Because of increased participation in sports on the mountain, last year the town of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., began to look for a location to build another turf field. The only space that was large enough and available was determined to be the old, underutilized football field behind Lookout Mountain School, which was built in the 1960s. That plan is now starting to be implemented by the LMS PTA in partnership with support from the town. The space will be turned into a multi-use turf field that will be a “gift to the mountain” and will benefit the entire community, PTA president Jenny Tucker said at the January commission meeting.
The project is planned to be built in phases, starting with the actual field. Bleachers will be considered in the future, as well as a nature trail and possibly an amphitheater. Phase one began by demolishing an old portable classroom that had been turned into a storage unit for items used at the annual Lookout Mountain Carnival. They have been moved to a storage area inside the school.
A landscape rendering commissioned by mountain residents in 2000 is being used as a wish list for future phases and includes a nature trail and an amphitheater that would be built into the natural steep slope of the property.
There is no timeline for the field or building the various phases, but the LMS PTA signed a contract with Baseline Sports of Knoxville, the company that installed turf fields at McCallie and Baylor. The PTA is working with TU Parks on pricing out the next phase of the project. Construction of the field is expected to begin in the spring, said Ms. Tucker. Money raised this year at Night Out for Lookout, the annual fundraiser, will go toward this project. The fun event is scheduled for March 6, and the theme for this year’s Night Out for Lookout is “Saddle up for Lookout.” Attendees will be encouraged to dress in Western or cowboy attire.
Updates at LMS include the annual Lookout Mountain School Spelling Bee on January 30 for third through fifth grades. And, the “Sweetheart Lunch” to celebrate Valentines’ Day will be on February 6 for first, third and fifth grades. Karen Leavengood, commissioner of education, would like for parents to be aware that there are a variety of after-school clubs and enrichment opportunities for LMS students. These activities range from the Good News Club to the Chess Club. More information can be found in the weekly ledger. Positions available in the Hamilton County schools for 2026-2027 will be posted in late January. More information can be found at hcde.org.
Last month, the town’s fire department received a grant from Firehouse Subs to purchase the “Jaws of Life” extraction tool. All firefighters in Lookout Mountain, Tenn., have been trained to use the equipment, having had the opportunity to practice with it on four vehicles that were donated for training by a wrecker company. Speeding is becoming a problem again, with the most violations taking place on Scenic Highway in the retail district and on Fleetwood Drive. Most of the drivers who have been stopped are tourists or workers on the mountain, not the residents. During this recent training exercise for the fire department that that took place below the tennis courts, the police witnessed drivers blatantly traveling above the speed limit right in front of them, where there also was a digital speed sign. Chief Dale Taylor said that now officers will be closely monitoring speed limits, and especially in the speed-prone areas.
The safety issues surrounding electric scooters, bicycles and motorcycles driven by children on the town roads are increasing. A license is not required to drive these vehicles on public streets, and the kids driving them are not paying attention to the speed limits, road signs or other vehicles. Chief Taylor said this is really the responsibility of their parents, but if the kids break the law, he will be the “bad guy.” He would rather do that than knock on doors to deliver bad news.
The same safety concerns concern golf carts on the public roads in Tennessee. Slow Moving Vehicles are allowed, but golf carts are not. Slow moving vehicles have more equipment that is common to cars, such as lights and seat belts, and are street legal. They must be registered and licensed by the state and operated by a licensed driver. Chief Taylor said that three pages of regulations and laws for operating the Slow-Moving-Vehicles will be put on the town’s website soon. Commissioner Leavengood said she will request a refresher course about road safety to be taught at the school.
Town consultant CMFO Brooke Pippenger said at halfway through the fiscal year, there is good news. Lookout Mountain, Tenn., had enough money last month to meet the payroll as well as move $400,000 into savings. Financial highlights include a donation of $500 to the fire and police department. All employees received a $200 Christmas bonus from the town (not from the committee that organized the Lookout Mountain Christmas Fund and annual breakfast). Repairs have started on the public works building and shed and will cost around $15,000, and the main building will be getting a new roof for a cost of approximately $28,000.
Tim Thornbury, the town’s building inspector, formerly a contracted position, has now become a part-time employee of the fire and police department. The amount he is paid will be the way that building inspections and expenses will be tracked. For this year, $25,000 is budgeted.
A variance request was granted to owners of 309 N. Forrest Avenue to allow an attached garage to be built. There will be sufficient setbacks so that there will be no interference for the access of safety equipment, Chief Taylor told the commissioners.
Lookout Mountain, Tenn., joined all the other municipalities in Hamilton County to approve an ordinance regarding air pollution; rates for permits for facilities and activities that cause air pollution will increase.
by Gail Perry
The project is planned to be built in phases, starting with the actual field. Bleachers will be considered in the future, as well as a nature trail and possibly an amphitheater. Phase one began by demolishing an old portable classroom that had been turned into a storage unit for items used at the annual Lookout Mountain Carnival. They have been moved to a storage area inside the school.
A landscape rendering commissioned by mountain residents in 2000 is being used as a wish list for future phases and includes a nature trail and an amphitheater that would be built into the natural steep slope of the property.
There is no timeline for the field or building the various phases, but the LMS PTA signed a contract with Baseline Sports of Knoxville, the company that installed turf fields at McCallie and Baylor. The PTA is working with TU Parks on pricing out the next phase of the project. Construction of the field is expected to begin in the spring, said Ms. Tucker. Money raised this year at Night Out for Lookout, the annual fundraiser, will go toward this project. The fun event is scheduled for March 6, and the theme for this year’s Night Out for Lookout is “Saddle up for Lookout.” Attendees will be encouraged to dress in Western or cowboy attire.
Updates at LMS include the annual Lookout Mountain School Spelling Bee on January 30 for third through fifth grades. And, the “Sweetheart Lunch” to celebrate Valentines’ Day will be on February 6 for first, third and fifth grades. Karen Leavengood, commissioner of education, would like for parents to be aware that there are a variety of after-school clubs and enrichment opportunities for LMS students. These activities range from the Good News Club to the Chess Club. More information can be found in the weekly ledger. Positions available in the Hamilton County schools for 2026-2027 will be posted in late January. More information can be found at hcde.org.
Last month, the town’s fire department received a grant from Firehouse Subs to purchase the “Jaws of Life” extraction tool. All firefighters in Lookout Mountain, Tenn., have been trained to use the equipment, having had the opportunity to practice with it on four vehicles that were donated for training by a wrecker company. Speeding is becoming a problem again, with the most violations taking place on Scenic Highway in the retail district and on Fleetwood Drive. Most of the drivers who have been stopped are tourists or workers on the mountain, not the residents. During this recent training exercise for the fire department that that took place below the tennis courts, the police witnessed drivers blatantly traveling above the speed limit right in front of them, where there also was a digital speed sign. Chief Dale Taylor said that now officers will be closely monitoring speed limits, and especially in the speed-prone areas.
The safety issues surrounding electric scooters, bicycles and motorcycles driven by children on the town roads are increasing. A license is not required to drive these vehicles on public streets, and the kids driving them are not paying attention to the speed limits, road signs or other vehicles. Chief Taylor said this is really the responsibility of their parents, but if the kids break the law, he will be the “bad guy.” He would rather do that than knock on doors to deliver bad news.
The same safety concerns concern golf carts on the public roads in Tennessee. Slow Moving Vehicles are allowed, but golf carts are not. Slow moving vehicles have more equipment that is common to cars, such as lights and seat belts, and are street legal. They must be registered and licensed by the state and operated by a licensed driver. Chief Taylor said that three pages of regulations and laws for operating the Slow-Moving-Vehicles will be put on the town’s website soon. Commissioner Leavengood said she will request a refresher course about road safety to be taught at the school.
Town consultant CMFO Brooke Pippenger said at halfway through the fiscal year, there is good news. Lookout Mountain, Tenn., had enough money last month to meet the payroll as well as move $400,000 into savings. Financial highlights include a donation of $500 to the fire and police department. All employees received a $200 Christmas bonus from the town (not from the committee that organized the Lookout Mountain Christmas Fund and annual breakfast). Repairs have started on the public works building and shed and will cost around $15,000, and the main building will be getting a new roof for a cost of approximately $28,000.
Tim Thornbury, the town’s building inspector, formerly a contracted position, has now become a part-time employee of the fire and police department. The amount he is paid will be the way that building inspections and expenses will be tracked. For this year, $25,000 is budgeted.
A variance request was granted to owners of 309 N. Forrest Avenue to allow an attached garage to be built. There will be sufficient setbacks so that there will be no interference for the access of safety equipment, Chief Taylor told the commissioners.
Lookout Mountain, Tenn., joined all the other municipalities in Hamilton County to approve an ordinance regarding air pollution; rates for permits for facilities and activities that cause air pollution will increase.
by Gail Perry
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