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.
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.
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.