Lookout Mountain, Tn., Mayor Carol Mutter announced Tuesday that she will not be running for a commissioner position in the next election. She said, “It’s time to pass the baton” and “it is time for someone else to take a turn.” She served as a commissioner for six years prior to serving as mayor for six more.
Although the election is not until August this year, she said anyone interested needs to look ahead because to qualify, a signed petition will be required to be filed with the election commission by April 5.
In the Town of Lookout Mountain, Tn., candidates all run for a position as a commissioner and they are the ones to select, among themselves, who the mayor will be.
Until yesterday, said Commissioner of Public Works Walker Jones, it was business as usual. That changed with the freezing rain that covered all the roads on Lookout Mountain on Monday morning. He said that road conditions were about as bad as he had ever seen, with public works trucks getting stuck in ditches along with other vehicles and some blocking other traffic trying to maneuver around the wrecks.
Police Chief Chuck Wells said that the public works department did an amazing job, helping police more than police were able to help them. Despite their trucks getting stuck, the public works employees helped to pull drivers out of ditches. “We can put out salt, but sometimes you can’t beat Mother Nature,” said Commissioner Jones. The town still has plenty of salt on stand-by to be delivered when needed, he said.
Sewer work is scheduled to continue on the mountain for another year and a half, said Commissioner Jones. He said that paving has been put off until the sewer work is finished to prevent the need for making cuts in new roads. In the meantime, funds are building up for when paving does begin.
Mayor Mutter welcomed Chief Wells to his first commission meeting as chief, and Commissioner of Schools Don Stinnett told him that the police are a great presence on the mountain and it is comforting to know they do such a good job of protecting the residents with their high visibility.
Statistics from the fire and police departments for the month of December, 2017 were compiled by Chief Wells and reported by Commissioner of Fire and Police Jim Bentley. Police received 173 calls, patrolled 4,056 miles, checked 15 burglar alarms, all false, assisted 13 citizens and answered 33 calls to 911 during the month. They responded to three auto accidents, none with injuries, made 91 traffic stops, issued eight parking citations and made one arrest for DUI. During December response was made to eight medical calls in Tennessee and four in Georgia. There were three fire alarms, all false and one dumpster fire at a construction site.
Commissioner Bentley asks for anyone who sees suspicious activity to notify the police. That is how most crimes have been solved, he said.
Chief Wells would like to thank everyone who brought cookies, cakes and pies to the officers during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. He said that everyone is now on a diet.
Parks and Playgrounds Commissioner Brooke Pippenger reported that another water leak has occurred under pavement at Navarre Pavilion, in the vicinity of a break that happened last year. It is unrelated to the recent freezing temperatures, she said. Plumbers have been scheduled for later this week to identify and fix the problem. Basketball season is underway and teams have now been chosen, she said. Commissioner Pippenger thanked Scott Shell, director of parks, and his assistant, Brandon Adams, for keeping the gym open, with supervision, at Lookout Mountain Elementary during the Christmas Break.
The upcoming school schedule for January, 2018 was given by Commissioner Stinnett . A spelling bee will be held at the school at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The Lookout Mountain Robotics regional competition will take place this Saturday. The annual book fair will be from Jan. 29-Feb. 2. The next PTA meeting combined with parent/teacher conferences is scheduled for Jan. 30. He asks everyone to put March 2 on their calendars as a reminder that is the date for Night out for Lookout, a fundraiser for the school.
Dwight Montague, town consultant, gave the financial report for December. He reported that property tax collections are $100,000 ahead of this same time last year. The due date for taxes is Feb. 28. The town has now received a semi-annual contribution from the PTA, he said.
The state requires that cities and towns update building codes on a regular basis, said Town Attorney Brian Smith. The building inspector recommended and the commissioners voted to adopt 2012 International Building Codes on first reading.
The next meeting of the Lookout Mountain, Tn. Commission will be Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 5 p.m.