Lakesite operates under a Manager-Commission charter. The Commission is made up of five members, elected at-large for four-year terms. Elections are staggered so that terms overlap. After each election, the Commission elects a Mayor and Vice-Mayor from among its members. In addition, Commissioners are appointed to chair committees to oversee the business of the city. Current committees include Public Safety, Budget and Finance, Parks and Recreation, and Public Works.

The commission appoints a City Manager who is responsible for conducting the day-to-day affairs of the city under the direction of the commission. The City Manager appoints and oversees the work of other city personnel.

Hamilton County and its incorporated municipalities were awarded Level 3 State of Tennessee 3 Star Program status on June 20, 2005. This program is designed to assist communities to meet criteria necessary to achieve excellence in economic and community development. Three-Star status allows our community to be able to receive more state dollars and have a lower local match rate for Fastrack Infrastructure Grants.

Every community has a representative on the Joint Economic and Community Development Board (J.E.C.D.). The committee meets quarterly to advance their goals for existing industry, manufacturing, recruitment, workforce development, retail/service, tourism, agriculture, infrastructure development, and education.

As a result of Lakesite’s Three-Star designation, the State will now provide 78% funding instead of just 73% toward Fastrack Industrial Infrastructure Grants to assist industry with site development costs.

CDBG Grants
5 points will also be added to County water and sewer grant scores and 2 points added to a municipality’s application. This could be the difference in a grant being funded or not. CDBG Loan limits are increased by $25,000 to the cities and Hamilton County.

Lakesite History

The City of Lakesite lies approximately 15 miles north of downtown Chattanooga in Hamilton County, Tennessee. The city was incorporated in 1972, primarily through the efforts of two men-- Ray Dodson (to whom our original city hall is dedicated) and Hans Bingham (our city park is dedicated to Mr. Bingham). The original incorporation included only the subdivision of Lakesite with 200 homes and a population of 500.

By 1994 the population of the city had grown to around 900. That year, a group representing residents of neighboring subdivisions approached the Lakesite City Commission to petition for annexation. After extensive study and deliberation, the commission voted to annex the area, which increased the population of the city to 1499, added 66% more land area, and took in the thriving commercial area at the busy intersection of Hixson Pike and Daisy-Dallas Road. The annexation was completed in mid-1995. In 1997, additional areas were annexed adjacent to the commercial district increasing the City’s population to 1551. By 2000, the population had grown to 1,845 individuals.