Mayor David Bennett addressed the Lookout Mountain, Ga., Council for his first session as mayor on Thursday evening following Sandy Gothard’s resignation as mayor in December. Mayor Bennett talked about two important things he would like the council to achieve in the remainder of his two-year term. One is to make significant progress on the city’s overall vision, the town center. He said the city’s request for proposal (RFP) is in its final draft and soon will be ready to present to prospective developers as the city proceeds with its plan to build a new city hall and subsequent town center. The second important step Mayor Bennett would like to see is a long range plan on where the city is going and how he and the council can insure good financial stewardship of the city’s resources to pass on to future generations.
Mayor Bennett appointed longtime Lookout Mountain resident Arch Willingham to the vacant seat on the council.
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Willingham has previously served on the city’s planning commission.
Mayor Bennett also made special appointments for all the council members.
Taylor Watson will be commissioner of fire and police while still overseeing beautification.
Caroline Williams will remain a partner with Fairyland School while also overseeing the city’s long range financial planning goals.
Beth Soloff and Arch Willingham will oversee public works and act as liaisons to the planning commission.
Jim Sabourin will be vice mayor and continue overseeing finance along with Mrs. Williams and continue the city’s recreation board with Lookout Mountain, Tn.
Vice Mayor Sabourin will also work closely with City Manager Brad Haven and Cindy Roberts.
On second reading the council passed ordinance 290 restating in its entirety former ordinance 37 regarding the city’s subdivisions and residential development. The council also passed on first reading an amendment to ordinance 25 dealing with the city’s zoning regulations. The amendments to ordinance 25 were recommended by the planning commission.
City Manager Haven recommended the city invest in a new street striping machine. The city has received bids of restriping city streets upwards of $70,000. The street striping machine that he recommends will cost around $13,000 and $10,000 for the reflective paint. He suggested that the public works department will be able to do the striping whenever needed and save the city a significant amount of money. The council approved the purchase of the equipment with SPLOST funds.