Baseball and softball on Lookout Mountain started with the annual parade on April 23 and will continue until the end of May when the baseball All-Star season will begin. This year Lookout Mountain, Tn., will host the seven- and eight-year-old Dixie Youth District Tournament for the All-Stars baseball season at Johnston Field on June 24-29.
The field has a new scoreboard that is wonderful, said Commissioner of Parks and Playgrounds Brooke Pippenger at the May meeting of the Lookout Mountain, Tn.
Commission. It is now high enough to be visible, she said. Also, concessions will be available this year at the games. Eric Wood, owner of Talus, will be bringing food and drinks to sell for breakfast and lunch. He will be at the ball field for the first time this coming weekend as a trial and has agreed to be at the tournaments.
Commons Camp will be from June 6 until July 22. Registration forms have been sent home in backpacks, but they will also be available at town hall. Camp for four- and five-year-olds will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. with Gwen Tugman in charge. It will be held every weekday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. for kids ages six to 12. Scott Schell will supervise both groups with the addition of two or three counselors that will float between the age groups. Children can also just show up for a single day of activities.
Lookout Mountain Elementary is also getting ready for special summer programs. The library will be open 100 hours in June and July with Lee Cook in charge, thanks to the town funding this program. Camp Invention led by Bryan Mann will take place from July 18-July 22 at the school. Important upcoming dates are Field Day on May 23, Awards Day on May 24, Graduation on May 25, the last day of classes on May 26 and report cards can be picked up on May 27. “This has been a great year. I applaud the teachers, Ruth and the PTA who all accomplished great things,” said Commissioner of Schools Don Stinnett. The new greenhouse donated by Lookout Mountain Beautiful Garden Club is essentially complete now and will be ready for the beginning of school next year.
Several employees will not be returning. Margie Parker, who has been custodial head at the school 19 ½ years, and Ellen Bullard, who has taught for 21 years, are both retiring and were honored at a reception Tuesday night. Music teacher for the past seven years Heather Shaw as well as Katherine Wade and Ann Henley Perry will also be leaving. Two new teachers have already been hired with other interviews scheduled.
The fire and police department report was given by Commissioner of Fire and Police Jim Bentley. Statistics from the departments during April that were compiled by Chief Randy Bowden show that police answered 119 calls, responded to 18 false burglar alarms, 18 assist citizen calls and 15 calls to 911. During the month, police patrolled 4,012 miles, dealt with 21 traffic stops, four auto accidents, and one theft. There were 16 medical calls, eight lift assists and two fire alarms that were false.
Commissioner Bentley brought attention to complaints about people using leaf blowers and lawnmowers before 8 a.m. The town ordinance restricts use of this equipment. They are allowed from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. or sunset Monday through Saturday. Hours on Sunday are from noon until 8 p.m. or sunset. Construction is restricted to the hours of 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Chief Bowden reported that there has been positive response to the new pole-mounted speed signs that are being moved around the mountain. Car thefts have been occurring in other cities around the Chattanooga area but no thefts yet on Lookout Mountain. To prevent any from occurring, Mayor Carol Mutter wants to remind all residents to lock car doors.
The public works department is routinely picking up brush, cleaning ditches and repairing potholes. The department will also soon be working on a special project to help May Mitchell and the garden clubs that help beautify the mountain to clean up troubled spots. Ms. Mitchell said that areas around the Commons and the terraced area proposed for a cell phone tower are a mess. She requested assistance to clean out that area so it can be planted in grass, which will make it easier to maintain. There also are dead or leaning trees around the mountain that need to be removed, she said. Commissioner of Public Works Walker Jones will have his department do what is possible and hire out what they cannot do.
The April financial report is pretty much as expected, said Town Consultant Dwight Montague. The second PTA payment of $95,000 has been received, which completes obligations for the year, he said. The amended 2016 budget that has been adjusted for unexpected expenses was given approval on first reading. Items that were added after the budget was finalized include costs related to Pat Fricks retiring and the grant the town gave her for working there 35 years. Samantha Van Alstyne was given added responsibilities after the retirement of Ms. Fricks, so her pay was adjusted, requiring a change to the original budget. The two new speed signs were estimated to cost $5,000, but the actual amount was higher so the budget amendment was changed to $5,500. Money for the first $5,000 was paid for by a Governor’s Highway Safety Grant. County Commissioner Joe Graham donated money to repair Navarre Pavilion, which freed up the money that the town had budgeted for that renovation. This allowed the town to give $12,500 to the Lookout Mountain School’s computer technology fund. The first reading of the budget for fiscal year 2016-2017 will take place at the June commission meeting.
Two variances were given approval. On second reading, Chip Rennick received permission to build a house on a narrow lot on South Forrest Avenue utilizing easements from the adjacent property owner. Mike Kitzman was approved for a variance to build a porch on the front of his house at the corner of Scenic Highway and Franklin Road. The porch will be two feet closer to the house next door and three feet closer to the street than is allowed in the town code. A letter giving permission has been submitted by the next-door neighbor.
Both the baseball parade and the King of the Mountain Road Race were successful, said Mayor Mutter. She also expressed disappointment in the reduction of the state Hall Income Tax, which will affect the town’s budget. She encourages all residents to support the local businesses and restaurants. “We need to keep them,” she said.
The next meeting of the Lookout Mountain, Tn. Commission is scheduled for June 14 at 5 p.m.