The town of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., opened its regular meeting in August with the recognition of heroics. Johnny Bowen, assistant public works director, saved someone’s life on August 2. Surveying the streets, Mr. Bowen came upon an unresponsive male in the middle of the road who had suffered a head injury. There was no cell phone service at the location, so a passerby called 911. Mr. Bowen opened the man’s airway, stayed with him, and kept him breathing until the town’s EMT/paramedics arrived. Acting Chief Duane Schermerhorn presented Mr. Bowen with a lifesaving certificate, as well as thanks and appreciation from the town.
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Commissioner of Fire and Police Jim Bentley said that signs have been installed that forbid large trucks and trailers on narrow, curving Ochs Highway. He also said that the new fire engine, which was due to be delivered in February, should be here soon.

The school year began with an armed security officer at Lookout Mountain School, provided by the Hamilton County School Board. Chiefs Schermerhorn and Dale Taylor met with the teachers, many who are new, to reassure them that the Lookout Mountain, Tenn., police can be at the school almost immediately. The police are impressed with the security officer chosen for LMS; she has been in law enforcement for 20 years in Metro Nashville. The town’s police department will always have radio contact with her for instant communication.

Commissioner of Schools Brooke Pippenger said that enrollment is up this year with 225-230 children. The increase is attributed to many new families on the mountain, as well as from the “choice enrollment program.” She asks for drivers to watch out for an increase of children who walk to and from school and in the designated school zones. During the summer break, the pond area in front of LMS was extended with a new stone patio and picnic tables. The area can be used for outdoor classes, thanks to the PTA.

Parks and Playgrounds Commissioner David Paschall reiterated that Commons Camp was a huge success this summer. Many days this year there were 25-30 kids at camp, he said. He gave a shout-out to all those who helped, especially to Gwin Tugman, who he said puts in more hours at the camp than anyone else.

Three new scoreboards, one for baseball, one for football and another for basketball, will be installed before the September start of flag football, said the commissioner.

A record number, 450 kids, signed up for soccer this year. Every age group is pretty much maxed out, said Commissioner Paschall. He said that flag football registration is in the early stages now, but judging from the number registering, it looks like there will be another record number playing that sport, too.

The public works department is pretty much caught up with trimming and picking up brush, said Public Works Commissioner Frank Schriner, although the bucket truck is still in the shop for repairs. The department will begin working on road improvements, starting with filling potholes. A second bid has been received for paving that is planned for North Bragg Avenue. Now an updated price is needed from the company that submitted the first bid, after which a decision will be made on the company to do the work. The dumpster is on the mountain the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. A sign will be posted informing residents of the times.

Mayor Walker Jones acknowledged that soon a lot of changes will be taking place in the town. Former Commissioner of Schools Brooke Pippenger accepted the new position of town manager. She said that she had been impressed with the town’s employees from the perspective of a resident and a commissioner. Now, after seeing them as a co-worker, she said she is even more impressed with how hard people work and how much they care about the town and taking care of the people who live here.

There will be two new commissioners after the next meeting: Karen Leavengood will replace Ms. Pippenger; and William Valdez will take the place of Frank Schriner, who chose not to run. David Paschall may be leaving the commission because of additional responsibilities, both work-related and personal. He told the commissioners that he would make a final decision by the next meeting. “It’s frustrating because you’re great at it - a perfect fit, and it won’t be easy to find someone to replace you,” said Mayor Jones, adding that he understood. In the next six weeks, there will be a search for a potential replacement.

Other upcoming changes include two new members on the Lookout Mountain school board, Julie Fisher and James Williams, who will join Karen Welborn. The town’s judge will also change, with Stevie Phillips Persinger taking the place of Flossie Weill.

The next Lookout Mountain Tenn., commission meeting will be held on the third Tuesday of the month, September 20, at 5 p.m.

At their monthly town meeting in July, commissioners for Lookout Mountain, Tenn., passed the 2023 budget on its final reading. A 7 percent property tax increase was included to make up for income lost from the state Hall tax that has now been phased out. In the financial report, certified municipal officer Jennifer Waycaster said that total income for the year, which was expected to be $3.9 million, actually came in at $4,072,000, partially due to the American Rescue Plan Act. The ARPA funds pertain to Covid-relief, but much of that federal money received by the town remains in a restricted fund. In June, the McAllister Foundation made a donation to Lookout Mountain, Tenn., to be used for parks and playgrounds and beautification of the town. Ms. Waycaster said that overall departmental expenses for the year were less than anticipated.
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The Fourth of July parade that ended at the Commons was a big success, said Commissioner of Parks and Playgrounds David Paschall. He said that for the first time in many years, new scoreboards have been ordered for Senter Field, the LMS gym and the field at the Commons used for flag football. The Lookout Mountain Rec Board, Love Lookout and Hugh Morrow/Ruby Falls all were instrumental in procuring the new signs. The cost for all three will be just under  $15,000.

Commons Camp was highly successful this summer, with large numbers of campers. Three new ceiling fans in the pavilion were appreciated on the hotter days, said the commissioner. Lookout Mountain’s 9/10- and 11/12-year-old baseball teams won their respective state tournaments. The next upcoming sport is soccer, and competition will begin in early August. Registration for flag football will open August 1.

Fifth grade graduation took place in May with LMS graduate Alice Martin speaking. The DAR Citizenship award went to Nathan Eriksen, the Christy McBryar Faculty Award was given to Maryellen Mixon and the Nancy Caulkins Scholarship award went to Caroline Carr.

On awards day, Allie Wakefield received the Susan Frankenberg Award for excellence in writing, Joseph Bastone received the Redwood Award for improvement in math and Wylie Shumate received the Science Award for participation, progress and love for science.

This year, the graduating class presented two metal picnic tables with umbrellas for fifth grade students to use when eating lunch outside. The students dedicated their gift in memory of Mrs. Betsy Caulkins Bookout. The school mourns the loss of the beloved third grade teacher who represented and encouraged kindness, humility and service to others.

Registration for the next school year is Friday, August 5, and the first day for students is August 10.

Commissioner of Fire and Police Jim Bentley and Mayor Walker Jones addressed problems that large trucks are causing because they are unable to navigate the narrow, curvy mountain roads.

In the month of June, there were five incidents involving the large trucks on Lookout Mountain. Both Lookout Mountain, Tenn., and Lookout Mountain, Ga., will put signs warning trucks of this hazard. The goal is to have no vehicle larger than three axles on Ochs Highway. In addition to the Lookout Mountain towns, Dollar General also wants to find a remedy, said Mayor Jones. The problems have been costly for the company, which will be responsible for replacing railings, paying fines and the loss of inventory.

Dollar General is not being targeted, said the mayor, explaining that any and all large trucks pulling trailers are the problem.

Commissioner Bentley said the police department has been busy during the last couple of months. Officers patrolled 6,000 miles and made 150 traffic stops in June. The department made 235 traffic stops the month before.

Capt. Duane Schermerhorn told the commissioners that the police and fire department will be holding a “First on the Scene” class to educated the community about how to respond to an emergency before the medics from the town get there. The classes will include training in CPR, as well as other important skills, and will be taught by the Lookout Mountain, Tenn., paramedics. The hands-on training will help those taking the class to save a life and it comes with a certificate, he said. The class is limited to 20 people. The four-hour class is divided into two nights, with the first scheduled for September 6. He said if more people are interested, other classes can be held. The community can contact the city hall dispatcher to register.

Police Officer Brighton Spain joined the Lookout Mountain, Tenn., Police and Fire Department in 2020, and now has been promoted to the rank of sergeant. He was previously a firefighter in Dayton, Tenn., and Franklin, Penn. After returning to Tennessee, he trained at the Cleveland State Police Academy and worked in Collegedale for four years before coming to Lookout Mountain, Tenn., where he has helped to make improvements to the communications system including implementing real time exchange of information between 911 centers and coordinating the patrol mounted computers.

Public Works Commissioner Frank Schriner said that the focus this time of year is brush. The public works employees are busy picking up what residents take to the street. Trimming by the town has been put on hold until repairs can be made to the town’s bucket truck, which is needed for much of that work. Paving is planned for Bragg Avenue this year, but the town hopes to receive more bids for the work.

Another big WWTA project will begin soon, said the mayor. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the EPA are requiring old sewer lines to be rehabilitated. This will be the final phase of work that was started on Lookout Mountain two years ago. Traffic at Bragg Avenue and Fleetwood Drive will be rerouted for 30 days in October so people should expect traffic disruptions. Ochs Highway will remain open during the work, which is expected to take around six months to complete.

Mayor Jones gave a tribute to Greg Brown, who died this month. Greg served the town as mayor for three terms and was beloved by everybody, said Walker Jones. “Every positive adjective can be used to describe him. He was a wonderful individual - one of the great guys - and will be missed by all,” he said.

Election day is August 4.

At the June meeting for Lookout Mountain, Tenn., the budget for fiscal year 2022-2023 passed on first reading. Money from the Hall state tax has traditionally made up 25 percent of the town’s budget. Last year $160,000 was received before the tax was phased out all together this year. The town has few retail stores to provide sales tax, plus, said Mayor Walker Jones, the cost of everything has increased. The income lost from the defunct Hall tax will be made up with a 7 percent property tax increase in 2023.
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The new budget includes a 3 percent pay raise for town employees, as well as funds earmarked for two new police cars and the purchase of a new dump truck. A new fire engine was ordered for 2022, but due to a long delay in its delivery, money designated for the firetruck will be moved into and included in the 2023 budget. Also planned in the budget are building repairs of $35,000 for the town hall.

The fire and police department was busy in May, answering 400 calls during the month, said Commissioner of Fire and Police Jim Bentley. There was an exceptionally large number of traffic stops because of the road repairs being made on the Ochs Extension, which diverted all vehicles through the Tennessee side of the mountain.

Commissioner Bentley reminds residents that golf carts cannot be driven on the town’s streets, but “low speed vehicles” are allowed. Travelling between 20 and 25 m.p.h., LSVs must be “street legal,” which means they must have a Tennessee license plate, lights in required places and seat belts. They can only be operated by a person with a legal driver’s license. Enforcing the legal driving age for LSV’s will be a priority after a serious accident was almost caused last month by 9- and 11-year-old girls driving an LSV.

People should be aware of  the ordinance to control noise made by motorized yard equipment such as leaf blowers, mowers, chain saws and trimmers. On Monday through Saturday, work is allowed from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. or sunset, whichever is earlier, by both homeowners and contractors. Homeowners can do their own yard work on Sundays from noon until 8 p.m., but contractors are prohibited all together that day. People are urged to be considerate of their neighbors regardless of the times specified in the ordinance.

The baseball parade that ended the season on May 21 was a huge hit, said Commissioner of Parks and Playgrounds David Paschall. There was great participation, with more people and vehicles than in recent years. The police department helped keep the parade orderly and running smoothly, and the parade’s shorter route avoided streets with heavy traffic.

After the regular baseball season ended, the All-Star teams from Lookout Mountain competed in the Dizzy Dean tournaments. The 10-and-under and 12-and-under teams won their district tournaments. Commons Camp is in full swing, said Commissioner Paschall, with lots of campers attending. Three ceiling fans were installed in the pavilion, and the tennis courts were power washed in mid June.

Alice Martin, a graduate of LMS, spoke at the school’s graduation. Her message that “the thing that most people remember about you is how kind you are,” was memorable, said Commissioner Brooke Pippenger. The library will be open this summer, six days in July from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. The exact days are posted on the front door of the school. All books will be due back on July 21.

The Independence Day parade on the mountain will take place on Monday, July 4, starting at 10:30 a.m. at the Lookout Mountain, Ga., City Hall and ending at the Commons, where there will be food trucks, festivities and a lot of fun, said Commissioner Pippenger. Anyone interested in registering a float should contact Michelle Workman at [email protected].

Frank Schriner, commissioner of the public works department, said that brush pick-up is continuing as usual, and the city is in the process of trimming brush and trees to keep the rights-of-way clear. If residents do not keep vegetation clear of the streets, the public works department will do it, “and they are not arborists,” said Mayor Jones. If brush from a yard is obstructing visibility, Public Works Director Cory Evans will notify the homeowner, who will have 30 days before the town does it.

Some street paving is planned for this summer, and it will hopefully be done before school starts. The town is waiting to receive bids for the work. Dumpster day in July is rescheduled for July 9, the second Saturday of the month, because of the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

In his report, Mayor Jones welcomed Brooke Pippenger to her new role as town manager. She will begin that job in August.

The next Lookout Mountain, Tenn., commission meeting will be on July 12.

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.
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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. ​

Lookout Mountain, Tenn., opened its monthly meeting in February with discussion of sports. Basketball season on Lookout Mountain is winding down. One night of games was missed due to weather, but the good news is that there have been no COVID-19-related related postponements, said Commissioner of Parks and Playgrounds David Paschall. Baseball teams will be determined soon and games should begin in late March or early April.
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Last year, new stairs and railings were built from the lower parking lot at the Commons up to Dockery Field. At the bottom, those steps end on a bank that is beside the lowest tennis court. The space between the last step and the pavement is difficult to maneuver after rain, so the town is installing cross ties there to serve as steps and bridge that gap.

The Lookout Mountain Elementary School will offer an after-school tutoring program this year. The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund is providing the money for two teachers to tutor students two days each week, and the available spots are full, said Commissioner of Schools  Brooke Pippenger. Mary Duncan is heading the program.

Delivery of the new firetruck has been delayed for six months due to shortages, said Commissioner of Fire and Police Jim Bentley. The old ladder truck was repainted to match the new engine, which has been brought up to code, and looks like new, Commissioner Bentley said.

Brush and branches that grow into the roadways are causing problems. Residents are responsible for clearing the vegetation that originates in their yards and extends into the streets, said Commissioner of Public Works Frank Schriner. The problem with vegetation encroaching onto roads is also a problem on Scenic and Ochs highways, which are the responsibility of Hamilton County and the City of Chattanooga. During January, snow and ice covered the roads on several occasions, and the public works department did an admirable job of keeping residents safe, said Commissioner Schriner.

Lee Franks, speaking on behalf of the residents who play pickleball on the mountain, asked about being able to use the skating rink at LMS during the cold weather. Hamilton County has restricted use of the gym for the last couple of years, despite the town building it and giving it to the school system, as well as retaining the rights to use it for a community center. Town attorney Brian Smith wrote a letter to Dr. Justin Robertson, the new superintendent of Hamilton County Schools, about allowing the town to use it as it has in the past. Lookout Mountain, Tenn., is offering to provide liability insurance to cover injury or accidents during residents’ use. Mayor Walker Jones said that he is confident that permission will be granted. He suggested Mr. Franks join the Rec board, made up of volunteers, to have a say in decisions that could affect pickleball.

Candidates who will be running for various positions in the Hamilton County primaries were welcomed to the commission meeting. Joe Graham is running for the District 11 seat on the Hamilton County commission; Coty Wamp is running for Hamilton County district attorney; and Matt Adams is running for county mayor. Parker Mixon, an eighth-grader, was also at the meeting to see government in action. He is working on a Boy Scout citizenship badge, and the meeting allowed him to see how conflicts are discussed.

Jennifer Waycaster, the town’s certified municipal officer, reported that $977,000 in property taxes were collected in January, and by the second week of February, 85 percent of the taxes for 2021 were paid. Sales taxes are looking good, too, she said, with 100 percent of the budgeted amount for the year received by the end of January. At the end of January, 83 percent of the total budgeted amount of revenue was received, and 47 percent of expenditures for the year were paid. Revenue from parking was down for the month.

Mayor Jones said the process of creating a budget for fiscal year 2022-2023 is just starting, and the first meeting with department heads will take place soon. The mayor also congratulated the City of Lookout Mountain, Ga., on the opening of its new city hall and fire station.

The next meeting of the Lookout Mountain, Tenn., commission will be Tuesday, March 8, at 5:30 p.m.

Commissioners of the Town of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., opened the monthly meeting with discussion of the town’s school. Lookout Mountain School is continuing to carry on while dealing with expected cases of COVID-19, said Commissioner of Schools Brooke Pippenger. Activity at the school includes Grandparent’s Day on Friday, February 25, starting at 1 in the afternoon. Night Out for Lookout, the biggest fundraiser for the school, will be held the following night, February 26, at the Lookout Mountain Club. Tickets will be on sale February 4. A music program will be presented on March 17 and 18,  to replace the Christmas music program that was cancelled in December because of the pandemic.
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There continues to be a lot of participation in sports on the mountain. Commissioner of Parks and Playgrounds David Paschall said that basketball is underway, and games are held at LMS and at Fairyland Elementary School. Baseball registration is underway. Lawson Electric is in the process of putting LED lights in the parking lot behind the Senter Field wall.

Commissioner of Fire and Police Jim Bentley announced that the fire and police department has several new officers, Carl Ritchie, Kevin Ritchie and Christina Henderson, who is the first female officer to work for Lookout Mountain, Tenn. The new fire engine is nearing completion, and Captain Danny Wright will make a final trip to inspect and approve it. The fire truck is expected to be delivered on time in mid-February. Commissioner Bentley said that it takes a full year, from the time a police car is ordered until it is delivered, so it is even more of a priority to maintain all the existing police vehicles as well as can be done.
There have been some scares related to the weather, said Frank Schriner, commissioner of the public works department, but nothing has actually caused bad road conditions on the mountain this winter so far. However, the town received a new shipment of road salt and will be ready if icy and snowy conditions do occur. The department is caught up with removal of leaf and brush piles for the most part, said the commissioner.

Jennifer Waycaster, the town’s certified municipal officer, gave the financial report for the month of December. She said $453,000 in property taxes has been paid, with more money than anticipated coming from state and local sales taxes. At halfway through the fiscal year, she said 64 percent of the budgeted amount of state taxes and 80 percent of the budgeted amount of local taxes has been received. The PTA made the first of two payments in the amount of $94,000. That money is combined with contributions from the town and used to pay for additional teachers and enrichment programs at the school. Expenses in December include $5,000 in training for the fire and police department and $6,000 to pay for salt for the public works department.

A change was made to health insurance plans for town employees. Previously, insurance benefits were available at 30 days after an employee began work. Now, insurance benefits will be available at the first of the month after employment begins.

Fifty percent of the town’s allotment of federal funds from the coronavirus American Recovery Plan has also been received in the amount of $280,000, said Mayor Walker Jones, adding that a second payment of the same amount will be received next fall. Mayor Jones said that the restrictions that were originally put on use of the money were so limiting that it would have been hard to spend it. The good news, he said, is that the rules have been relaxed and now there are not as many limitations. He said it will be great for the town because it can use the money for practical applications.

The mayor said some dead trees are leaning over the town’s roads. In that situation, he said, the homeowner is responsible for any damage done by falling trees or limbs. Homeowners have been warned, and he asks that people take care of any problem trees on their property.

Mayor Jones also reminded the commission members that it is time to file a nominating petition to run for office.

The next Lookout Mountain, Tenn., commission meeting is on February 8 at 5:30 p.m.