Category: Government

Your Voice Matters: Take a Survey

10/5/2018

Provide your input for Lookout Mountain, Ga.'s, comprehensive plan.

by Kenny Lee
The City of Lookout Mountain, Ga., is creating a Comprehensive Plan to help protect the qualities that make our community special, as well as identify and plan for the challenges facing our community today and in the future.

Members of the Comprehensive Planning Committee working on this project are Jimmy Campbell (chairperson), Cindy Whitaker (vice chairperson), Ramsey Brock, Davo Devaney, Kevin Leckenby, Kenny Lee, Jason Lehn, Fred Robinson, Keith Sanford (ex officio), Jan Weaver and Arch Willingham.

In order to build a plan for our future, we need your input! Sherlock Holmes said it best, “Data! Data! Data! We can’t make bricks without clay.”

It is vital that we hear from our community. During the month of October, we are asking that every resident and friend of Lookout Mountain, Ga., participate in this process by completing a short confidential Comprehensive Plan Survey.

Your valuable feedback can be provided by completing the survey on the Lookout Mountain, Ga., website, www.lookoutmtnga.com/community/page/survey. For those residents who cannot complete the survey online, please contact Cindy Roberts at Lookout Mountain, Ga., City Hall, (706) 820-1586, for additional assistance. Remember, the last day to complete the survey is October 31.

The city is doing all that it can to spread the word and gather as many responses as possible. To date, residents have received a letter from Mayor David Bennett, both by e-mail and U.S. mail, and signs have been posted on the mountain. Please help by completing this survey and encouraging your neighbors to participate!

After the survey period is closed, residents will receive a report of the results. Community forums will be scheduled to allow additional opportunities for sharing input, and a final Comprehensive Plan community meeting will be led by Phil Walker, community planning consultant.

Look for follow-up in a subsequent Mountain Mirror issue. Richard Dawson’s catchphrase declares it best, “Survey says…”

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Glass Recycling Update

9/11/2018

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Recycle glass in a separate bin at the Lookout Mountain, Tenn., recycle center.

by Gwin Tugman
Here's an update to last week's notice about mountain recycling: Because glass can no longer be single streamed with the rest of our recycling on Lookout Mountain, there is now a separate bin for glass at the Recycle Center. This means that we won’t have to take our glass somewhere downtown to recycle it after all! The only stipulation is that we must put the bottles in the bin without a bag, meaning that we simply dump the bottles into the bin.

In the other recycling bin, where we place our paper and plastic recycling, we can no longer recycle any plastic bags, including plastic grocery bags like the ones we use for carrying items from Walmart or Food City. So, if you have plastic bags, just recycle them at one of the grocery stores that has a recycling bin for those plastic grocery bags. We actually should be carrying our own reusable bags anyway!

If you have all of your regular recycling in a plastic garbage bag, just empty the entire contents in the dumpster. Put the bag in the trash can next to the dumpster.

This may seem like a lot of extra trouble, but it is worth it because we are making our environment a better place and saving our planet for future generations. The addition of the glass recycling bin is a wonderful addition to our recycling program!

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Glass Recycling No Longer Offered on Lookout

9/4/2018

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Renata Clark and Carol Brown at the Lookout Mountain, Tenn., public works facility’s recycling bin. Take note: Glass recycling is no longer offered on the mountain. Take your glass to a nearby recycling center.

by Gwin Tugman
The community recycling center at the Lookout Mountain, Tenn., maintenance barn no longer accepts any glass. It ran into the same problem that the city of Chattanooga’s curbside recycling encountered. The city stopped accepting glass in its curbside recycling service in January because the crushed glass is difficult to sort from paper and plastic, and the “contaminated” refuse ends up in a landfill.

When I go to our recycling dumpster, I notice how much glass is collected in it. My biggest fear is that residents will continue to put our glass in there, which will cause the entire dumpster to be tossed as garbage. I’m also concerned that we will say, “It is too much trouble to take empty bottles and jars to the City of Chattanooga Recycle Center on Cummings Highway,” and, instead, just throw them in the garbage. To be honest, I am tempted to toss these items also, but surely I’m not that lazy!

After researching this issue further, I am amazed at what good recycled glass does. Recycled glass is used to make new glass containers, which can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality and purity, something few food and beverage packaging options can claim. Recycled glass can also be used to make kitchen tiles, countertops and wall insulation, for example. The amount of energy needed to melt recycled glass is considerably less than that needed to melt raw materials to make new bottles and jars. Recycling just one bottle can save enough energy to power a television for an hour and a half. Taking your glass to a recycle center saves a substantial amount of carbon dioxide emissions and extends the life of our increasingly scarce landfill sites. For every ton of glass recycled, another ton of natural resources is saved.

There are five different recycling centers around the city that will take glass to recycle: 5955 Brainerd Rd., 1250 E. 3rd St., 3189 Cummings Hwy., 8004 Batters Place Rd. and 4504 N. Access Rd. Maybe you can take turns with a friend or neighbor and take the glass every week or two. Remember recycling is not for us; it’s for our future!

For more information, go to the City of Chattanooga's website, or call (423) 425-6311.

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Commission Approves 2019 Budget

7/25/2018

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By Ferris Robinson
At the July meeting of the Lookout Mountain, Tenn., commission, Town Consultant Dwight Montague reported that the town ended the fiscal year in the black, adding “that is a very good thing.” The new parking meters the town installed near Point Park are partly responsible, but he said credit is also owed to the diligence of each department in “getting the most bang for its buck” as far as spending is concerned. The commission approved the 2019 budget as written.

Commissioner of Fire and Police Jim Bentley presented the department’s statistics for the month of June. Police answered 184 calls, patrolled 5,815 miles, responded to 10 burglar alarms, all false, assisted eight citizens, answered 26 calls to 911, responded to five automobile accidents with no injuries, made 75 traffic stops, issued 25 parking citations, made two narcotics arrests and responded to four fire alarms, all false. The department responded to 14 medical calls in Lookout Mountain, Tenn., and assisted the Lookout Mountain, Ga., department five times during the month.

Public Works Commissioner Walker Jones reported that the town lost a valuable member of the community, David Kendrick, who owned and operated the Lookout Mountain Service Center. David’s sister, Amanda, and her husband, Shane Farmer, along with David’s son, Tristan, will continue to operate the service center. The support of both the Kendrick family and the business is important, and the town council urges the community to support both of them.

Mayor Carol Mutter said that David Kendrick was such an important member of our community, adding that we have sustained a terrible loss with his tragic passing. “Please continue to buy your gas from the Lookout Mountain Service Center,” she said, reiterating how valuable the service center is to our community.

Commissioner Jones reported that the town is busy cleaning up brush and will begin trimming trees, bushes and shrubbery that encroach on town signage and affect visibility on the roads. He urges citizens to prune their shrubbery immediately, saying “We are not landscapers, but are more like a M.A.S.H. unit, ready to cut and go!” If you care how your shrubbery looks near the road, get out your pruners.

Don Stinnent, commissioner of schools, introduced Jenny Hill, a resident of North Chattanooga who is running for District 6 seat on the Hamilton County Board of Education. Jenny is the mother of two children, ninth- and fifth-graders, and realized there are not many parents of middle school and high school children on the board. She and her husband own a small tech business, and she realizes that the economy is changing rapidly. “High school graduates should be life long learners, and they need to be well trained and skilled for the work force, whether they are engineers, welders or phlebotomists,” she said. According to Jenny, Hamilton County has many “haves” and “have nots,” and she is not okay with the “have nots.” “We need to be thoughtful in using tax payers dollars to advocate for students,” she said, promising to do that if elected.

Mayor Mutter asked District 6 Hamilton County Commissioner Joe Graham to stand, noting that it was so wonderful that he routinely attended the town meetings.

“Are you firing me?” he quipped.

“Far from it,” Mayor Mutter replied, presenting him with a monogrammed coffee mug and honoring him with her words.

“I come to these meetings because I love my job,” said Commissioner Graham. “I’m a public servant, and I represent you, so I need to know you, and understand what you want and need.”

He is running for re-election. Election day is August 2.

The next meeting is Tuesday, August 14 at 5 p.m.

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Commission Approves Property Tax Increase

7/3/2018

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by Gail Perry
The first item of business at the Lookout Mountain, Tenn., Commission's meeting in June pertained to the budget; the 2018-2019 budget for the town passed on first reading. Because the town has historically relied on the Hall tax, which is being phased out, a property tax increase of 3.3 percent is planned. That will increase the tax rate from 1.83 to 1.89 per $100 of assessed value.

Town Consultant Dwight Montague shared highlights of the new $3.65 million operating budget. It includes a 2 percent pay increase for employees other than the fire and police departments; Fire and Police Chief Chuck Wells created a standardized chart to address this for his department.

A 10 percent increase is anticipated for property liability insurance, as well as a 15 percent increase for medical insurance. Both the public works department and the fire and police department will each replace one vehicle, and new turn out gear for the firefighters will cost $30,000. The vehicles that the town is replacing will be declared surplus and will be listed on govdeals.com for bid.

Some paving will be done after WWTA completes making road cuts, and the budget includes $200,000 for this work. The budget includes $80,000 for repairs to correct water problems at the Commons.

The public works department plans to make improvements this year. Walker Jones, commissioner of public works, said that new, more attractive trash receptacles will be installed at Point Park, and many traffic and street signs are in the process of being replaced. Also, old signs that are no longer needed or are unsightly are being removed. It was noted that "Resident Parking Only" signs must now be approved by the commissioners before individuals can put them up. Chief Wells said that stenciling on the road will replace some of the signs around Sunset Rock.

Money in the paving budget is used not only for paving, but also for maintenance such as striping, reflectors, and improvements to ditches alongside the roads and repairs. The work to correct a dip in Bartram Road will begin soon, along with repairs to potholes and sink holes. A new and better method will be used for these road repairs, said the commissioner

The statistics from the Fire and Police Department in May were compiled by Chief Wells. They show that police answered 244 calls during the month, 10 assist citizen calls and 28 calls to 911. Police patrolled 5,695 miles and answered 11 burglar alarms, all false. There was one auto accident with no injuries, 94 traffic stops made and 13 parking citations issued. There were 12 medical calls in Tennessee and five assists in Georgia. Three fire alarms were all false.

A decline in speeding has been credited to an increase in traffic stops. Other issues have also been discovered when vehicles have been pulled over for offenses. During the month, police found "non-mountain residents doing bad things," said Commissioner of Fire and Police Jim Bentley. Thefts of over $2,500 and another over $1,000 were discovered, along with possession of burglary tools, drug paraphernalia and marijuana during stops for traffic violations.

Commissioner Bentley reminded citizens that mountain stickers are required for residents of the town, and they are now past due. The police have received noise complaints about construction and lawn crews starting too early. The town’s noise ordinance specifies that construction can begin at 6 a.m. and lawnmowers and blowers cannot be used before 8 a.m.

There are two new employees in the Police and Fire Department: Adam Hurst, a police officer and firefighter; and Travis Hullender, a licensed paramedic and a firefighter who is also attending the police academy. Duane Schermerhorn was promoted to lieutenant of fire and police, and Don Masengale was promoted from lieutenant to captain. Lang Montague completed all required training and is now a Tennessee state certified fire fighter.

Commons Camp is going smoothly, said Commissioner of Parks and Playgrounds Brooke Pippenger. The rec board is now in the process of planning for the soccer season, and sign-ups have already started for the fall. The fields at the Commons have muddy areas caused by excessive rain. Those areas will be roped off while they are being rehabilitated, and people are asked to stay off of them. Sod will also be put on Johnson Field this summer.

During the summer break, LMS principal Ruth White filled a few staff vacancies, including hiring Carol Martin for the Literacy Lab. Lee Cook managed the library this summer. Upgrades to the primary playground have been delayed by the large amount of rain this summer. Teachers return to school on August 2, and the first day for students will be August 8.

Cara Lisa Montgomery, a town resident, asked the commission for permission to operate a short term rental unit behind her house. She was told that the town has an ordinance in place that prohibits these rentals except in the commercial district. Town Attorney Brian Smith will examine the issue further as to how it relates to a state law concerning short term rentals.

Mayor Carol Mutter announced that the July commission meeting will be postponed until July 24 at 5 p.m. The amount of Hall tax that the town will receive should be known by then. When that information is finalized, the budget may be amended, she said.

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City Ask for Help With Comprehensive Plan

5/14/2018

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The City of Lookout Mountain, Ga., is working on a Comprehensive Plan and is seeking public input. The following is a letter from the Lookout Mountain, Ga., Comprehensive Plan Committee outlining how you can get involved and provide input:

Dear Resident,
On May 7, a subcommittee of the Municipal Planning Commission met to start the intensive process of finalizing a Comprehensive Plan for the City of Lookout Mountain, Ga. We hope to finish before Thanksgiving, but given the unquestionable importance of this document, we will not rush the process at the expense of thoroughness and quality.

One of the most valuable components in developing our Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) is hearing from the citizens in our community. Therefore, we are reaching out to ask you to be on the lookout for upcoming opportunities to participate in this very important project for our city.
When there is an upcoming meeting or there are opportunities for you to voice your thoughts and ideas, we will notify you by any of the following methods:

Occasional emails sent to the email address on file with the city
Letters which may be enclosed in your sewer bill to save postage expenses
Signs may be posted to highlight upcoming events

We will make every effort to keep you informed and involved, because we cannot complete a plan for our community without involving our community.

An official Comp Plan page will be on the city web site at www.lookoutmtnga.com. All agendas and minutes of our meetings will be posted on the website, and all meetings are open to residents.

Your first opportunity to officially participate and be heard will be responding to a survey that we plan to send out to the community in four to six weeks. We will include most of the questions that are in the old survey that was completed in 2009, but your questions will also be considered for inclusion. You may submit questions about the 2009 survey or submit your new questions to our official email address by May 16. Please include your name and address at the top of your email.

All comments and questions will be sent to Phil Walker, our consultant on Thursday, May 17.

Lookout Mountain has historically been a place where people dreamed of living and raising their families. Generations have reaped untold benefits from living in our unique community. With your help, we can create a widely supported plan to ensure that this beautiful place remains a viable option for those who want to live in an active and thriving community!

Sincerely,
Jimmy Campbell, Cindy Whitaker, David Devaney, Kevin Leckenby, Fred Robinson, Jan Weaver and Kenny Lee
Lookout Mountain GA Comprehensive Plan Committee

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Auto Decals on Sale Now

4/25/2018

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Lookout Mountain, Ga., auto decal

Lookout Mountain, Ga., and Tennessee auto decals are on sale now. All vehicles owned by mountain residents are required to display the new decal by June 1. Decals are $10 each if purchased before May 31. Beginning June 1, the cost is $15 per decal.

Thanks to the strategic partnership with Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, Ga., has four Mayoral Interns who are running the City's 2018 Auto Decal Program. During the month of April the interns will be at City Hall until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8-10 a.m. on Saturdays. If you prefer to order your decal by mail, click here for the printable decal order form. You can also pay for the decal online on the city's website.

Lookout Mountain, Tenn., residents should have received their decal order forms in the mail. The deadline for return mail service is May 15. Forms should be sent to or dropped off at Town Hall, 710 Scenic Hwy.

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Lookout Mountain
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Your Voice Matters: Take a Survey

Glass Recycling Update

Glass Recycling No Longer Offered on Lookout

Commission Approves 2019 Budget

Commission Approves Property Tax Increase

City Ask for Help With Comprehensive Plan

Auto Decals on Sale Now

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Your Voice Matters: Take a Survey

Glass Recycling Update

Glass Recycling No Longer Offered on Lookout

Commission Approves 2019 Budget

Commission Approves Property Tax Increase

City Ask for Help With Comprehensive Plan

Auto Decals on Sale Now

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