The purchase of golf carts recently by a few Lookout Mountain, Ga., residents has raised council awareness of its golf-cart crossing laws.
Currently golf carts may not be driven across municipal or state intersections. The council will vote on an ordinance next month which would allow golf carts to cross municipal intersections, though the City Council cannot rule on state road crossings. Red Riding Hood is a state highway.
“You can’t get anywhere without crossing those roads,” said Mayor Tom Gifford.
The council discussed charging a registration fee and requiring proof of insurance to issue permits to drive carts on municipal roads.
Lookout Mountain, Ga., will renew its non-exclusive cable contract with Comcast by the end of October. The new agreement will last 10 years and will allow other companies like EPB and AT&T to enter into franchise agreements with the city.
The Georgia Department of Transportation has approved plans for a pedestrian pathway near the elementary school and issued a notice to proceed with construction in September. Plans for the mile-long path began three years ago. It will stretch from the north state line to Wood Nymph Trail. The first section runs from Fairyland Elementary School to Oberon Trail through the city park. Groundbreaking may begin as soon as the first week of November.
Lookout Mountain, Ga., is doing well financially, according to CPA Paul Johnson. “We’re in the black, and we’re doing it consistently,” he said. He reported a $143,000 profit for 2006-2007, up from last year’s $138,000 profit. The police and fire departments are running on less than $1 million, and the debt caused by the new $146,000 fire truck is to be expected, he said.
“I think this city is in better shape than 99.9 percent of governments around,” said Mr. Johnson.
Mayor Gifford urged citizens to read up on what is known as the Great Plan, which eliminates local property taxes but makes up for it by increasing sales tax in a number of obscure places, including some areas of medical care.
“It sounds great to the public unless you read the fine print,” said Mayor Gifford. “It would take all local control from cities and towns and give it all to the capital.”
He said concerned citizens should voice their opinions as soon as possible to the Georgia House of Representatives, and that the changes may take place in January if the amendment passes.