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.
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.
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.
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