to schedule its use for different events. He said that moving into the space involved a huge team effort, with much help from the public works and the fire and police employees. Everybody chipped in for the move, he said.
RSS Feed
