City of Lookout Mountain, Georgia

Minutes of the

REGULAR MEETING

For the

City Council of Lookout Mountain, Georgia

September 20, 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 August 16, 2007 were approved as submitted. 

CTI SEWER STUDY REPORT – Mr. Ron Key of CTI gave an overview of the sewer study previously delivered regarding the south end of the system and possible expansion requirements if potential additional developments occurred.

The areas of interest were the continued infiltration problem in Dade County that currently runs through the Covenant College system, the effect of the potential new retirement community, and the possibility of a new outfall line to Flintstone in conjunction with the retirement village. This could be a win/win scenario with Walker County, Lookout Mtn., GA., Covenant College, and the Retirement Village all benefiting.

The initial cost projections are in the 2.2 to 2.7 million dollar range.  

 

RETIREMENT CENTER PRESENTATION -   Mr. Frank Brock and Mr. Jay Stewart spoke about developing a retirement community near Covenant College. The target age would be about 55 or older. 210 acres total would be developed including a clubhouse, wellness facility, retail, commercial, small specialty grocer, and restaurant. There would be 4 phases to the community with a total of 300 units. . The 1^st phase would be retail and the townhomes. It would be a private entity. People would build their own homes within strict covenants. Mr. Brock’s company would have to come to an agreement with the Covenant College Board. Then he would come back with a purchase agreement with the College in about 6 months. The sewer issue and financing would have to be resolved before the agreement finalized.   Mr. Brock would hope to start construction in 2009.  Motion was made by Vice Mayor Eischeid to explore/discuss the sewer expansion issues, as long as it is financially feasible, to help bring the development to reality.    Councilwoman Kelley seconded. Motion was passed.  

GOLF CART/MOTORIZED VEHICLE UPDATE: Attorney Pickering has resolved that carts are motorized vehicles. The city has the authority to make certain streets or portions of the streets permissible for golf carts to operate. Under state law, golf carts can only cross at intersections designated by the local authority. The city has three options to consider 1) Do nothing; 2) Designate particular city intersections that do not involve state highways for the golf carts to cross; and 3) Develop a more comprehensive

plan where entire streets and portions of streets are designated for golf cart use and then make traffic rules pertaining to those streets. Vice Mayor Eischeid questioned the

safety of the vehicles and the liability to the city. Attorney Pickering posed two questions 1) Are you concerned it being a safety hazard in the city and 2) How much do you want to regulate these vehicles? More research will be needed and will be presented a future date.

 

APPALACHIAN TAX SERVICES UPDATE – City Attorney Pickering reviewed the contract and made a few minor changes. Mr. Rick Baxter was acceptable to the changes. Mr. Pickering will send the contract.

MILLAGE RATE – The millage rate will remain the same for 2007. Motion was passed on first reading and would be set for a second reading at the called meeting on September 27 at 7:30a.m.  

 

SEWER RATE – The last increase in the sewer rate was 2 years ago. Since then, costs have risen 5.9%. A motion was made to increase the sewer rate form $4.37 to $4.63. Motion was passed on first reading and would be set for a second reading at the called meeting on September 27 at 7:30a.m. 

 

PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY – Kleenco Construction Company came in for the lowest bid at $221,373. However, the final contract has not been awarded to them.   Councilman Pettway is looking at the possibility of utilizing our phase two funding in conjunction with phase one in order to complete phase one in it’s entirety. The final steps are now underway to award the contract as soon as possible.

 

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

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                       

                                                                        Dana Driver

                                                                        City Clerk