Minutes of the
REGULAR MEETING
For the
City of Lookout Mountain, Georgia
March 16, 2005


PRESIDING: Thomas G. Gifford, Mayor

PRESENT: Council Members Daniel Pettway, Ray Seipp, Catherine Kelley, Sandy Gothard, City Clerk Mary Katherine Harper and City Attorney Bill Pickering. Also present were Chief Wallace Taylor, Catherine Greene, Jimmy Campbell, Holly Cowart and John Tallman.

ABSENT:  Dennis Eischeid

CALLED TO ORDER: Mayor Gifford called the meeting of the City Council to order at 7:30 p.m. at 1214 Lula Lake Road, Lookout Mountain, Georgia.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  The minutes of the regular meeting held February 16, 2006 were approved as submitted.

JIM CAMPBELL & CATHERINE GREENE:  Mr. Campbell and Ms. Greene appeared before the Council to inform them of a situation they have encountered in their neighborhood where Cinderella Road and Rainbow Trail meet Wood Nymph Trail.  The couple presented photographs of a neighbor’s dog that had recently been shot with a pellet rifle and advised that their dog had also been shot with a pellet rifle in the past.  They expressed concern for other neighborhood pets, but more importantly neighborhood children who could be hit by a ricocheting bullet.  They advised that they were currently working with Chief Taylor on the matter, but wanted the Council to all be aware of the situation.

PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY:  Daniel Pettway updated the Council that there were two main components that have to be completed.  One is the easement and access agreements for each of the four property owners.  Next would be the completion of construction plans to get to the State for final approval.  Once both of those things are done the project can be put out for bid and construction can begin hopefully by July or August, but timing hinges on approval from GDOT.  Concrete is still the surface of choice for the first leg, but the issue will be revisited for the rest of the pathway.

ORDINANCE #221:  City Attorney Pickering read in its entirety an ordinance to amend the meeting time of the City Council to 5:30p.m.  A motion was duly made, seconded and unanimously approved by the Council on the first reading.




Minutes of City Council
March 16, 2006
Page 2

FIRE TRUCK:  Mayor Gifford reminded the Council that the used truck was found to be unsuitable and the Council had approved the bidding process for a new truck.  Chief Taylor advised that after comparison of several similarly equipped trucks, they had decided to recommend the Freightliner with a dealer located in Ringgold for warranty and repair work.  Upon further investigation of the engine itself, the Mercedes had been the clear choice for reasons of quality and timeliness of delivery.  He further advised that delivery time on the truck was anywhere from 90-120 days. 

With the delivery situation, the local service and the money being saved up front, Mayor Gifford asked to entertain a motion to approve the recommended fire truck.  Daniel Pettway made a motion to allow the Mayor and Chief to spend up to $150,000 at their discretion on a 2-door Freightliner Fire-Star Pumper as per the bid dated March 16, 2006.  Catherine Kelley seconded the motion and all present voted in favor of the purchase of the new truck. 

Chief Taylor informed the Council that David Ashburn had donated eight breathing apparatus from Walker County’s surplus.  The only expense to the L.M.F.D. is the mask itself.  He further informed that he was working with David Ashburn on immediate communication with the Lookout Mountain, Tennessee officers for back up.  He presented an agreement with parameters for use and advised that this was a trial period to see if the radios would function properly.  Mr. Pickering advised that the Council would need to approve the agreement.  A motion duly made by Mr. Pettway, seconded by Ms. Kelley was unanimously approve to share the 911 frequencies.

FORD TOUR de GEORGIA:  Mayor Gifford informed the Council that the closer the event drew the more information was being revealed.  He had ascertained that the main venues would be Chickamauga and Chattanooga and we were merely a pass-thru.  He asked the media to please report the April 20 date, the web site, the impending road closure, and the need for volunteers.  He reported that the City could have up to 2,000 spectators, and a great number of amateur riders before the race starts.  Fairyland School will be in the midst of state testing but should be done around the time the cyclists begin riding by, so a field day has been planned to get the kids involved.  The volunteer fire department plans to set up Assistant Chief Cross’ concession trailer as a fund raising event.  On the same note, he advised that the Three State Three Mountain Century Ride had taken the cap off the number of entries and were expecting around 2,000 bikes coming through the City on May 6.  He further advised that he had asked the representatives to pay additional City officers to monitor the main intersection as this could last six hours.

CITY HALL RENOVATIONS:  Mayor Gifford stated that there had not been any developments with the renovation project, but he and Ms. Kelley planned to devote some time to this in the coming month and would report progress next month.

Minutes of City Council
March 16, 2006
Page 3


There being no further business to come before the Council the meeting was there upon adjourned.                                                             

Respectfully submitted,
Tom Gifford
 Mayor



Attest:______________________________
          Mary Katherine Harper
          City Clerk