City of Lookout Mountain, Georgia

Minutes of the
REGULAR MEETING
For the
City of Lookout Mountain, Georgia
April 20, 2006


PRESIDING: Thomas G. Gifford, Mayor

PRESENT: Council Members Daniel Pettway, Ray Seipp, Dennis Eischeid, Sandy Gothard, City Clerk Mary Katherine Harper and Acting City Attorney Bill Crutchfield. Also present were Chief Wallace Taylor, Patten Smith, Tom Jones, Taylor Watson, Holly Cowart and John Tallman.

ABSENT:  Catherine Kelley

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 March 16, 2006 were approved as submitted.

PATTEN SMITH:  Mr. Smith addressed the Council on behalf of the Lookout Mountain Golf Club advising that after it was brought to his attention by the garden clubs that the privet hedge planned for the north border along Rock City Trail was in fact an invasive species, the privet hedge was abandoned.  He then presented a survey showing that the easement behind Rock City Trail was actually owned by the homeowners and the hedge had been sited accordingly.  He further advised that the club did intend to plant something there but wanted to assure the Council that it would be non-invasive and on their property.

PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY:  Daniel Pettway informed the Council that after several attempts to convince the Lookout Mountain Methodist Church to donate the 10’ easement along Lula Lake Road had been denied he needed to engage a GDOT approved appraiser.  It took 45 days to obtain a name, but Wade Cowan had submitted a bid of $1,250 to do the work.  He then made a motion, seconded by Dennis Eischeid and the vote was unanimous to hire Mr. Cowan to do the appraisal.

ORDINANCE #221:  Acting City Attorney Bill Crutchfield 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 second and final reading.

PLANNING COMMISSION:  Mayor Gifford referenced the minutes of the April Planning Commission Meeting recommending that the Council amend Ordinance #127 to deem all invasive weeds listed by the Georgia Invasive Species Task Force a nuisance.  Mayor Gifford suggested that the Council take time to investigate this further.
Minutes of City Council
April 20, 2006
Page 2

Taylor Watson clarified the term invasive plant defining it as a non-native species and explaining that the garden clubs were trying to prevent any further planting of these species.

Mr. Crutchfield advised that the City had defined kudzu as a nuisance and could add other invasive species to the list to curtail future planting.  He presented a proposed draft of an amendment to Ordinance #127 including the species listed by the Georgia Invasive Species Task Force.  The Invasive Plants of Chattanooga publication had not been made available to him and he requested time to consider this as well.  Mayor Gifford agreed that the Council needed time to do research and the matter was tabled.

SENIOR CITIZEN DAY:  Mayor Gifford advised that May 17th had been designated Senior Citizen Day in Walker County and asked to entertain a motion to adopt the proclamation recognizing this.  The motion was made, seconded and the vote was unanimous to have Vice Mayor Eischeid present the proclamation.

DECALS:  Mayor Gifford informed the Council that decals would go on sale April 21st and enforcement would begin June 1st.

TOUR DE GEORGIA:  Mayor Gifford reported that the Tour de Georgia had been a great success and the City had made wonderful contacts and learned a great deal that could be applied next year to make the event even better.  He commended the entire City staff, volunteer fire department and additional officers from Tennessee for their hard work preparing and securing the City.  Mr. Pettway thanked Ms. Harper on behalf of the PTO for the t-shirts worn by all the children at Fairyland School.

FIRE TRUCK:  Mayor Gifford advised that the contract for the new fire truck had been signed and delivery was expected at the end of August.

BUDGET:  Mayor Gifford stated that he wanted the Council to begin preparation of the FY 06-07 budget so that first reading could take place at the regular May meeting and the second in June.  He advised that the current budget was still in good shape with a surprise SPLOST distribution of $40,000 arriving this month. 

GRANTS:  Mayor Gifford informed the Council that the City had two grant applications being considered currently.  One was for the renovations at City Hall and the other was a Homeland Security Grant for fire equipment.

STORMWATER:  Ray Seipp submitted a proposal from Fox Environmental to prepare state mandated reports and keep the City in compliance, which he advised was well worth the money.  He stated that he wanted to get some proposals from other firms, and Brad Haven was researching this and they would report back.
Minutes of City Council
April 20, 2006
Page 3

BLINKING LIGHT AT SOCCER FIELD:  Mr. Eischeid suggested that the City consider adding a blinking light to slow traffic during events at the soccer field.  Mr. Pettway expressed concern over responsibility of operation of the light.  Because the road is a state route GDOT would have to be consulted.

DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES:  Mr. Pettway expressed concern over the firm taking donations for defibrillators.  He took issue with the way that they represented themselves as if they were with the Walker County Rescue Squad instead of a private firm who would most likely take the lion’s share of the proceeds.  He advised that the City should reconsider its policy on door-to-door solicitation.  Mr. Eischeid committed to look into the matter with Chief Taylor and report back next month.

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