City of Lookout Mountain, Georgia

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


PRESIDING: Thomas G. Gifford, Mayor

PRESENT: Council Members Ray Seipp, Catherine Kelley, Sandy Gothard, City Clerk Mary Katherine Harper and City Attorney Bill Pickering. Also present were Chief Wallace Taylor, Judith Dean and John Tallman.

ABSENT:  Daniel Pettway and 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 January 19, 2006 were approved as submitted.

PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY:  Mayor Gifford informed the Council that the City had been awarded $120,000 in grant money for Phase II and Daniel Pettway would continue to pursue more.  He referenced an email from Mr. Pettway suggesting that Phase I be stretched to Oberon and the Highway 157 intersection put on hold.  All agreed that this would free more funds for the pathway, and lengthening it would increase visibility, creating interest to begin effort toward capital funding. Catherine Kelley made a motion per Mr. Pettway’s update, seconded by Ray Seipp and all present voted in favor of Mr. Pettway’s pathway revisions.

BUILDING PERMITS/PRIVILEGE LICENSE FEES:  A new Ordinance to amend and restate the schedule of fees charged by the City of Lookout Mountain, Georgia for building permits and other purposes, was read in its entirety by City Attorney Pickering and passed on its second and final reading.

FAIRY BAKERY:  Judith Dean appeared before the Council requesting a privilege license to open a bakery in the available space next door to City Hall.  City Attorney Pickering advised that although the ordinance did not have a bakery listed the use complies with several other ventures listed and he felt comfortable recommending it for approval.  Catherine Kelley seconded the motion duly made by Ray Seipp and the vote was unanimous to grant the privilege license to Ms. Dean. 





Minutes of City Council
February 16, 2006
Page 2

MAYOR’S REPORT: 

Mayor Gifford reported that the preliminary estimates to renovate City Hall came in higher than expected but we were still going to pursue grants.  He hoped that by the March meeting we would be able to report on the grant with City Clerk Harper adding that she had learned that GMA could provide contractors at a discounted rate for members.  

Mayor Gifford informed the Council that the public works department had been out before first light and had spent all weekend with some even staying overnight to keep our roads in good shape and asked that they be publicly recognized for their efforts.

Chief Taylor reported on the fire truck that was being considered for purchase at the last meeting advising that he had Chief Bill Eaves of the Rossville Fire Department inspect the truck and upon further inspection had discovered that the rear end was too light and the control panel that had appeared so attractive had no manual override if something were to malfunction.  There were a few additional reasons that convinced Chief Taylor and Dennis Eischeid that this was not an appropriate truck for Lookout Mountain.  After looking extensively at used vehicles, he suggested that the savings did not appear to be worth the chances of taking on someone else’s headache and suggested that it was worth the extra investment to purchase a new vehicle with a warranty.  Mayor Gifford asked for the Council’s consent for Chief Taylor to further investigate the purchase of a new truck, while still being aware of available used ones, and with all in agreement the matter was tabled for further investigation. 

Mayor Gifford reported that Clerk Harper and either Chief Taylor or he had attended two Tour de Georgia meetings with only minimal information shared so far, but we would report more at the next meeting as the April 20th race approached.  So far we have learned that we would need at least 50-60 volunteers to assist with traffic and other assorted duties.  These volunteers have to be a minimum age of 18 and will need to fill out an application at City Hall to participate.  City Clerk advised that Lookout Mountain had the exclusive opportunity of having our school on the route and it would be a wonderful occasion to involve the PTO and have the students participate in some way.  She further advised that there was a link to the Tour de Georgia web site on the Walker County Chamber of Commerce’s web site.

Mayor Gifford informed the Council that at the financial statement still appeared to be in good shape with the sewer department already surpassing the new projected revenue. 

He referenced an interest expressed at the last meeting to officially change the meeting time of the City Council.  After minimal discussion, Ray Seipp made a motion to have City Attorney Pickering draft and ordinance to change the meeting time to 6:00p.m., seconded by Catherine Kelley with all in favor.

Minutes of City Council
February 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