Moments after approving, on second reading, an ordinance authorizing beer and alcohol sales in their town, Lookout Mountain, Tn. Commissioners on Thursday convened their first Beer Board meeting and approved the first application for a beer permit.
Chattanooga-native and owner of Café on the Corner, Ruth Oehmig, was present to answer questions from the commissioners.
Ms. Oehmig says beer sales will add to her revenues but will not be a large percentage of her total sales. The new ordinance requires full-service restaurants to have food sales greater than 50 percent of revenues. “I don’t want to be a bar,” Ms. Oehmig told commissioners. In fact, she said, last call at the bar will come between 9:30 and 10:30 each night.
Mayor Greg Brown thanked Ms. Oehmig for the fine dining establishment that Café on the Corner has become. “We are glad to have you,” he said.
In the earlier commission meeting, the commissioners passed a resolution to settle a two-year-old lawsuit between the town and a former employee. Mediation in May had been unsuccessful and it appeared the case was heading to court. The individual involved recently contacted the town attorney, Brian Smith, and agreed to settle for $55,000.
Mr. Smith told the commissioners the town’s insurance carrier would pay $10,000 of the settlement leaving the town to pay the remaining $45,000. Mayor Brown said the $55,000 is very close to the original amount the town had suggested to settle.
The resolution stated the town does not recognize any liability but agrees to settle to avoid the uncertainty of trial.
In other business, Paul Johnson presented an independent audit of the town’s finances. Mr. Johnson said it was a clean audit and the commissioners should be really proud of it. Mayor Brown said he is grateful for such a good report in this hard economic time.
Town consultant Ansley Moses said three more of the town’s investments have been called by the banks. He deposited a check for the interest and thinks the town will meet the budgeted $40,000 in interest for the year. Mayor Brown noted Mr. Moses is stepping down as town consultant as of the first of the year. Dwight Montague has been hired to replace Mr. Moses and has been working closely with him for several months.
Public Works Commissioner Dan Crates said his department performed admirably during the recent snowfall and are waiting for the onset of the next wintry mix forecasted for Wednesday night. More salt has been ordered, he said. Police Chief Randy Bowden said there were no accidents reported as a result of the recent snowfall.
Parks and Playgrounds Commissioner Will Moses said the state is still holding about $4,000 in reimbursements for the playground. The total expenditures were less than the state allotted and state is encouraging him to spend more. Mr. Moses said he could order more ground cover and some benches, but that would only come to about $6,000 more. He recommended the town wait until the state sends that last reimbursement before spending any more money.
In the Mayor’s Report, Mayor Brown said he is still planning a January newsletter. Also, he said, the pedestrian pathway is still under study. He reminded everyone the town breakfast is scheduled for Dec. 16 at 7 a.m.
Mayor Brown acknowledged Hamilton County Commissioner Jim Fields was in the audience for the meeting.
Fire and Police Commissioner Carol Mutter provided the following statistics for November.
Police calls – 69
Miles patrolled – 3,555
Burglar alarms – 19 (all false)
Assist citizen calls – 6
911 calls – 8
Traffic citations – 9
Arrests – 1 (delivery and selling of Schedule II drugs)
Auto accidents – 2
Medical calls – 12
Fire alarms – 5 (4 false, 1 lawn tractor fire)
The next meeting of the commissioners will be Jan. 11 at 5 p.m.
Dana Wilbourn
dbwilbourn@yahoo.com