The new ordinance at Lookout Mountain, Ga., for allowing chickens has been approved and the first three applications for a license to keep them have been received. The procedure will be for Kenneth Hailey to inspect the property to assure it is in compliance with the law. He then will sign and send the notice of approval to the city council which will give the final authorization.
Mr.
Hailey does the initial inspection but is not responsible to go back and check unless there is a complaint. If a neighbor sees a violation or has a concern, they are asked to notify the police department which will investigate. Police also will check a location if they see obvious violations. The yearly permit renewals will include another inspection.
Councilwoman Taylor Watson would like to remind mountain residents about the fundraiser that Ruth Oehmig has planned for the fire departments in both Georgia and Tennessee on Tuesday, Nov. 6, at Café on The Corner. She also said that on Halloween no cars will be allowed on the streets of Fairyland except for residents getting home. Golf carts will be permitted but they must observe the one-way signs.
The second and final vote of the council set the 2018 millage rate at 9.54. It is a slight increase of .22 percent that is almost revenue neutral and makes up the difference from the small decrease overall of property assessments, officials said.
Community volunteer Jimmy Campbell, who has been heading up the comprehensive plan survey, reported that the survey has been completed and was emailed to 1,117 residents the first week in October. In the eight days since it was sent, there have been 304 responses received. Many people have not opened the email and they will get repeated reminders, he said. The survey will help planners determine how residents want the city to be developed in the future.
A business license was approved for Michelle Workman who is opening a retail home furnishings store in the building next to Fairyland Pharmacy.
Fire and Police Chief Todd Gann compiled and reported statistics from the department for the month of September. Police patrolled 3,267 miles, made 30 traffic stops, issued 12 citations and gave 28 warnings. There were seven automobile accidents. Response was made to seven alarms and there were no burglaries or thefts. Two arrests were made. Assistance was given to five motorists and seven citizens and twice to the Tennessee police. There were seven fire calls in September and eight medical calls.
Chief Gann told the council that the ISO inspection had been postponed because of over scheduling, but he said the fire department is well prepared for the important inspection that will evaluate the department and help to determine insurance rates throughout the town. Randy Hicks has been hired to fill the vacancy left when Officer Aaron Dean was promoted to Assistant Chief. Officer Hicks has 27 years of law enforcement experience and comes to the mountain from LaFayette.
Council member Caroline Williams said that the initial structure of the aquaponics project at Fairyland School is finished. The Great Pumpkin Race will be a fundraiser for the Fairyland Education Fund. Children will run 35 laps, raising money for each lap they complete.
Council member Arch Willingham gave an update from the last planning commission meeting held on Oct. 9. Highlights include reviewing a proposed subdivision ordinance that would allow a property to be subdivided without going through all the procedures in the subdivision ordinance as long as it does not involve more than four lots and require a new street. No action was taken on the proposal. The planning commission also looked at drawings of the possible expansion of Starbucks at Rock City and requested an opinion from the city council on being able to extend streetscapes into public property, which received a negative response.
Wes Hasden, chairman of the sewer board, reported on the repairs needed to the Chickamauga Trail pump station. He said that Phase I will be to build a complete by-pass of the pump. The work that will be done in Phase II will allow the city to get another 20 years from that pump station.