The amendment of an ordinance pertaining to solicitation was approved on first reading, at the Lookout Mountain, Tn. Commission meeting Tuesday night. Because of freedom of speech rights, groups or individuals that want to discuss religious, moral or political issues must be allowed to go door-to-door. The town does have the right to require a permit for anyone asking for donations or attempting to sell something. The permit cost is $50 and the application must be made 15 days prior to beginning solicitations. This gives the police time enough to do a background check on an individual.
The change to the ordinance also provides that a resident can display a blue sticker on their mailbox which functions as a no solicitation notice. When a permit is obtained, the holder will be informed of the stickers. Once their presence on the mountain is known to the police, individuals that are not required to have a permit will be notified of the blue stickers and what they mean. The blue stickers are available from the dispatch desk at city hall.
Modifications were also made to ordinances in order to bring the town into compliance concerning cell phone towers. Antennae that transmit radio communication, primarily used for beepers, are now located at the Incline station and Point Park. The amendment approved Tuesday night will permit no more of these to be built on the mountain.
Applications for more cell phone towers, however, will be allowed because of the increased use of cell phones, streaming and smart phones. By federal law, the town cannot restrict companies from servicing their needs and completing their networks, but it can regulate the appearance and location of any new towers.
Municipal properties will be the preferred location, however, a tower could be allowed on any land as long as the requirements of the ordinance concerning setbacks from lot lines and buildings are met. Town Attorney Brian Smith said there are only two private properties large enough and he is confident the owners would not allow one to be located on their land. Mayor Carol Mutter said if two or more companies pursue the construction of a tower, all will be reviewed and a public meeting will be held. It is hoped that one tower can supply the needs of multiple companies and improve service on the mountain.
Mayor Mutter gave an update to the security project for the mountain. The plan to position cameras at the access and exit points on Lookout Mountain has already received $21,200 in donations. The cameras will not be bought with town funds and a letter will be sent to residents in both Tennessee and Georgia to raise the remainder of the $75,000 cost of equipment. The mayor said the cameras will be used only to deter criminal activity, not for issuing traffic tickets or to follow people.
The mayor also announced the annual employee Christmas breakfast will be held Dec. 12 at 7 a.m. at the golf club. This tradition headed by George McGee has been going on for 50 years.
Town Consultant Dwight Montague told the commissioners that property taxes had started to come in and that repairs to the deck and siding on the city hall were nearing completion. Park benches and picnic tables have been ordered using money from the beautification fund, and the Lookout Mountain Promotion project has made some progress, but not as fast as had been anticipated.
The amended budget ordinance was approved on second reading for $180,000 to be used for street projects. This money will all come from the State Street Aid fund which is restricted to road improvements.
For the third year in a row, the town has seen a decrease in the cost of medical insurance, Mr. Montague said. This year there will be a cost reduction of nine percent. This has been accomplished with changes such as increasing deductibles and emergency room care co-payments for the employees, with the town paying the difference, and increasing routine co-payments by five dollars.
Commissioner of Schools Don Stinnett told of all the activity surrounding Lookout Mountain School. Benchmark testing for math is currently being done and mid-term reports will go out this month. Recently, the fifth grade was treated to a day trip to Camp Alpine and a Veterans Day celebration took place at the school on Monday. A grandparent has donated a mirror for the entry to the school so office personnel can see people entering the building from the front door. School will be out the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The next PTA meeting will be Jan. 28. Commissioner Stinnett wanted to remind supporters of the school to save the night of March 1 for the fundraising event “Night out for Lookout” which will be at the Fairyland Club.
Joe Hailey, commissioner of parks and playgrounds, reported on the progress being made involving the tennis courts. The plans and specs are now in state hands for approval. They are expected to be back to the city in the next few weeks and should be ready to go out to bid by the new year.
Work on the sidewalk project continues, said Commissioner of Public Works Walker Jones. A couple of hundred additional yards should be completed to the Georgia state line by the end of next week.
Fire and Police Commissioner Ernie Minges read the department statistics that Chief Randy Bowden complied, saying it was a fairly calm month. During October, the police answered 119 calls, patrolled 3,979 miles, responded to 21 burglar alarms, all false, and to 19 911 calls. There were four assist citizen calls, five auto accidents (one with injuries), 24 traffic stops, two thefts and no burglaries. Response was made to 12 medical calls in Tennessee and six that were in Georgia as well as two false burglar alarms.
“Stop signs are not optional,” said Commissioner Minges. He also reminded pedestrians and drivers to be aware of one another, and to remove mountain stickers before selling a car.