At the January meeting of the city of Lookout Mountain, Ga., councilmember Kevin Leckenby was appointed vice mayor. He is taking the position previously held by Arch Willingham, now serving as the city’s mayor. Councilman Leckenby is also a volunteer firefighter and the council’s liaison with the public works department. In that capacity he helps manage the department, which has been a little more challenging in recent weeks since staff is down two members due to injuries. Hiring a temporary substitute is being explored. Vehicles and equipment are important to the department, and at this time, the motor of the leaf vacuum is out of service and being repaired. The city is in the process of shopping for another leaf vacuum and both a new debris and a leaf truck. If the current leaf truck and vacuum can be repaired, the city will have a backup as well as two trucks that can be used at once for yard debris removal.
In addition to equipment issues, leaf and brush pick-up has been slower this year because residents are not separating debris when they take it to the street. That requires the employees to sort it before loading, which is time intensive. Residents have always been asked to separate leaves and brush but now it is essential. With the combination of the labor shortage and equipment problems, Councilman Leckenby announced that if the materials are not separated, they will not be picked up.
Public works took down the city’s holiday decorations and stored them. Other recent work includes patching the creek head wall erosion at the intersection of Lula Lake at McFarland and filling the new fuel tank. The stormwater system is expected to perform well after the Environmental Protection Department completed a five-year assessment and approved the system.
Money that the city received from the American Rescue Plan Act is now depleted; among other things, it was used for striping a portion of the city’s roads. The councilman said additional road marking will be discussed in spring. And at that time, reflectors will be added to the center lines after the icy weather when reflectors are lost when ice is scraped off the roads. The gas line replacement is ongoing and is about halfway down Chickamauga Trail. Completion is expected in 2026, said the councilman.
Councilmember Taylor Watson said the city will host a meeting in May of the Tri State Mutual Aid Association that now includes five states. CPR training, which is available for the public, took place in January and is being offered in February.
An application is being prepared for a grant from Firehouse Subs. If it is received, the $40,000 would be used to purchase battery-powered “Jaws of Life” equipment, said Councilman Jay Brooks. And, training for the Firefighter II state certification will begin soon for 12 members of the department, including the volunteer firefighters. The 14-week training will give the firefighters advanced skills and training for many of the services the department provides.
Twenty-five families at Fairyland Elementary School received gifts and food boxes for Christmas from the “Giving Tree.”
A recent survey by the school board requested feedback about changing next year’s school schedule to four-days per week. If that is done, the four days that school is in session would each be lengthened. The administrators have not been told when a decision will be made or what the next step would be, said Councilman Tony Townes.
Total enrollment at FES is 294 students. There are 27 spaces for pre-K next year, with registration opening March. There are the same number of available spots for kindergarten, with applications opening on April 1. Enrollment will take place through the Walker County School website. There are 40 fifth grade students, and 27 of them have applied to private schools. Principal Dr. Lisa Edwards has completed recommendations.
A new comprehensive plan for the city and county was scheduled to kick off with a meeting on January 29, said city manager Kenny Lee. The joint plan for the city and county will be led by the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission. The first step will be to appoint a comprehensive plan committee and do a digital survey of the community, which was last done eight years ago. The survey will include the residents’ thoughts about the city’s future including parks, density, zoning and more. The completed plan is due to be given to the state of Georgia on February 28, 2027.
The city has already begun planning and making improvements to the city’s newest park on Cinderella and Red Riding Hood trails. Mr. Lee said a couple of benches have been ordered and some boulders will be added. Trees will be planted at a later date. Landscaping will not be extensive since this park is intended to be a stop for walkers, not a place to drive to and park or for children to play.
Wes Hasden told the council that visible progress is being made on the sewer pump station rehabilitation. During the work, said Mayor Willingham, some roads will be closed or traffic re-routed to protect the workers. Other streets will continue to be affected as the gas line replacement project continues.
by Gail Perry
In addition to equipment issues, leaf and brush pick-up has been slower this year because residents are not separating debris when they take it to the street. That requires the employees to sort it before loading, which is time intensive. Residents have always been asked to separate leaves and brush but now it is essential. With the combination of the labor shortage and equipment problems, Councilman Leckenby announced that if the materials are not separated, they will not be picked up.
Public works took down the city’s holiday decorations and stored them. Other recent work includes patching the creek head wall erosion at the intersection of Lula Lake at McFarland and filling the new fuel tank. The stormwater system is expected to perform well after the Environmental Protection Department completed a five-year assessment and approved the system.
Money that the city received from the American Rescue Plan Act is now depleted; among other things, it was used for striping a portion of the city’s roads. The councilman said additional road marking will be discussed in spring. And at that time, reflectors will be added to the center lines after the icy weather when reflectors are lost when ice is scraped off the roads. The gas line replacement is ongoing and is about halfway down Chickamauga Trail. Completion is expected in 2026, said the councilman.
Councilmember Taylor Watson said the city will host a meeting in May of the Tri State Mutual Aid Association that now includes five states. CPR training, which is available for the public, took place in January and is being offered in February.
An application is being prepared for a grant from Firehouse Subs. If it is received, the $40,000 would be used to purchase battery-powered “Jaws of Life” equipment, said Councilman Jay Brooks. And, training for the Firefighter II state certification will begin soon for 12 members of the department, including the volunteer firefighters. The 14-week training will give the firefighters advanced skills and training for many of the services the department provides.
Twenty-five families at Fairyland Elementary School received gifts and food boxes for Christmas from the “Giving Tree.”
A recent survey by the school board requested feedback about changing next year’s school schedule to four-days per week. If that is done, the four days that school is in session would each be lengthened. The administrators have not been told when a decision will be made or what the next step would be, said Councilman Tony Townes.
Total enrollment at FES is 294 students. There are 27 spaces for pre-K next year, with registration opening March. There are the same number of available spots for kindergarten, with applications opening on April 1. Enrollment will take place through the Walker County School website. There are 40 fifth grade students, and 27 of them have applied to private schools. Principal Dr. Lisa Edwards has completed recommendations.
A new comprehensive plan for the city and county was scheduled to kick off with a meeting on January 29, said city manager Kenny Lee. The joint plan for the city and county will be led by the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission. The first step will be to appoint a comprehensive plan committee and do a digital survey of the community, which was last done eight years ago. The survey will include the residents’ thoughts about the city’s future including parks, density, zoning and more. The completed plan is due to be given to the state of Georgia on February 28, 2027.
The city has already begun planning and making improvements to the city’s newest park on Cinderella and Red Riding Hood trails. Mr. Lee said a couple of benches have been ordered and some boulders will be added. Trees will be planted at a later date. Landscaping will not be extensive since this park is intended to be a stop for walkers, not a place to drive to and park or for children to play.
Wes Hasden told the council that visible progress is being made on the sewer pump station rehabilitation. During the work, said Mayor Willingham, some roads will be closed or traffic re-routed to protect the workers. Other streets will continue to be affected as the gas line replacement project continues.
by Gail Perry
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