Lookout Mountain Mirror
Share your
news with us!
  • Home
  • Happenings
    • Lookout Community
    • School News
    • TN & GA Town News
    • Home & Garden
    • Local History
    • Good Reads
    • Recipe Roundup
    • Arts & Leisure
    • Travel
    • Movies with Merrile
    • Happenings at the Club
  • Advertising
  • Calendar
  • Subscriptions
  • About
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • Give & Support

Lookout Mountain
​Happenings

Check back often for up-to-date news, events and article previews between issues of the monthly Lookout Mountain Mirror.

Follow us on Facebook for more news

Council Considers Home Sharing Ordinance

7/31/2017

0 Comments

 
by Gail Perry
Unanimous approval has been given for the proposed new ordinance relating to “home sharing” in Lookout Mountain, Ga. Public meetings were held to get residents’ views on June 13 and July 11, after which a draft of the proposal was sent to the planning commission, which fine-tuned it. At the city council meeting on July 27, additional changes were suggested and approved. City Attorney Bill Pickering will now write the ordinance in a final form.
 
The proposed ordinance requires that the homeowner live on site and be present throughout the visitors’ stays. The stay can be no longer than seven days, and the maximum occupancy is three people per bedroom, or a total of six people in the house. No food or alcohol can be served. Other conditions require the homeowner obtain a business license and home-sharing permit and pay hotel/motel taxes to the city. No signs are allowed and there must be adequate parking.
 
The permit process will require a review before the city council, and the homeowners must sign an affidavit stating they will comply with all the rules and regulations. The council will recommend issuing no more than 15 permits. A “sunset clause” will apply so that the council must choose to renew the ordinance allowing the short term rentals beyond the first year. Additionally, the arrangement can be terminated by the council at any time.
 
Currently, the hotel/motel tax is 3 percent, and the city can determine how to use that money. The council agreed to raise that tax to 5 percent. The revenue is estimated to be $24,000 for next year. That additional 2 percent will be used for tourist related activities and can be spent to build trails, sidewalks and parks.
 
Mayor David Bennett recommended raising the millage rate for fiscal year 2018 from the current amount of 9.050 to 9.35. This tax increase would generate an additional $16,000 for the city.
 
The mayor told the council that the Ironman 70.3 will be held in Chattanooga September 9-10. The route will bring more than 3,000 participants up Lookout Mountain on Ochs Highway to Red Riding Hood Trail. A block party is being organized at the top of Red Riding Hood, and he is hoping for community support.
 
Mayor Bennett has been interviewing architects to design the new Town Center and expects to announce his choice at the August 17 council meeting, after which the plan will begin to move forward. He also told the council members that according to the website Niche.com, Lookout Mountain, Ga., has been ranked the 16th safest city in the state of Georgia. More good news for the town is that the inventory of homes for sale is at an all-time low, and prices are up, according to the mayor. Additionally, there are five new houses under construction.
 
The sewer board will end the fiscal year 2017 just slightly in the black, board member Wes Hasden told the council. Several capital projects will be undertaken in 2018, including replacing “wet well” walls that are crumbling. A couple of pump stations will be added, and a main line on Fleetwood Drive will be repaired to improve the flow of sewage down the mountain.
 
Councilmember Taylor Watson informed the council about details of the car thefts and break-ins that took place several weeks ago. The vehicles that were taken had been left unlocked, some with keys and wallets inside. A week after two vehicles were stolen, two men came back up the mountain in one of the stolen cars. The pair was apprehended by the coordinated work of the Georgia and Tennessee police departments acting on a call from a neighbor who was alerted by her dog barking and then seeing a strange car parked in her driveway at 3 a.m.
 
Lookout Mountain, Ga. Police Officer Derrick Forrester and Lookout Mountain, Tenn. Officer Don Massengale were credited for apprehending the men involved. Officers Aaron Dean from Georgia and Tanner Clark from Tennessee were the investigating officers in the case. Identification was made from images captured by the surveillance cameras that are positioned at each entrance into the towns. Ms. Watson warned all residents to lock car doors and remove valuables. Cars that are left unlocked with keys inside may not be covered by insurance, she said.
The next council meeting is Thursday, August 17 a 5:30 p.m.

0 Comments

Tenn. Commission Raises Property Tax Above Certified Rate

7/27/2017

0 Comments

 
by Gail Perry
The July meeting of the Lookout Mountain, Tenn., commission was postponed until July 25. The commission was waiting to find out how much the town would receive from the Hall state income tax for 2107 before setting the property tax rate and finalizing the 2018 budget. The Hall tax makes up 20 percent of the budget, and there is no other way to support the operations of the town, said Town Consultant Dwight Montague. He reported that $572,455 was received, exceeding the expected amount of $500,000.
 
He also told the commissioners that the reevaluation of property in Lookout Mountain, Tenn., this year increased by an average of 8 percent. By state law, the county lowered the tax rate from $1.83 to $1.69 per every $100 of assessed value, so that the change would be revenue neutral. Because there will be a decline next year and each following year until the 6 percent Hall tax is completely gone, the town opted to set a new property tax rate above the certified rate set by the county. For fiscal year 2018, the rate will remain at $1.83, where it was in 2017.
 
The 2018 budget was passed on second reading Tuesday night. Total revenues of $3,663,385 are budgeted, and a 3 percent raise for city employees was included. Town hall repairs in the amount of $25,000 are expected for correcting problems caused by drainage issues around the building. The amount of $15,000 is budgeted in the Parks and Playgrounds department to stop water overflowing into the street, and another $15,000 is budgeted to make repairs to Navarre Pavilion. Half the cost of the new parking kiosks and related signage was paid in 2017. The balance of $25,000 is in the budget for 2018. One new police vehicle will be purchased. The public works department has planned for no new equipment purchases.
 
The price of parking around Point Park has increased, and Mr. Montague noted that in the first 10 days that the parking kiosks were in use, the town made $15,000 from parking fees. The commissioners voted to increase parking fines. Commissioner of Fire and Police Jim Bentley said that the fine for illegal parking at Sunset Rock has been set at $40 if paid within 10 days, after which the fine will increase to $80. Illegal parking along West Brow Road has been a problem with cars parked in residents’ yards and has caused problems with emergency vehicles being unable to get through the road. Overtime parking around Point Park has been set at $5 if paid within 24 hours or before leaving the mountain. That will increase to $25 if paid after 24 hours.
 
The commissioner asks for residents to be sure to remove keys from parked cars and to lock them. Two men were arrested for a recent theft of two vehicles in Georgia. The men told police it was known that people on Lookout leave keys in unlocked cars.
 
Statistics for the month of June were prepared by Chief Randy Bowden and presented by Commissioner Bentley. The police answered 126 calls during the month, 12 assist citizen calls, 26 calls to 911 and 15 burglar alarms, all false. They patrolled 3,354 miles, made 29 traffic stops and issued 13 parking citations. There were three minor auto accidents and thefts occurred at Sunset Rock. During June, police responded to six medical calls in Tennessee and four in Georgia. Four fire alarms were answered that were all false.
 
Rick Dockery, the parks and recreation director in Lookout Mountain, Tenn., for the past 35 years, is retiring. He was presented with a retirement bonus reflecting the number of years he has worked for the town. Commissioner of Parks and Playgrounds Brooke Pippenger announced that the town’s tee-ball field would be named in his honor. A new dugout is planned and other improvements will be made before the dedication. Scott Shell, who has been Rick Dockery’s assistant for 22 years, has been named the new parks and recreation director. Brandon Adams, who has 16 years experience working with fields and playgrounds, will become the new assistant director.
 
LMS Principal Ruth White presented the commissioners with the monthly school report. She said that last year was very successful at the school and gave credit to donors and the PTA. Bleachers have been stained and the gym painted. There is new carpet in offices and conference rooms, all the windows are now being cleaned and the exterior of the building is being pressure washed. Plumbing updates are complete, there is new fencing on the south end of the playground, and there is new landscaping around the building. Teachers return to school for the new year on August 3, and students return August 10.
 
The Public Works department is performing maintenance jobs such as filling potholes and removing brush. Public Works Commissioner Walker Jones said that the State Street Aid fund holds $109,000 for paving. He said that the roads are not being neglected, but some of them that are in need of repair will not be worked on until the WWTA has finished work it is doing to prevent cuts from being made on newly paved streets. A few small areas will be resurfaced this summer.
 
Mayor Carol Mutter asked residents to support the mountain businesses whenever possible.
 
The next meeting of the Lookout Mountain Commission will be August 8 at 5 p.m.
0 Comments

Fourth of July Parade is a Blast

7/27/2017

1 Comment

 
by Gwin Tugman
The first annual Fourth of July Parade on Lookout Mountain was a tremendous success in spite of the weather. It poured rain all morning until, miraculously, around 10:15 a.m., the rain stopped and the sun came out just in time for the 10:30 a.m. festivities!

This parade was largely due to the heroic efforts of Michelle and Justin Workman, Angie Sutherland, Sarah Lehn and David Bennett, with lots of help from Wendy Taliaferro, Ross Ballenger, Katherine Smith, Beth Wingfield, Amy Tolson and Kristy Presley, among others. The procession began at the Lookout Mountain, Ga., Fire Hall and ended at the Commons. Georgia and Tennessee mayors David Bennett and Carol Mutter led off the parade, waving from their regal perches on the back of a convertible driven by Georgia councilmember Taylor Watson. Despite the uncertainty of the weather, over 25 cars, bicycles, golf carts, pedestrians, police cars, fire engines, trucks and floats noisily traversed the mountain, with participants throwing candy and beads to the large crowds that were gathered along the Lula Lake Road and Scenic Highway.

One memorable float had a large inflatable patriotic eagle strapped to its top and another one featured a child dressed up as an eagle in a red and white striped jumpsuit. A bevy of motorbikes roared through, driven by pint-sized operators dressed in Fourth of July colors. There was an unicyclist veering down the road, and dogs were decked out in red, white and blue, adding to the Norman Rockwell feel of the morning.

At the Commons Pavilion, music added to the festive ambiance as Tressie Chandler sold snow cones. Other food choices included Krispy Kreme doughnuts and Mallory Alling’s delicious macaroons. The crowd clamored for the beach balls being tossed out, and everyone had a great time visiting with friends and making new ones. Jody and Bob Clark invited their neighbors for coffee and donuts on their front porch, a prime viewing spot at the corner of Scenic Highway and Willingham Road.  

There’s nothing like a little healthy competition, and several prizes were awarded. The Ealeys took first place for the best golf cart with the eagle; the best two-wheeler went to the Wingfields for the motorcade; and the best float went to the Lookout Mountain Mirror with its newspaper car decorated by Farell McGinness. Other awards went to the spectacular flower float, covered in paper flowers, and the Girl Scout float loaded with Scouts who “shot” confetti and streamers at the crowds.
As far as I know, this Fourth of July Parade is a first for the mountain. The only previous festivity that was ever held on the Fourth of July was the Mountain Mile Race that was organized decades ago by Coach Buck Stamps and Coach Rick Dockery and consisted of a foot race for children.

The 2017 parade was created by the Lookout Mountain Town Hall subcommittee, headed by Angie Sutherland, who was asked to think of ways to increase the “esprit de corps” and draw the Georgia and Tennessee sides of Lookout Mountain together for fun events. The committee is planning on two or three more events during the year.

On July 4, 2017, the Lookout Mountain residents’ love of their community was clear. What an outstanding success!

1 Comment

    Article Categories

    All
    Arts
    Business
    Chattanooga
    Church
    Education
    Educational
    Family Friendly
    Festival
    Food
    Fundraiser
    Garden Club
    Government
    History
    Holidays
    Jobs
    Lookout Mountain
    Nonprofit
    Outdoors
    Riverview
    Shopping
    Sports


    Archives

    May 2025
    September 2024
    August 2024
    June 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    October 2023
    August 2023
    March 2023
    January 2023
    September 2022
    July 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015

    RSS Feed

Stay up-to-date

Join our email list today for the latest news and events between issues!

Contact US

Mailing address: P.O. Box 99 Lookout Mountain, TN 37350
Physical address: 112 N. Watauga, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350
p. (423) 822-6397
Visit our sister paper: Signal Mountain Mirror

Stay Connected