Minutes of the
CALLED MEETING
For the
City Council of Lookout Mountain, Georgia
January 29, 2009
PRESIDING: Thomas G. Gifford, Mayor
PRESENT: Council Members Dennis Eischeid, Sandy Gothard, Catherine Kelley, David Fussell, Acting City Attorney Michael Stewart, and City Clerk, Dana Driver.
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 December 18, 2008 were approved as submitted.
APPLICATION FOR A PRIVILEGE LICENSE – Carol Brown presented a request for a privilege license to operate an interior design business out of her home at 315 Knight Lane. There would be no signage outside and no customers would be coming to her home. After discussion and confirmation her business met the city guidelines it was moved, seconded and approved to grant the license as requested.
CITY COUNCIL VACANT SEAT – The Mayor recommended to the Council that David Bennett be appointed to fill the Council seat formerly held by Daniel Pettway. Mr. Bennett’s term would be through December 31, 2009. David Fussell seconded Dennis Eischeid’s motion to appoint David Bennett and all present voted yes to appoint Mr. Bennett to the City Council. Mayor Gifford administered the oath of office to Mr. Bennett and was invited to take a seat with the Council.
1827 LULA LAKE RD. REZONING ORDINANCE – Acting City Attorney Michael Stewart presented an ordinance to the Council to rezone the 3 parcels totaling 7.61 acres including the 2 recently purchased by the City from Single Family District to Municipal District. This purchase, part of the overall town center plan was made in order to be able to relocate the Public Works Department and the Sewer facilities department. .Motion was made by Dennis Eischeid, seconded by Catherine Kelley and the Ordinance to rezone 1827 Lula Lake Road from Single Family District to Municipal District was passed on first reading.
SPLOST BOND DISTRIBUTION / NEW SPLOST ACCOUNTS – The Mayor announced to the Council that the City received the minimum of $769,451 from the new SPLOST which would last over the next six years. Motion was made, seconded and approved to open an interest bearing account at Capital Mark Bank for the SPLOST funds. Catherine Kelly, Dennis Eischeid, David Fussell and the Mayor as signors, and two signatures are required for withdrawal made from the account.
PUD UPDATE – NO ACTION OR DISCUSSION – The Mayor thanked members of the Planning Commission for their hard work on drafting the proposed PUD (Planned Unit Development) for the City. He also thanked the citizens that had provided their input into the PUD planning process. The Planning Commission will meet February 5, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. to have a working session to work on proposed PUD. They will send their recommendations to the Council when they are finished.
MONTHLY/ ANNUAL STORMWATER & SEWER REPORT – Catherine Fox, the City’s storm water consultant submitted the City’s annual storm water report on January 28, 2009. Copies of the current storm water activity report were distributed to the Council a copy of which is attached.
TOWN CENTER UPDATE – The Mayor talked to Scott Maclellan and slowly progress is being made on the Town Center.
MAYOR’S REPORT
1) The Mayor reported that 19 of the City’s volunteer firefighters responded to the house fire on the Tennessee side. There were no injuries and no other damage to the surrounding houses, but the Crevasse’s house was severely damaged. The Mayor praised the City’s fire department and the mutual aid between the different departments.
2) There have been several burglaries in the area on the Tennessee side. The Mayor reminded all citizens to lock their cars and doors.
3) The Mayor announced that some equipment needs in the City’s street department might be arising in the next few months.
4) The City is still waiting on Walker County to finish painting road lins due to equipment failures and bad weather.
5) The leaves are still being picked up with workers putting overtime.
6) There is still approximately $55,000 in outstanding taxes. Second notices will be going out next week.
7) The Mayor asked City Clerk Dana Driver to provide the Council members with a 6-month financial statement. The City is still staying on budget after 6 months including sales tax revenues.
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They’re being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Dana Driver