Several Large Trucks Get Stuck On Lookout; 1 Demolishes Wall On Ochs Highway

  • Wednesday, November 14, 2018
  • Gail Perry

Lookout Mountain, Tn., Commissioner Jim Bentley said there has been a lot of concern with large trucks on Ochs Highway. In the past month five different trucks have been stuck at the top of the road. Additionally, a large truck hit and demolished the rock wall at the top curve of Ochs Highway. The destroyed walls were near the intersection of Fleetwood Drive and Forest Avenue.  It is across the road from where the waterfall that flows through the Gaines Campbell residence is located.

 

These roads are both owned and maintained by the city of Chattanooga.

Commissioner Bentley has met with Chattanooga officials to discuss the problems and they are working on finding a solution, he said.

 

Further down the mountain, several large trucks also got stuck trying to negotiate Nickajack Road up from Chattanooga Valley. 

 

Paul Johnson, CPA with Johnson, Murphey and Wright, told commissioners at the November meeting, “Everything in the audit report looks very good. You should be proud of the way that the city is run. It was a clean audit opinion, which is what you want." The town is in sound financial shape with the current operating account balance of $3.5 million.

 

Town Consultant Dwight Montague said since the tax bills were sent the town had already received $273,000 by the end of October. He said that Incline Railway revenue showed an increase during the month. It appears that tickets were purchased at the top station because the town receives the tax for those sales.

 

Chief Chuck Wells compiled statistics from the fire and police departments during the month that were presented to the council by Commissioner of Fire and Police Bentley. In October, police received 271 calls, patrolled 3,385 miles, responded to 10 burglar alarms (all false), answered six assist citizen calls and 28 calls to 911. There were 127 traffic stops made, 23 parking citations written, and there was one auto accident with no injuries. Two arrests were made during the month - one for a driver’s license violation and possession of marijuana and the second for criminal trespassing. There were 24 suspicious persons or vehicles investigated during the month. There were seven medical calls in Tennessee and four in Georgia. Two fire alarms were checked (both false) and there were two fire calls - one for a gas leak on West Brow Road and the other for a gas grill fire.

 

The department held fire prevention education meetings at the Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church, one at Good Shepherd Church and one at Lookout Mountain Elementary School. Chief Wells warns residents about phone scams that usually occur around Christmas. Do not give out any personal information to anyone or any business over the phone, he said. Two scam calls were reported in October.

 

If a call is made to 911 on Lookout Mountain, Chief Wells said that the call would hit the first cell tower it comes to. The caller must tell the dispatcher that they are in Lookout Mountain, Tn., and the call will be transferred to his department, he said.

 

Commissioner Bentley also asked that citizens be generous in response to the letters for the town’s annual Christmas fund for employees.

 

Commissioner of Schools Don Stinnett introduced Principal Ruth White, who told what is happening at the school. There was a Veteran’s Day celebration with speakers throughout the day. The ribbon cutting for the new primary playground will be on Sunday, Nov.18. All drainage issues on the playground have been resolved, she said. A music program at the school will take place Dec. 6 and Dec 7. The last day of school before the Christmas holiday will be Dec. 19. Ms. White said she is grateful for all that the police department does for the school. She said that she feels safe and that training has been done and a plan is in place for emergency situations. She feels that the police department is “on top of it” and one step ahead of other area schools.

 

Brooke Pippenger, commissioner of parks and playgrounds, reminds parents that sign-ups for all sports should be done at the website leagues.bluesombrero.com/lmrb. Currently sign-ups are taking place for basketball for children from Kindergarten to third grade. Practices will begin in January. Wrestling started on Nov. 13 with 14 participants. Children can still participate by calling Scott Shell at 821-6212. Flag Football has been going on with 62 players, said the commissioner, with both girls and boys participating. She would like to remind everyone not to play on the fields when it is wet and muddy because it tears up the grass.

 

The Christmas tree lighting in Tennessee, sponsored by Love Lookout, will be across Scenic Highway from The Commons and is scheduled for Friday night, Nov. 30, at 6-7 p.m. There will be singing and treats for all. The Christmas parade in Georgia will be Thursday, Nov. 29, starting at Fairyland School. Gifts and donations will be accepted along the parade route, ending with the tree lighting at city hall.

 

Public Works Commissioner Frank Schreiner said that paving has been put on hold until next spring because it cannot be done in cold and wet conditions. He said the town has a good supply of road salt on hand and arrangements have been made for more as needed. Reflectors have been put on the main roads and a new supply has been received and will be put on the secondary roads soon. Public works employees are busy collecting leaves and the two leaf machines are expected to be busy until the end of the year.

 

Two bids have been received and another is coming for replacing the drainage pipes that have caused flooding under the parking lot below the tennis courts. Walker Jones in the mayor’s report said $80,000 has been budgeted for the work  WWTA will also start on a $5 million sewer rehabilitation project in Lookout Mountain, Tn. It will patch many leaks in the sewer mains, which are primarily located in the roadways. It is expected to take about a year to complete the work, said the mayor. Concerns continue about kudzu on the mountain. Robin Carlson is getting bids for eradication on the sides of the mountain, but the town and residents on the top can handle it on their own property, said Mayor Jones. He said that more teeth may be given to the ordinance that requires landowners to be responsible for controlling it.

 

The next meeting of the Lookout Mountain, Tn. Commission will be Dec. 11 at 5 p.m.  

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