The town of Lookout Mountain, Tn., is in the process of enhancing the natural beauty of the town’s newest park. Over 40 trees, including dogwoods and redbuds, have been planted so far and just this week, 30 additional small plants were added to the Natural Bridge Park.
A water line has been installed to give the new plants a jump start. A significant contributor to this effort is Lookout Mountain Garden Club that is working in conjunction with the town on the project.
A substantial gift was made Tuesday night at the town council meeting to be used toward the beautification of the park. County Commissioner Joe Graham presented a check for $5,000 from his District 6 discretionary fund which will be used for planting trees and wildflowers. Thanking Mr. Graham, Mayor Greg Brown said that the park will be a great asset to the mountain.
The town is also planning to spruce up The Commons. Commissioner of Parks and Playgrounds Will Moses is working with a grant writer in hopes of obtaining money to replace two tennis courts and to refurbish Navarre Pavilion. The request will be for $140,000 to which the city will add $70,000 for the needed upkeep. Grant winners will be announced in late September.
An update to the issue of sewer billing was addressed by Ansley Moses, who is the WWTA board representative from Lookout Mountain. He said efforts to have the Tennessee Legislature require Tennessee American Water to continue the billing for sewer service failed, and he now has concluded that the town will have to find a third-party billing service after Oct. 31. Mayor Brown said that it will not be a significant change for the residents. There will be two bills - one from the water company and another for sewer service with only a small increase in cost.
Dwight Montague, town consultant, gave the financial report. March was a good month for building permits although they only generated half of the projected amount of $25,000. Sales tax is still a little behind the amount expected and State Street Aid is fairly close to what was in the budget. Some expenses are over and others under budget, which have balanced each other.
Mr. Montague has recently learned that State Street Aid money can be used for items other than paving. Allowed are costs for traffic lights, street lights, and signage. He recommended that for next year’s budget, the town use money from this fund to pay for items such as EPB bills for street lights, and new signage since these expenses are permissible uses for this “restricted money”, and if paving is needed, to use funds that are unrestricted.
For the month of March, dispatchers’ salaries look unusual because of overtime payments. He also said that the town has not yet received the contribution from Lookout Mountain, Ga., for parks and playgrounds. That city makes an annual contribution since the facilities on the Tennessee side are used by Georgia citizens. The bill has now been sent for $23,000. Other expenses were around $2,000 for the Ramble walkway, and $938 for plants at Natural Bridge Park.
Commissioner of Fire and Police Carol Mutter read the fire and police statistics from the month of March. There were 102 police calls, 5,898 miles patrolled, 26 burglar alarms (all false), eight assist citizen calls, four 911 calls, one auto accident without injury, and 26 traffic stops. Two arrests were made, one for marijuana possession and one for criminal impersonation. The department had seven medical calls and five fire alarms during the month.
Of great concern was a burglary which occurred the last week of March at a home on the corner of Fleetwood and Sylvan. The homeowner found broken glass after returning home, and a resident who saw a suspicious person that morning called 911. Police responded within minutes of the call and followed up by bringing bloodhounds to track the scent. After crossing three yards, the scent trail ran out on Fairy Trail which leads the police to believe the burglar either had brought a car or was picked up by one. Damage was done to a door, and only costume jewelry was taken. The perpetrator has not yet been apprehended. Commissioner Mutter urged everyone to call the police if someone suspicious is seen and to please be vigilant.
It was also announced that new car decals are due by June 1, and can be purchased either by mail or by coming to city hall. Ms. Mutter stated that this helps the police track vehicles.
Baseball begins this coming Saturday, said Will Moses, parks and playground commissioner. It will be ushered in with a parade starting at 9 a.m. A reviewing stand will be set up on the patio at Café on the Corner, where a special beer has been crafted for the event.
Walker Jones, commissioner of schools, presented a schedule for the remainder of the year at Lookout Mountain Elementary School. TCAP standardized tests are April 23-27 for second and fifth graders. The final PTA meeting will be April 24 at 6 p.m., the county track meet for third, fourth and fifth grades, is May 3. May 2 is registration for kindergarten, and graduation is May 18. Mr. Jones added “just around the corner and they’ll be free.”
Commissioner of Public Works Dan Crates announced a new city service that will begin Saturday, April 21. A dumpster will be available for Tennessee residents to use for discarding any debris that the city does not normally pick up such as old grills and bikes. He made it clear that no combustible or hazardous materials will be allowed, nor will be compact fluorescent bulbs. A public works representative will be present to supervise. The dumpster will only be available that one day, but depending on participation, the service might continue on a quarterly basis. If a resident needs help in getting material to the site, they can phone the public works department and request help.
In new business, Sally McDonald came before the commission to request a variance to add a kitchen to an existing guest house on her property for the intention of being able to use it as a rental cottage. Attorney Brian Smith informed the council that since it does not change the footprint of the house, a variance is not required for adding a kitchen; however, having two residences on one lot is not allowed unless the second residence is occupied by family members, such as “mother-in-law quarters”. It was decided that Ms. McDonald could go forward with the kitchen plans; however Mayor Brown said that if she does the work and then comes back to request a variance, that he couldn’t assure her that it would be approved because there is no precedent to follow.
In old business, the council was updated on the issue of the empty lot on Sunset Road. When the house adjacent to that lot was last sold, the buyer was given a letter stating a legal opinion that the empty lot could not be built on. Greg Brown, the current mayor and Brian Smith, the current town attorney, were involved with that transaction before they were representatives of the town. That opinion is now being challenged, however new zoning ordinances have changed since the land was originally subdivided, and because of size constraints, the current fire codes and setbacks cannot be met. At the last meeting, it was agreed to get counsel from an un-interested party. Attorney Smith has not been able to locate a title company agent that was willing to issue an opinion. He is hoping to contact an attorney who will be able to help and possibly resolve the matter before the next meeting.
A second matter discussed at a previous meeting was the request from a company to purchase the town’s cell phone tower contracts. The town has actually been contacted by three companies wanting to do this, each offering around $220,000. The town’s CPA reviewed the proposals and estimated that the value of the towers is actually $371,000. It was decided to reject the offers.
The pavement expansion project along Scenic Highway is continuing, which will give residents added space when walking. Mayor Brown emphasized that it will still be necessary to be very cautious when walking along the curved roadway.
The meeting was ended by looking forward to the next year’s budget. It was asked that each commissioner present assumptions at the council meeting in May. By the June meeting the mayor will propose a budget ready to pass on first reading. The income that the town will receive from the Hall Income Tax will be unknown at that time, but should be known by the July meeting when the second reading and approval of the budget will take place.
Election of new commissioners is coming up, and at the May commission meeting, each of the five candidates will be present to speak. A “State of the State” presentation is planned for the June meeting.
Recently a letter was sent to Lookout Mountain, Tn., residents to inform of city business. In that letter, the wrong date was given for the May commission meeting. The meeting will be on May 8, at 5 p.m.
Gail Perry
gailaperry@comcast.net