At the July city council meeting for the city of Lookout Mountain, Ga., city attorney Bill Pickering, Chief Todd Gann and Fire and Police Commissioner Taylor Watson approved an agreement to move forward with the purchase of a pre-owned fire truck that will cost the city $249,000. It has has already passed inspections and will be put into service in a few weeks.
Chief Gann said the month of June was relatively uneventful for the fire and police department. Statistics show that officers patrolled 3,115 miles, making 15 traffic stops that resulted in 13 citations. Seven warnings were given to drivers, and there was one auto accident. During the month, the Lookout Mountain, Ga., police assisted five citizens, four motorists on different occasions and the Lookout Mountain, Tenn., police department six times. The department checked eight burglar alarms, four suspicious persons and six suspicious vehicles, with one arrest. There were no thefts or burglaries. The fire department responded to four fire calls and 11 medical calls. At the monthly meeting in July, a resident thanked Chief Gann for the excellent response he received after calling for help to the fire/police department this month.
As a result of discussion from the June council meeting, attorney Pickering prepared a new ordinance that regulates the operation of golf carts in the city limits. Because of the safety equipment that is required on the vehicles such as reflectors and lights in multiple locations, the council is comfortable allowing golf carts to be used at night. The ordinance was amended to eliminate the restriction of golf carts on city streets from 30 minutes before sunset to 30 minutes after sunrise. (Last month the Mountain Mirror inadvertently referred to golf carts as low speed vehicles; they are different.)
Councilmember Kevin Leckenby reported on the public works department. The replacement of gas lines by SEC is nearing completion, and hookups to residences are now being finished. Repairs to Wood Nymph Trail and road striping continue as time and manpower permit. Brush and clearing ditches remain a high priority for the city in preparation for the heavy rains that come with summer storms. Residents are reminded to maintain easements and rights of way around their property. The amount of brush being cut is often so profuse that some loads have filled the entire truck, Mr. Leckenby said. Brush piles should be no more than four-feet by four-feet so the tractor is able to pick them up.
Repairs to the sidewalk in front of city hall are complete, and instead of making repairs to the gazebo, the structure will be renovated so it can be “done right rather than done fast.”
Looking ahead, the city is planning for leaf season. Employees are getting the leaf machine ready and finding a place to take leaves once they’re collected. The next day the dumpster will be on mountain is Saturday, August 6.
Since the Great Hall at the new city hall building opened, there have been complaints about sound quality. Vice Mayor Arch Willingham and the architect who designed the building are discussing ways to make improvements. A system of acoustical panels for the room has been designed that should help considerably, he told the council, which authorized spending $21,000 for the cost of the equipment and installation.
Plans are underway for a fundraiser to create new gardens at Joe Wheeler Park at the corner of Lula Lake Road and Red Riding Hood Trail, as well as other gardens on both sides of the road in front of City Hall. Jimmy Campbell, the community volunteer who is heading up building both parks, said a fundraising plan should be finalized by Labor Day. Interviews for a gardener to care for the parks are now being conducted.
City manager Kenny Lee said that the city is considering allowing vacation rentals on the second floor of the commercial buildings that will surround city hall in the future. A public hearing was held in July about the proposal, and the planning commission discussed it at its last meeting.
Mr. Lee said he and Lookout Mountain, Tenn., town manager Brooke Pippenger will work together to plan gatherings and events to promote unity in both towns.
Mayor David Bennett nominated Jan Weaver, Mike Willingham and Frank Youmans to fill three positions on the municipal planning commission. One vacancy was created with the departure of longtime member Dean Lowrance, who the mayor described as “a humble servant and wonderful person.” I am grateful for him and want to say thank you,” the mayor said.
A tribute was also given for past vice mayor and police/fire commissioner Dennis Eischeid, who passed away last month. “He served our city so well - what a great guy. I am honored for having served a short time on the council with him,” said Mayor Bennett.
Chief Gann said the month of June was relatively uneventful for the fire and police department. Statistics show that officers patrolled 3,115 miles, making 15 traffic stops that resulted in 13 citations. Seven warnings were given to drivers, and there was one auto accident. During the month, the Lookout Mountain, Ga., police assisted five citizens, four motorists on different occasions and the Lookout Mountain, Tenn., police department six times. The department checked eight burglar alarms, four suspicious persons and six suspicious vehicles, with one arrest. There were no thefts or burglaries. The fire department responded to four fire calls and 11 medical calls. At the monthly meeting in July, a resident thanked Chief Gann for the excellent response he received after calling for help to the fire/police department this month.
As a result of discussion from the June council meeting, attorney Pickering prepared a new ordinance that regulates the operation of golf carts in the city limits. Because of the safety equipment that is required on the vehicles such as reflectors and lights in multiple locations, the council is comfortable allowing golf carts to be used at night. The ordinance was amended to eliminate the restriction of golf carts on city streets from 30 minutes before sunset to 30 minutes after sunrise. (Last month the Mountain Mirror inadvertently referred to golf carts as low speed vehicles; they are different.)
Councilmember Kevin Leckenby reported on the public works department. The replacement of gas lines by SEC is nearing completion, and hookups to residences are now being finished. Repairs to Wood Nymph Trail and road striping continue as time and manpower permit. Brush and clearing ditches remain a high priority for the city in preparation for the heavy rains that come with summer storms. Residents are reminded to maintain easements and rights of way around their property. The amount of brush being cut is often so profuse that some loads have filled the entire truck, Mr. Leckenby said. Brush piles should be no more than four-feet by four-feet so the tractor is able to pick them up.
Repairs to the sidewalk in front of city hall are complete, and instead of making repairs to the gazebo, the structure will be renovated so it can be “done right rather than done fast.”
Looking ahead, the city is planning for leaf season. Employees are getting the leaf machine ready and finding a place to take leaves once they’re collected. The next day the dumpster will be on mountain is Saturday, August 6.
Since the Great Hall at the new city hall building opened, there have been complaints about sound quality. Vice Mayor Arch Willingham and the architect who designed the building are discussing ways to make improvements. A system of acoustical panels for the room has been designed that should help considerably, he told the council, which authorized spending $21,000 for the cost of the equipment and installation.
Plans are underway for a fundraiser to create new gardens at Joe Wheeler Park at the corner of Lula Lake Road and Red Riding Hood Trail, as well as other gardens on both sides of the road in front of City Hall. Jimmy Campbell, the community volunteer who is heading up building both parks, said a fundraising plan should be finalized by Labor Day. Interviews for a gardener to care for the parks are now being conducted.
City manager Kenny Lee said that the city is considering allowing vacation rentals on the second floor of the commercial buildings that will surround city hall in the future. A public hearing was held in July about the proposal, and the planning commission discussed it at its last meeting.
Mr. Lee said he and Lookout Mountain, Tenn., town manager Brooke Pippenger will work together to plan gatherings and events to promote unity in both towns.
Mayor David Bennett nominated Jan Weaver, Mike Willingham and Frank Youmans to fill three positions on the municipal planning commission. One vacancy was created with the departure of longtime member Dean Lowrance, who the mayor described as “a humble servant and wonderful person.” I am grateful for him and want to say thank you,” the mayor said.
A tribute was also given for past vice mayor and police/fire commissioner Dennis Eischeid, who passed away last month. “He served our city so well - what a great guy. I am honored for having served a short time on the council with him,” said Mayor Bennett.
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