Lookout Mountain, Ga. Mayor Tom Gifford told his city council members on Monday the economy has taken a toll on licenses and permits within the city and the city’s revenue from those is down over $14,000 in the current fiscal year budget. Fortunately for the city, expenses for the same period are down over $33,000.

The comments came during a public hearing on the budget that preceded a called meeting of the city council. The regular monthly meeting of the council for July 18 was canceled at last month’s meeting due to travel plans by the mayor.

The council passed on first reading an amendment to the current budget that reflects these and other changes. The city forecasts to close out the general fund on June 30 with a surplus of over $31,000.

Sewer fund revenues and expenses are accounted separately from the general fund and will show another surplus near $2,000.

SPLOST revenues for the current fiscal year were nearly $90,000 above the budgeted amount. Mayor Gifford said SPLOST funds are what allows the city to not budget capital expenditures and still have a little breathing room as the budget year progresses. The higher revenues this year from the SPLOST is a one-time thing, Mayor Gifford said.

After passing the amendment to the current budget, the council turned to the proposed budget for the new fiscal year beginning July 1. General fund revenues are projected at $1,019,750 and expenses at $1,014,825. Mayor Gifford said the approximate $5,000 surplus is not much for a million dollar budget.

The proposed budget includes a two percent wage increase for city employees and a projected 10 to 15 percent increase in healthcare insurance costs, the mayor said. Also, a modest increase in the city attorney’s retainer is included, he said.

The council passed the proposed budget on first reading. Second reading of the amended current year budget and the proposed new fiscal year budget will be on Thursday, June 25, at 7:30 a.m.

The council also passed on first reading an amendment to the city’s fence ordinance. City Attorney William Pickering told the council the intent of the amendment is to extremely limit the use of chain link fencing.

The amendment allows no chain link fencing except in extreme hardship cases. A hardship is defined as being necessary due to the uniqueness of the property. In addition to the hardship requirement, the total length of the proposed fence must be greater than 250 feet, the fence must not be visible from any street, and be must obscured by vegetation if visible by neighbors.

Any chain link fence allowed under those restrictions must also be coated in a material approved by the Municipal Planning Commission.

The council approved on first reading the amendment to the fence ordinance. Second reading will also be at the 7:30 a.m. meeting on June 25.

Mayor Gifford told the council the Comprehensive Plan process in underway with Phil Walker. A series of important meetings are coming up on July 14, he said.

Focus group meetings with various stakeholders will be in the morning half of July 14. “Those meetings will most likely be at the Catholic Church,” Mayor Gifford said, “if they can accommodate us.”

On the evening of July 14, a public meeting will be held. The city will try to schedule that meeting at the Fairyland Club, if possible, Mayor Gifford said.

Mayor Gifford also gave an update on the town center property. Starting June 18, an asbestos abatement program will begin inside the building adjacent to City Hall. Once the program is complete, the building will be torn down.

Walker County Commissioner Bebe Heiskell will give what might be called a state of the county talk at City Hall on June 18 at 7:30 p.m. Mayor Gifford said. He encouraged the council members to have a presence at the meeting.

Dana Wilbourn
dbwilbourn@yahoo.com