Chief Bowden gets check from Mayor Mutter
photo by Brooke Pippenger
Lookout Mountain’s December commission meeting was the last for Chief Randy Bowden, who is retiring at the end of the year. The first class police and fire departments are now unmatched in Hamilton County, said Commissioner of Fire and Police Jim Bentley. In the 32 years he has been with the town, the fire department has been elevated from class 4 to class 2 and has increased medical personnel to four paramedics and four EMTs and the police department has increased tactical training.
Mayor Carol Mutter presented Chief Bowden with a check as a retirement gift from the town for his many years of service.
On Saturday after Thanksgiving the police department, working alongside the Georgia police, quickly solved a rash of 19 auto break-ins before the thieves left the mountain. With a tip about suspicious activity from a resident and images from security cameras at the entrances to both towns, police were able to track and identify the three suspects who came up and left the mountain via Ochs Highway on foot with backpacks. All items recovered have been returned to their owners.
Statistics from the fire and police departments for the month of November show that police answered 181 calls, patrolled 4,291 miles, responded to 16 burglar alarms, all false, assisted 9 citizens and answered 24 911 calls. There were 67 traffic stops, 32 parking citations, and one auto accident without injuries. Four arrests were made that included the three involved in car break-ins.
The council voted to give Gulf State Tower a six-month extension of their lease option to build a cell phone tower beside the town hall. The company will pay Lookout Mountain, Tn. a $2,000 fee for the extension.
A successful flag football season ended in late November and wrestling ended in mid-December with 22 participants, said Commissioner of Parks and Playgrounds Brooke Pippenger. Basketball registration is open online until Dec. 18 and the season will begin in early January. Work is taking place on Dockery Field at the Commons. Fencing has been completed and new benches, backstop padding and dirt will be added in early spring. It will be completed by opening day in mid-April. The rec board is asking for donations for Rick Dockery’s retirement.
In the school report, Commissioner Don Stinnett commended the school for a wonderful holiday program. Principal of Lookout Elementary Ruth White reported that the robotics team won trophies for their project, a way to clean water naturally, and for the robot game. The team will be going to regional competitions at Chattanooga State Community College. The spelling bee is Jan. 10 and there will be a snow day Jan. 17. Christmas break is from Dec. 1 through Jan. 8.
The largest leaf piles should be removed by Christmas, said Public Works Commissioner Walker Jones, but leaf pick-up and cleaning ditches will continue until finished. The town is in good shape with salt for the winter with a new supply ordered to add to that remaining from last year.
Dwight Montague, town consultant, said that repairs done to Navarre Pavilion and a possible water leak leading to it, caused expenses for the parks budget to be high in November. The town’s website lookoutmountaintn.org was hacked and locked out use of it. The website has been forwarded to livingonlookout.com until a new website is set up.
Samantha Van Alstyne, town recorder, tax collector and court clerk, was recognized for completing the level one Municipal Management Academy. She has received a certificate from the Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) in cooperation with the Tennessee Municipal League. “She has become a very important employee to the town,” said Mayor Mutter.
The mayor warned drivers to be aware of deer on the roads after several collisions have occurred. She also requested for residents to use the local stores when Christmas shopping.