Commissioners of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., opened their monthly meeting in April with discussion of the washed-out area at the top of the Ochs Extension. Commissioner of Fire and Police Jim Bentley said that repair work is scheduled to begin May 1, and when it does, traffic up the mountain is expected to be a mess. It is estimated that the work will last six weeks. During the construction, traffic that is normally on the Ochs Extension up to Rock City will be diverted up Ochs Highway, ending at Fleetwood Drive. However, large vehicles, including trucks, buses and trailers, are unable to make the sharp curves and are prohibited from using that section of the road.
Chief Chuck Wells said he will be asking for additional signs in St. Elmo at the bottom of the road to warn large vehicles to stop before they start up the mountain. Both Ochs Extension and Ochs Highway will be closed to these vehicles, and there is nowhere to turn around. Mayor Walker Jones plans to request electric signs from the City of Chattanooga to help get the attention of drivers.
During the construction, the traffic will also increase on the detour roads through the town, and Commissioner Bentley said that people should be aware that there will also be increased police presence to enforce traffic laws. He added that golf carts, categorized as “slow-moving vehicles,” must conform to requirements of Tennessee state laws.
Recently, the Lookout Mountain, Tenn., Fire and Police Department joined with Hamilton County Rescue Service in assisting a man who fell 100 feet from Sunset Rock. The man was rescued and in an ambulance within 90 minutes, said Commissioner Bentley, praising the response of the department.
Brent Massey of the Lookout Mountain Police and Fire Department was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. He joined the department in 2020, bringing extensive experience as a firefighter, a swat operator/medic, arson investigator, police officer, engineer, investigator and trainer.
Baseball season is now underway, said Commissioner of Parks and Playgrounds David Paschall, adding that the baseball parade is tentatively set for May 21 and will wrap up the season instead of starting it this year. There is no rain date. Sod has been laid in areas at the Commons that have eroded. Commons Camp will take place from June 6 through July 22 for ages 6 and up. Some exceptions may be made for 5-year-olds after a trial to see if they are able to stay the entire day.
Commissioner of Schools Brooke Pippenger said that things have been going great at Lookout Mountain Elementary this year and that the school is ending in a strong position. The Hamilton County track meet for third- through fifth-graders will be on May 11, and Field Day will be on May 20. Fifth grade graduation will take place on May 24.
Finances for the town are also in good shape, said Jennifer Waycaster, certified municipal officer for the town. One hundred percent of property taxes have been paid, and 140 percent of the budgeted amount of local sales tax has been collected. At 75 percent of the way through the fiscal year, she said expenses for every department are below budget, the highest being 71 percent. Total revenues are now at 101 percent of what was planned for the entire year. Expenses of note include $7,700 for a new water heater and $5,264 for materials to install new steps at the Commons leading from the lower parking lots. The public works department supplied all the labor for that project at no additional cost to the town, and the cost of materials was charged to the parks department, saving the town about $13,000.
The public works department is now removing brush, and soon trimming will begin. Commissioner Frank Schriner said asphalt work is scheduled for later in the year, and the town is receiving bids for it now. With the high cost of oil, said Mayor Walker Jones, the money earmarked for paving will not go far.
Government officials for Lookout Mountain, Tenn., will be changing in the coming year. Commissioner Pippenger, who has served for the past eight years, said that she has decided to let someone else get involved, adding that Karen Leavengood will run for the commission in her place. Karen has extensive experience with LMS as a kindergarten teacher, a parent of two children at the school and as a PTA volunteer. “Education on Lookout Mountain, Tenn., will be in good hands,” Mrs. Pippenger said. Commissioner Schriner will not run for reelection. William Valadez, who returned Lookout Mountain six years ago, will be running to fill that vacancy. Mr. Valadez is the director of engineering for a software company. The town’s judge, Flossie Weill, completes her current term in August. She was appointed to fill the position for an eight-year term following the death of Judge John Higgason. Attorney Stevie Phillips Persinger will serve as judge in the newly-redistricted Hamilton County District 11. Joe Graham, a previous representative of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., on the Hamilton County Commission, will be the unopposed Republican candidate for the new district and will face the Democratic candidate in August.
The commission approved a variance request by Joseph Wingfield for his property at 607 East Brow Road to allow the detached garage to be enlarged. The addition will bring the setback of the adjacent property at 601 East Brow to 2 feet versus the required 15 feet. The variance was approved only because Mr. Wingfield owns both properties, with the understanding that the reduced setbacks will reduce resale values. A second reading for the variance will be held at the next commission meeting.
Mayor Jones asks for property owners to treat their hemlock trees for the hemlock woolly adelgid that is again emerging. Many trees were treated four years ago, but the effectiveness is waning. Community volunteer Jimmy Stewart says there are three options: Do nothing and watch them decline and die; hire a contractor to implement the best treatment plan; or treat them yourself. Mr. Stewart can be reached at (423) 413-6420 for the name of contractors or information about doing it yourself.
Chief Chuck Wells said he will be asking for additional signs in St. Elmo at the bottom of the road to warn large vehicles to stop before they start up the mountain. Both Ochs Extension and Ochs Highway will be closed to these vehicles, and there is nowhere to turn around. Mayor Walker Jones plans to request electric signs from the City of Chattanooga to help get the attention of drivers.
During the construction, the traffic will also increase on the detour roads through the town, and Commissioner Bentley said that people should be aware that there will also be increased police presence to enforce traffic laws. He added that golf carts, categorized as “slow-moving vehicles,” must conform to requirements of Tennessee state laws.
Recently, the Lookout Mountain, Tenn., Fire and Police Department joined with Hamilton County Rescue Service in assisting a man who fell 100 feet from Sunset Rock. The man was rescued and in an ambulance within 90 minutes, said Commissioner Bentley, praising the response of the department.
Brent Massey of the Lookout Mountain Police and Fire Department was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. He joined the department in 2020, bringing extensive experience as a firefighter, a swat operator/medic, arson investigator, police officer, engineer, investigator and trainer.
Baseball season is now underway, said Commissioner of Parks and Playgrounds David Paschall, adding that the baseball parade is tentatively set for May 21 and will wrap up the season instead of starting it this year. There is no rain date. Sod has been laid in areas at the Commons that have eroded. Commons Camp will take place from June 6 through July 22 for ages 6 and up. Some exceptions may be made for 5-year-olds after a trial to see if they are able to stay the entire day.
Commissioner of Schools Brooke Pippenger said that things have been going great at Lookout Mountain Elementary this year and that the school is ending in a strong position. The Hamilton County track meet for third- through fifth-graders will be on May 11, and Field Day will be on May 20. Fifth grade graduation will take place on May 24.
Finances for the town are also in good shape, said Jennifer Waycaster, certified municipal officer for the town. One hundred percent of property taxes have been paid, and 140 percent of the budgeted amount of local sales tax has been collected. At 75 percent of the way through the fiscal year, she said expenses for every department are below budget, the highest being 71 percent. Total revenues are now at 101 percent of what was planned for the entire year. Expenses of note include $7,700 for a new water heater and $5,264 for materials to install new steps at the Commons leading from the lower parking lots. The public works department supplied all the labor for that project at no additional cost to the town, and the cost of materials was charged to the parks department, saving the town about $13,000.
The public works department is now removing brush, and soon trimming will begin. Commissioner Frank Schriner said asphalt work is scheduled for later in the year, and the town is receiving bids for it now. With the high cost of oil, said Mayor Walker Jones, the money earmarked for paving will not go far.
Government officials for Lookout Mountain, Tenn., will be changing in the coming year. Commissioner Pippenger, who has served for the past eight years, said that she has decided to let someone else get involved, adding that Karen Leavengood will run for the commission in her place. Karen has extensive experience with LMS as a kindergarten teacher, a parent of two children at the school and as a PTA volunteer. “Education on Lookout Mountain, Tenn., will be in good hands,” Mrs. Pippenger said. Commissioner Schriner will not run for reelection. William Valadez, who returned Lookout Mountain six years ago, will be running to fill that vacancy. Mr. Valadez is the director of engineering for a software company. The town’s judge, Flossie Weill, completes her current term in August. She was appointed to fill the position for an eight-year term following the death of Judge John Higgason. Attorney Stevie Phillips Persinger will serve as judge in the newly-redistricted Hamilton County District 11. Joe Graham, a previous representative of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., on the Hamilton County Commission, will be the unopposed Republican candidate for the new district and will face the Democratic candidate in August.
The commission approved a variance request by Joseph Wingfield for his property at 607 East Brow Road to allow the detached garage to be enlarged. The addition will bring the setback of the adjacent property at 601 East Brow to 2 feet versus the required 15 feet. The variance was approved only because Mr. Wingfield owns both properties, with the understanding that the reduced setbacks will reduce resale values. A second reading for the variance will be held at the next commission meeting.
Mayor Jones asks for property owners to treat their hemlock trees for the hemlock woolly adelgid that is again emerging. Many trees were treated four years ago, but the effectiveness is waning. Community volunteer Jimmy Stewart says there are three options: Do nothing and watch them decline and die; hire a contractor to implement the best treatment plan; or treat them yourself. Mr. Stewart can be reached at (423) 413-6420 for the name of contractors or information about doing it yourself.