Minutes of the
REGULAR MEETING
For the
City Council of Lookout Mountain, Georgia
April 21, 2008
PRESIDING: Thomas G. Gifford, Mayor
PRESENT: Council Members Dennis Eischeid, Daniel Pettway, Sandy Gothard, Ray Seipp, Catherine Kelley, City Clerk Dana Driver, City Attorney Bill Pickering, and Chief Wallace Taylor.
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Gifford called the meeting of the City Council to order at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 1214 Lula Lake Road, Lookout Mountain, Georgia.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the regular meeting held on March 20, 2008 were approved as submitted.
The minutes of the called meeting held on April 7, 2008 were approved as submitted.
CITY PLANNING – Mayor Gifford announced that the council has voted to approve a contract with the Walker Collaborative for town center plan for the City of Lookout Mountain, Georgia. The process will begin May 1st with a series of stakeholder meetings throughout the day with business owners, real estate professionals, and citizens concluding that evening with a public kickoff meeting. Public Charrettes would be held May 13th. The Walker Collaborative would use the days of May 14th and 15th as workdays to work on the draft plan. Another public meeting would be held May 15th to present the draft plan of the town center. The final planning process should take no longer than 45 days and will cost the City $31,760 with an additional $5,000 for possible additional cost that may arise. Mr. Scott Maclellan, owner of property included in the redesign area, urged the Council to not delay in the planning process. The Mayor assured Mr. Maclellan that the quick time frame of 45 days was part of the planning process and would hope Mr. Maclellan would participate in the planning process.
PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY UPDATE – Councilman Pettway informed the Council that 4 bids were received to install the wiring and new lamp posts on the Pedestrian Pathway. Motion was made, seconded and approved to accept the bid from Adman Electric in the amount of $6,900 for the wiring and installation of the new lampposts.
Councilman Pettway also told the Council that one of two grants had been received to pay for the pathway. The city has received the $136,000 and the $120,000 would be received after we had spent the money for the lampposts and electrical installation. The total cost of the pathway was $334,000 and the City would only pay about 25% of the total cost.
The 1st phase of the pathway is nearly complete. The second phase would take the pathway north to the state line. The third phase will take the pathway South to Wood Nymph Trail. The cost of the last 2 phases is estimated at approximately 1.2 million dollars.
APPOINTMENT TO BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS - Mayor Gifford stated that there was a vacancy on the Board of Zoning Appeals. Mr. Jerome Taylor, former Mayor of Ridgeside and now a Lookout Mountain resident, had been nominated and agreed to serve on the Variance Board. The motion was made, seconded and approved to accept the nomination of Mr. Taylor to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
MONTHLY STORMWATER & SEWER REPORT - Copies of the current storm water activity report were distributed to the Council. A copy of which is attached.
FIRE & POLICE REPORT – Police Chief Wallace Taylor informed the Council that the new fire truck is out of service due to the failure of the hydraulic pumping system. Walker County has lent the City a fire truck as a spare until the new truck can be repaired.
Chief Taylor also informed the Council that Assistant Police Chief Ray Cross is out on medical leave and that Officer Adam Hurst has resigned to accepted a position as a school resource officer in Dayton City, TN.
City Clerk Dana Driver reported that the sales of decals have been slow. The decals that cost $3 a vehicle will increase to $10 a vehicle beginning June 1. Warning citations will be given in May for the decals. Ms. Driver also asked for clarification of who can purchase decals. All city residents and non-residents on Scenic to Maggie Bluff and Krupski Loop can purchase decals.
The Council discussed that with the growing season upon us, that residents need to start cutting hedges, mowing lawns, and trees may need to be trimmed to avoid obstructing driver’s view of the roadway. Citations will be given for non-operational cars with out of
date tags.
MAYORS REPORT - Mayor Gifford reminded the Council that we would be approving the new budget in June. The Council will probably approve the budget on the first reading in June and then have a called meeting to approve the 2nd reading a week later.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONTRACT FOR SPECIAL SALES TAX: Mayor Gifford and Mr. Pickering advised the Council that a special election would be held on July 15, 2008, to determine whether the special 1% sales and use tax would be imposed in Walker County for an additional six years. The special sales tax would raise an estimated $38,000,000 to fund various capital outlay projects in Walker County. The City of Lookout Mountain would receive 2.87% of the total proceeds collected and would be authorized to use the funds for capital outlay projects specified on the special election ballot and in an Intergovernmental Project Contract to be executed among Walker County and the municipalities in the county. Mayor Gifford and Mr. Pickering presented the proposed Intergovernmental Contract to the Council and recommended its approval. A copy of the Intergovernmental Contract is attached to these minutes and is incorporated herein. Motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved that the attached Intergovernmental Contract be approved and that the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to execute the contract and any related documents on behalf of the City of Lookout Mountain, Georgia.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Dana Driver
City Clerk