Lookout Mountain, Ga., Mayor David Bennett opened the monthly city meeting with comments on the fiscal year 2022-2023 budget and the state of the city’s finances. “The city is in a good position, with reserves of $2.465 million, which is more than $400,000 over last year,” he said. The reserves will be designated for expenses that increase more than expected during the year, he said. Costs increased in administration, as well as in fire and police and public works departments, and there were also increases in other expenses. The city just paid off the large sewer debt; however a new sewer pump station must be built that will cost around $2.4 million.
There is no property tax rate increase included in the proposed 2023 budget of $1,421,127, and there will be no sewer rate increase, but there is a $50 increased charge per household for removal of solid waste. Highlights of the budget include 4 percent pay raises for city employees, and the base rate has been increased for key positions. The mayor said the higher rates are needed in order to be more competitive and to retain employees.
Significant costs in the near future include the purchase of a new fire truck that will be bought with federal money the city received from COVID-19 relief funds, SPLOST funds and other sources. The sewer pump station project is expected to be paid off in five to seven years, and the city will be dealing with stormwater issues that will require investments for the next five years.
It is important for residents to know that debt service for the new town center development is 100 percent funded from hotel/motel taxes and SPLOST money. Not a single dime is coming from the resident’s property taxes, said Mayor Bennett.
“Overall, we’re in a very good place. The council has made good decisions over the last seven years,” he said.
The ordinance that controls the use of low speed vehicles on city streets specifies that they may only be operated on the roads during full daylight and not during the period from 30 minutes before sunset to 30 minutes after sunrise. With the increased use of low speed vehicles, and because they must be equipped with reflectors and lights in multiple locations, the council decided to amend the ordinance so they will be allowed on the roads at night.
Taylor Watson, council liaison with the fire and police department, said that a decision was made about what type of fire truck is needed and what the city is willing to pay for it, adding that a search for the new truck will soon be underway. The fire department recently completed a training session with the firefighters from Lookout Mountain, Tenn. This joint training is vital because the two departments always work together, so they need to know how to work as a team, said Councilmember Watson.
The month of May was a good month for the fire and police department, said Commissioner Watson before reporting on the statistics from the month prepared by Chief Todd Gann. Officers patrolled 3,102 miles in May, made 15 traffic stops, issued eight citations and 10 warnings. Police assisted citizens six times during the month, the Lookout Mountain, Tenn., police department five times and motorists three times. The department responded to eight medical calls and nine fire calls. Ten suspicious vehicles were checked, as well as five suspicious persons and 13 alarms. There was one theft reported, one arrest and no burglaries.
Major projects within the city are nearing completion, Kevin Leckenby said in his monthly report from the public works department. The gas company is in the process of connecting the last of the new gas lines. Significant rainfall slowed the work, but the repairs being made to the landslide on Ochs Highway are expected to be finished by next month. A new retaining wall was built on the low side of the road, and 120 feet of roadway is being removed in order to build up the sub-surface before repaving, after which some additional work will be done on the road at the bottom of the mountain. The public works department moved all its equipment back into the new municipal building and will be operating out of the new space.
Sidewalk repair has been delayed by special projects, and removing brush from the roadways continues. Councilman Leckenby reminds residents to keep brush piles small enough to be picked up with the city’s tractor. He also said that occupants of a property are responsible for keeping the easement or right-of-way clean and unobstructed for the safety of cars.
Upcoming work includes repairing the gazebo on the sidewalk once structural issues have been addressed. Repairs will also be made to Wood Nymph Trail. The next dumpster day is Saturday, July 9. It is pushed forward one week due to the Fourth of July weekend.
In his garden update, community volunteer Jimmy Campbell said that the original design for the gardens at Joe Wilson Park will be revised. Rob Vannoy will be working on new design concepts for the park that will serve as the entryway into the city. The dead trees in front of city hall will be replaced.
The Fourth of July will be celebrated on Lookout Mountain with fireworks from the Lookout Mountain Club on July 3 and a parade on July 4. City Manager Kenny Lee said people should register their floats for the parade with the city; find more info at lookoutmtnga.com.
Mr. Lee plans to meet with Brooke Pippenger, the new town manager for Lookout Mountain, Tenn., to discuss ways to continue the synergy between the two towns. Lookout Mountain, Ga., plans to purchase software that can be used in tracking the process of permitting. The new parking lot across Lula Lake from city hall was removed because the contractor failed to have its concrete mixture approved; it was also poured too thin, resulting in a defective surface both functionally and visually. The contractor is responsible for rebuilding the parking lot and for any costs stemming from the mistakes, said Vice Mayor Arch Willingham.
The next town meeting will be on July 14 at 6 p.m.
There is no property tax rate increase included in the proposed 2023 budget of $1,421,127, and there will be no sewer rate increase, but there is a $50 increased charge per household for removal of solid waste. Highlights of the budget include 4 percent pay raises for city employees, and the base rate has been increased for key positions. The mayor said the higher rates are needed in order to be more competitive and to retain employees.
Significant costs in the near future include the purchase of a new fire truck that will be bought with federal money the city received from COVID-19 relief funds, SPLOST funds and other sources. The sewer pump station project is expected to be paid off in five to seven years, and the city will be dealing with stormwater issues that will require investments for the next five years.
It is important for residents to know that debt service for the new town center development is 100 percent funded from hotel/motel taxes and SPLOST money. Not a single dime is coming from the resident’s property taxes, said Mayor Bennett.
“Overall, we’re in a very good place. The council has made good decisions over the last seven years,” he said.
The ordinance that controls the use of low speed vehicles on city streets specifies that they may only be operated on the roads during full daylight and not during the period from 30 minutes before sunset to 30 minutes after sunrise. With the increased use of low speed vehicles, and because they must be equipped with reflectors and lights in multiple locations, the council decided to amend the ordinance so they will be allowed on the roads at night.
Taylor Watson, council liaison with the fire and police department, said that a decision was made about what type of fire truck is needed and what the city is willing to pay for it, adding that a search for the new truck will soon be underway. The fire department recently completed a training session with the firefighters from Lookout Mountain, Tenn. This joint training is vital because the two departments always work together, so they need to know how to work as a team, said Councilmember Watson.
The month of May was a good month for the fire and police department, said Commissioner Watson before reporting on the statistics from the month prepared by Chief Todd Gann. Officers patrolled 3,102 miles in May, made 15 traffic stops, issued eight citations and 10 warnings. Police assisted citizens six times during the month, the Lookout Mountain, Tenn., police department five times and motorists three times. The department responded to eight medical calls and nine fire calls. Ten suspicious vehicles were checked, as well as five suspicious persons and 13 alarms. There was one theft reported, one arrest and no burglaries.
Major projects within the city are nearing completion, Kevin Leckenby said in his monthly report from the public works department. The gas company is in the process of connecting the last of the new gas lines. Significant rainfall slowed the work, but the repairs being made to the landslide on Ochs Highway are expected to be finished by next month. A new retaining wall was built on the low side of the road, and 120 feet of roadway is being removed in order to build up the sub-surface before repaving, after which some additional work will be done on the road at the bottom of the mountain. The public works department moved all its equipment back into the new municipal building and will be operating out of the new space.
Sidewalk repair has been delayed by special projects, and removing brush from the roadways continues. Councilman Leckenby reminds residents to keep brush piles small enough to be picked up with the city’s tractor. He also said that occupants of a property are responsible for keeping the easement or right-of-way clean and unobstructed for the safety of cars.
Upcoming work includes repairing the gazebo on the sidewalk once structural issues have been addressed. Repairs will also be made to Wood Nymph Trail. The next dumpster day is Saturday, July 9. It is pushed forward one week due to the Fourth of July weekend.
In his garden update, community volunteer Jimmy Campbell said that the original design for the gardens at Joe Wilson Park will be revised. Rob Vannoy will be working on new design concepts for the park that will serve as the entryway into the city. The dead trees in front of city hall will be replaced.
The Fourth of July will be celebrated on Lookout Mountain with fireworks from the Lookout Mountain Club on July 3 and a parade on July 4. City Manager Kenny Lee said people should register their floats for the parade with the city; find more info at lookoutmtnga.com.
Mr. Lee plans to meet with Brooke Pippenger, the new town manager for Lookout Mountain, Tenn., to discuss ways to continue the synergy between the two towns. Lookout Mountain, Ga., plans to purchase software that can be used in tracking the process of permitting. The new parking lot across Lula Lake from city hall was removed because the contractor failed to have its concrete mixture approved; it was also poured too thin, resulting in a defective surface both functionally and visually. The contractor is responsible for rebuilding the parking lot and for any costs stemming from the mistakes, said Vice Mayor Arch Willingham.
The next town meeting will be on July 14 at 6 p.m.
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