Minutes of the
MEETING
For the
City Council of Lookout Mountain, Georgia
January 18, 2007
PRESIDING: Thomas G. Gifford, Mayor
PRESENT: Council Members Sandy Gothard, Dennis Eischeid, Catherine Kelley and Daniel Pettway; City Clerk Mary Katherine Harper, Chief Wallace Taylor and City Attorney William Pickering.
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 December 21, 2006 were approved as submitted.
Michele Johnson - Requested a Privilege license for the operation of a digital photography business from her home. After establishing it met all the guidelines, the Council approved the license.
Karen Persinger – On the recommendation of the Municipal Planning Commission, the appointment of Karen Persinger was approved by the Council with appreciation for her willingness to serve the community.
Sarge Allison - The Council also approved the renewal of the appointment of Sarge Allison to the Municipal Planning Commission and several expressed their appreciation for his willingness to continue to serve.
STORMWATER: Mayor Gifford presented the monthly stormwater report updating the Council that the Phase II Stormwater Annual Report has been submitted to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. A planning session for the continuation of our Stormwater plan and procedures is being scheduled for February.
SEWER STUDY - Mayor Gifford reviewed the need for an updated sewer study on the south end of the system encompassing from Covenant College and around Wood Nymph Trail. He explained the pending development on Wood Nymph as well as additional property that are on the market in the study area mandate the need for this. As allowed by ordinance the cost would be shared by developers of these areas. After discussion a proposal from Consolidated Technologies Inc. to do the study was approved at an amount not to exceed $9,000.
PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY - Daniel Pettway confirmed that the closing on the property in front of the Methodist Church was completed. He also presented copies of the “checklist” of requirement associated with the Grant in order to proceed. He confirmed we are down to the last several steps before we can actually put the first phase out for bids. He is still optimistic this can happen for late spring or early summer construction to begin. Appreciation or his continued work on this project was expressed by all.
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS – Following the recommendations of the Board, the council approved the appointment of Kenneth Hailey – chairman, Joe McGinnis – vice-chairman, and Tim Cocker was appointed as a new member.
POLICE REPORT - Chief Taylor reported on severalthefts from vehicles on both the TN & GA sides of the mountain. Through the reporting press present, he urged citizen’s to keep their cars locked and not to leave their purses or other valuables in their cars.
ROAD SIGNS – Mayor Gifford reported that a review of our road and street signs had clearly shown the need for immediate action to replace both functionally ineffective signs as well as some that were aesthetically very unattractive. This was also a requirement reported in our Risk Management Assessment just completed.
It was moved, seconded, and passed to approve $2,500 for replacing both street and road signs as needed.
PERSONEL MANUAL – City Attorney Bill Pickering presented copies of the current personnel and policy manual for the Council’s review. He had made some changes to bring the manual in line with current laws and practices. After general discussion, it was agreed that all would review the manual and make any suggestions to the Mayor and/or the City Attorney. It will then be presented at another meeting for approval.
At the conclusion of the regular meeting, the Mayor called the meeting into Executive Session and the regular meeting was closed.
Respectfully submitted,
Tom Gifford
Mayor