Minutes of the

REGULAR MEETING

For the

City Council of Lookout Mountain, Georgia

October 18, 2007

 

PRESIDING: Thomas G. Gifford, Mayor

 

PRESENT: Council Members Dennis Eischeid, Catherine Kelley, Sandy Gothard, 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 September 20, 2007 were approved as submitted. 

 

DR. BILL MOORE SMITH:  Dr. Smith was present to request a privilege license to open a medical practice in the office space next to the Fairyland Pharmacy. After discussion and establishing he held all necessary medical licenses to practice in Georgia, his request was approved. The Council welcomed him and thanked him for bringing his services to the community.

 

PAUL JOHNSON: Mr. Johnson presented his audit report for FY ’06-07 with all state standards having been met. He explained the city was in a sound financial position and for the year ending June 30, 2007 a positive result of a $143,767 increase in net assets was achieved.  Copies of the audited financial report were given to the Council.

RESOLUTION: The council adopted a resolution stating the City of Lookout Mountain, Georgia approved and adopted the document entitled: Joint City-County Comprehensive Plan Update 2007-2027: Community Agenda for Walker County and the Cities of Chickamauga, Lafayette, Lookout Mountain, and Rossville.

GOLF CART/MOTORIZED VEHICLE UPDATE: After a continueddiscussion from last month, the council decided to develop minimal standards for use of golf carts. Attorney Pickering will draft an ordinance reflecting these standards and will present it at next month’s council meeting.  

 

COMCAST LICENSE AGREEMENT:   The council approved a 10 year non –exclusive franchise agreement with Comcast, subject to Attorney Pickering’s final review and consideration. The non-exclusive agreement would allow residents to obtain cable TV services from other providers as they came available.

STORMWATER & SEWER REPORT:  Mayor Gifford distributed the current storm water activity report.

 

PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY: The council approved the construction contract with Kleenco Construction and work should begin the 1^st week of November. In addition, the council approved the GDOT supplement agreement to take the additional $120K slated for Phase II and apply it to Phase I of the pathway. The following resolution was passed:

 

 

Mayor Gifford requested a motion that was made, seconded, and passed to allow Walker County to take the lead for the planning and execution of the 2010 census. All municipalities in the county have agreed to this.

 

The mayor informed the Council that he had authorized $2,500 for a professional appraisal of the City Hall property in conjunction with Scott Maclellan’s property. The purpose is to help in the determination of the best land use of the downtown area for re-development.

 

The Mayor updated the council on the proposed state legislation referred to as, “The Great Plan”. He pointed out that it could be disastrous for local municipal communities such as Lookout Mountain due to the loss of control and almost certain shortfall of our revenue. The mayor urged citizens to contact their local representative, Martin Scott and their state senator, Jeff Mullis to express opposition to this bill.

 

The mayor also reported that the 2007 tax bills were going out as well as delinquent tax bill letters for those in arrear before turning them over to Appalachian Tax Services for further action.

 

The council also agreed to continue the modest refurbishing of City Hall along previously established guidelines and budgets.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                       

                                                                        Dana Driver

                                                                        City Clerk