The Lookout Mountain, Tn., Commission has approved the 2015-2016 budget that includes raising the property tax rate from $1.66 to $1.6932 per $100 of assessed value.
Town Consultant Dwight Montague said the average cost of a home in Lookout Mountain, Tn.
is $400,000, which means an increase of $3.38 per month for that homeowner. He said he anticipates that no other increases will be needed for three years.
The largest expense is payroll for the town’s 32 full-time employees. Included in the new budget is a two percent pay raise for all full-time employees except those in administration. Health insurance is expected to increase 15 percent over the current year.
Roof and siding repairs to Navarre Pavilion are planned, and there will be more legal fees for finalizing the cell phone tower construction. A new item in the budget this year is the cost for using the security camera system.
Capital outlay expenses will include one new vehicle for the fire and police department in order to keep the fleet updated on a rotation basis, which saves the town in repair and maintenance costs. Two movable radar speed signs that mount to poles will be bought. Reimbursement from the state of Tennessee is expected for those signs. A skid-loader “Bobcat” with accessories will be acquired for the public works department.
Money is included to go toward the computer technology fund at the Lookout Mountain Elementary School. The school has also asked for a boost in funding from the town for salary increases to teachers. Officials said $5,000 will go to the school from the tax on liquor by the drink sales. Mr. Montague noted that the town is open for donations to make these improvements.
The second reading on the budget will be at the next commission meeting scheduled for July 21. At that time the amount of Hall state income tax being received by the town will be known.
Commissioner of Schools Don Stinnett introduced Principal Ruth White who gave the school report. She said that in the year just ended, Lookout Mountain Elementary graduated 39 children. Lee Cook will open the library for 109 hours during the summer on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays except for the Fourth of July. The PTA is in the process of making improvements to the playground and the Lookout Mountain Beautiful Garden Club is building a greenhouse with an amphitheater for interactive teaching. Ms. White recently met with a representative from Hamilton County to help decide locations for the new security cameras.
Commons Camp started on Monday and will be open through July 24, said Brooke Pippinger, commissioner of parks and playgrounds. Kiddie Day for four- and five-year-olds is on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon. For children 6-12, hours will be from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Kids can register for the entire summer or pay by the day.
Statistics for the month of May were read by Commissioner of Fire and Police Jim Bentley. The police answered 102 calls, patrolled 4,342 miles and responded to 19 burglar alarms, all false. There were 15 assist citizen calls, 10 calls to 911, 27 traffic stops and no auto accidents. Police action was taken on one case of domestic violence, one disorder and one arrest for a revoked license. There were four minor thefts consisting of one case of identity theft, one missing flag, a car tag decal was taken, and one purse was stolen from a vehicle at the commons during a baseball game. Those responsible for vandalism of the press box at Senter Field have already been caught. There were six medical calls and seven fire alarms during the month that were all false. Three members from the department graduated from basic firefighting school in May. The police are stepping up radar monitoring. Mayor Carol Mutter added that during the summer there will be more people walking and children out on the roads and warned everyone to be especially careful.
Public Works Commissioner Walker Jones said his department is busy fixing potholes and keeping the streets clear of overgrown vegetation in order to provide unobstructed vision to keep the roads safe.
In her report, Mayor Mutter said the bike race was a successful event on the mountain and a social occasion at the corner of Scenic and South Forrest. She wanted to remind all residents that blue stickers are available for mailboxes that will give notice that no solicitation will be allowed at that address. Stickers are available at the city hall. She said that, despite requests from the town, the National Park Service increased entrance fees to Point Park. For a one- to seven-day pass the cost is now $5 and an annual pass is $30. She said that on the upside, Clumpies Ice Cream has opened a shop at the Battles for Chattanooga building. Hours are from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
The commission conditionally approved a request from Eric Woods, owner of Talus, which will allow the construction of a patio immediately in front of the restaurant. It will occupy three of the 15 parking spaces that are in front of the stores. The patio will be fenced and landscaped with potted plants and will provide outside seating for 27 customers. Commissioner Jones observed that this will give the area more “life.” Approval was given, dependent upon the commissioners receiving a schematic drawing to illustrate the project and upon Chief Randy Bowden approving those plans for a building permit. Mr. Woods would like to finish the work and begin using the new patio during the summer months.
A large event planned for the Sunday night before Labor Day was given an OK. Tim Moore and a group of high school friends from the 1970s, locally known as the “Fonty Dogs,” requested and received permission to hold a concert and picnic festival at the Commons on the Sunday evening before Labor Day. It is being organized to encourage a special homecoming of their friends who have moved away. There will be an opening act and the featured band, which is well known and popular with people of all ages, said Mr. Moore. An event coordinator will work with town officials to organize the event that will have a stage set up, food trucks and beer sales. The organizers will also provide security and pay for cleaning up the area. “Is there any reason not to do it?” asked Walker Jones.
“Party’s on,” said Mr. Montague. With approval from the commissioners, the group of men putting on the party will be able to move forward with booking the band and making plans and working out details. It will be open to the public and tickets may be sold at a nominal charge in order to give an indication of the number of people to expect.
Eagle Scout Jeremy Payne was given approval and a check for $150 to help in building a kiosk that will be used as a central location for posting information of interest to residents such as notices for lost pets or about meetings. It will have a roof, a cork board and pins.
The latest news about the cell phone tower was given to the commissioners by Mr. Montague. Sealed bids must be received before Sept. 7, when they will be opened at 4 p.m. The town provided all information that the contenders must adhere to. Now it will boil down to the amount the provider will pay to lease the space. Regardless if construction is complete or not, the town will begin receiving payments on Jan. 1, 2016. “We have had some of the best advice in the industry to get to this point,” he said.
Commissioners unanimously voted to accept the final design of the tower, the Request For Proposal (RFP) given to both companies that are bidding on the project and the ground lease that has been created by the town.