Fairyland Elementary School has received the highest ranking in the history of the school. The CCRPI testing score reported by the Georgia Department of Education was 97.7. That placed the school as the 12th best school out of 2,200 schools in the state of Georgia and the ninth best of all elementary schools. Caroline Williams, Lookout Mountain, Ga., Council member and PTO president for 2019, gave credit to the teachers, staff and the community which supports the school.
The Laurelwood Garden Club was thanked for helping with landscaping needs at the school, funded by the sale of the holiday mailbox decorations. This year 30 trees were planted around the school and members of the garden club weeded all around the school, fields and the playground.
Community volunteers Jimmy Campbell and Kenny Lee are responsible for getting an $85,000 grant from the Riverview Foundation that will be used to build a trail between Fairyland Elementary and Carter Field. This is the first step to enhance connectivity in the town and to build paths that can be used by people of all ages. The next trail that will be worked on will go to Covenant College. It is expected to be this time next year before work on it can begin, said Mr. Campbell.
Council member Taylor Watson said that a consultant has been hired to determine how to eradicated kudzu on the mountain and the joint effort of the garden clubs, the National Park Service and the Forest Service will be prioritized according to his recommendations.
The rec board shared jointly with Lookout Mountain Tn., wants to purchase a top dresser that will be used to aerate and spread sand on sports fields. The cost of the equipment is $10,413 and the rec board will pay half. The two towns have been asked to split the cost. Approval was given to contribute toward buying the equipment.
Final approval was given to rezoning that will create a Town Center Zone. It will delineate permitted uses, establish requirements for the buildings and compliance with the design guidelines. There have been around a dozen entities interested in building the new city hall and fire station. The bid opening will be Nov. 21 at 2 p.m.
It appears that the crackdown by police is working, said Council member Watson. Fewer traffic stops and citations for speeding and running stop signs were given during October. During the month police patrolled 3,126 miles, made two traffic stops and gave six citations, 20 warnings and responded to five auto accidents. There were 18 burglar alarms in October but no burglaries or thefts. Officers gave assistance to 11 citizens, five motorists and the Lookout Mountain Tn. Police five times during the month. Three suspicious persons and six suspicious vehicles were investigated. There were five fire calls and four medical calls answered.
Mayor David Bennett said that asbestos remediation on the Sims property is finished. One building that was too dangerous to enter will be demolished next week. He warns residents that the trash ordinance is being enforced. Anything left on the street that is not in garbage cans will not be picked up. He said that is why a dumpster is provided.
Approval was given to create another job in the town. The position will be split between the public works and the sewer department.
Miscellaneous expenses include a cross-walk that has been striped across McFarland Road in front of Fairyland Pharmacy and a solar powered blinking light that will be added. One of the primary office areas in the Methodist Church that the town will be using during construction of the Town Center has no heat or air conditioning. The council approved the purchase of a mini split HVAC unit for $3,100 to use in that office. New Christmas lights costing $3,380 were also approved.
The town’s Christmas parade with Santa will be on Dec. 3. Unwrapped toys for children in Walker County will be picked up along the route, or toys can be dropped off at city hall. After the parade the Christmas tree lighting will take place around 6:30.
Paul Johnson, CPA with Johnson, Murphey and Wright, gave the annual year end audit report for the year ending June 30, 2019. A concern was that the sewer fund had a loss of $60,000 but he said otherwise, it was a clean report.
The next meeting of the Lookout Mountain, Ga., City Council will be at 5:30 on Dec. 12.