Certification for fire and police departments in Lookout Mountain, Ga., and Lookout Mountain, Tenn., is different, said Dennis Eischeid, fire and police commissioner for the Georgia town.
Mayor Jim Ensign has heard state-level government leaders are looking at similar steps to combine city services statewide to save money.
Ensign said, “On Oct. 7, Tom Gifford and I will meet with Jim Sunquist of the University of Georgia.”
If the cities combine departments, no Georgia employees will be terminated, officials said.
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Eischeid said Lookout Mountain, Ga., police and fire departments stay more active by writing more tickets and catching more criminals than authorities in Lookout Mountain, Tenn.
Eischeid said his department has a good working relationship with Walker County and hopes if Lookout Mountain, Tenn., combines with his department that the relationship will continue.
The city is part of a mutual aid agreement with other area municipalities for medical, traffic personnel, ambulances and security officers to get and to offer backup when needed.
Eischeid said, “Every community is involved around us, but Lookout Mountain, Tenn.
“Perhaps if they join the Tri-State Mutual Agreement and help solve other issues, then maybe we can look at sharing equipment, public works, our departments, etc.,” he said.
Lookout Mountain City Council is scheduled to meet Thursday, Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m. at Lookout Mountain City Hall at 1214 Lula Lake Road in Lookout Mountain, Ga. For more information on meetings, call City Hall at (706) 820-1586.
Another concern that Eischeid sees with sharing services is the disbursal of the city’s portion of Walker County special-purpose local-option sales tax, or SPLOST, funds.
The city receives $45,000 for the fire department under the current sales tax initiative, Eischeid said, adding “I do not want to give it to Tennessee.
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