Lookout Mountain, Ga. Mayor Bill Glascock said at a town hall meeting Thursday that the city may repeal a current sales tax rebate to generate $109,000 toward a $1.2 million municipal portion of a new town hall project.
Officials were urged at the meeting to develop a definite timeline for the major project and to proceed quickly.
The meeting was advertised to discuss the latest development for the property that is in front of the current town hall. Many residents from both Lookout Mountain, Ga., and Lookout Mountain, Tn., were present along with others there to hear what Mayor Glascock and the council members had to say.
Mayor Glascock and Bill Chapin, president of Rock City, opened the meeting and led the entire audience in the Doxology. Mayor Glascock then announced that significant progress was continuing on the new public works building at the south Lula Lake Road site. He is hopeful that the project will be complete soon allowing all aspects of the city’s public works to relocate this summer.
Mayor Glascock displayed the most current site drawing by architect Michael McGowan of the new municipal buildings planned for city hall and the police and fire departments at the town center. The site plan displayed is what the city would like to see develop for the municipal buildings but also in conjunction with other potential development on adjacent land in front of city hall. Mayor Glascock said that while this is only the first stages of the plan for the municipal center this is what the city would like done for the good of the residents of Lookout Mountain. He also said that what they would like to do, based on the drawing, has been approved by the planning commission like any other residential, commercial, or tourist development within the city limits.
To help fund some of the city's projected $1.2 million cost, Mayor Glascock mentioned the possible repeal of the sales tax rebate. He said that the assessed tax value of all property within the city limits is $75,484,044 and a property valued at $200,000 has an assessed value of $80,000 and currently pays the city a tax of $680 per year. The proposed repeal would increase the annual property tax to the city by an additional $116. A chart of the proposed tax increase and valuation is available at city hall upon request.
The mayor then opened the floor to hear ideas and address questions of those in attendance.
Bill Chapin addressed the council and the audience by suggesting that the new city hall and municipal buildings should be built as efficiently as possible and perhaps at the front of the property to be the center of the city. Mr.
Chapin referred to the newest site drawing and said that the drawing places city hall at the back of the 1.67-acre lot and perhaps it would be better at the front.
Councilwoman Taylor Watson said after Mr. Chapin’s statements that the reason the city is reserving the rear of the property for the municipal development is to allow for retail and commercial development at the front of the property to be easily accessible from the road and parking. She said this concept is what the city and the planning commission thought to be best for attracting other businesses to the commercial district. Architect McGowan said the municipal buildings are still the center of the development and still have presence with or without other buildings adjacent. Councilman Blair Ramey said the city will continue to proceed with the municipal development so that all public safety can operate more efficiently.
Resident Bill Colvin presented a concern to all that he and his wife have about dwindling property values within the city limits. He suggested that the town center development has to be done well to attract people to the mountain and subsequently increase property values. With that said other residents inquired about a timeline as to what the city plans to do in the following months to continue the project. Mayor Glascock answered by saying that there is no timeline in place but as things continue to progress one will be developed.
Beth Soloff, member of the planning commission and a real estate developer, suggested to the council and the audience that it would be more economical for the city to concentrate on the entire project including the municipal and commercial development as a whole with the use of a timeline so that the project will move forward at an efficient rate.
Dr. Bill Moore Smith, accompanied by his wife Chrissie, said their interest in part of the property that the city now owns would allow him to expand his practice and build a state of the art medical facility that would be beneficial to all their current and future patients, especially those within the community. His current office next door to Fairyland Pharmacy is at maximum capacity and in the near future he will not be able to operate from that office.
Dr. Smith, along with David DeVaney of Charter Real Estate, asked the council to move quickly otherwise Dr. Smith will be unable to continue to have his office on the mountain. Mrs. Smith said is important that they expand and develop their office next to the new municipal buildings so that they can continue to provide quality care to all patients.
Mayor Glascock ended the meeting by announcing that the council would host more upcoming town hall style meetings soon.
mdsmisson@aol.com