LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- A conversation about  phone calls not getting returned quickly escalated at Tuesday night’s City of LaFollette Council meeting.  Watch the meeting HERE on demand (The Thompson-Foster discussion starts at the 17:00 mark of the meeting).

Councilwoman Ann Thompson opened a discussion at Monday night’s workshop on code’s issues relating to LaFollette Codes Enforcement Officer Daniel Foster allegedly not returning phone calls. Thompson told the council she was getting calls daily and had a list of people needing calls returned.

Last night, Thompson wanted to know why City Administrator Jimmy Jeffries was returning phone calls instead of Foster.  Jeffries said he had returned one phone call on Tuesday and then asked if Foster would like to speak to the matter.

LaFollette Code Enforcement Officer Daniel Foster addresses the mayor and council on Tuesday night.

Foster told the council he had been returning phone calls. “If you would like for me to produce records for you of how the phone calls are coming in, when I go out on them, I’m willing to share this information with you,” he said.

Councilman Mark Hoskins interjected.  He asked Jeffries to do the research on the calls and find out what occurred.

Foster told the council when he spoke with the callers that one person said the mayor told them to call Thompson.  The next call said they did not reach out, but that Thompson contacted her.  The third caller said she spoke with a lady, who Foster assumed was Thompson, about the issue.

“I have spoken with all of those people today, and I believe I’ve taken care of their issues.  But I get about 25-30 calls per day, and I prioritize those calls.  Sometimes it does take some time to get back to the callers,” Foster said.  “Since I have been here, I have taken it in stride and tried to go with it.  I’ve thought maybe they don’t understand exactly what is involved in the job I do.  But I’ve spoken with you several times outside of this forum, and I thought maybe you just don’t like me or don’t like the name Daniel because you had issues with the last officer named Daniel.  I think our issues now go far beyond that; I’ve noticed at every council meeting you pick on me more than you do anyone else.” Foster’s comments appeared to have been pointed at Thompson.

“I started wondering today, because of things I have heard, do you have a problem with me being black or do you just have a problem with me or the position,” Foster asked.

Thompson said she didn’t have an issue with him.  The issue was with him not doing his job.  Foster asked again if his race or name was contributing to the issues at hand.  Thompson said “no.”

“Do you know what my job is?” asked Foster. Thompson continued to try and address him not calling people back.  Foster alleged that Thompson and Mayor Mike Stanfield had stopped him from doing work to address issues they wanted addressed.  Stanfield said he would not go behind Foster’s back, he would say it to his face. Foster then alleged Stanfield had passed him in the hallway and made racial slurs towards him.  “I will do my job to the best of my abilities and when I can’t, I will resign,” said Foster.

A new rescue truck is on the horizon for the LaFollette Fire Department.  The city received one bid from Southeast Apparatus for $128,864, and it meets all the specs, according to LaFollette Fire Chief Jimmy Pack.

Ordinance 2020-03 amending Chapter 3 section 13-306 of the Municipal Code Rubbish Control stating that the city administrator or his designee shall give notice in writing to the owner, owners agent or occupant of such lot or parcel of land requiring the cutting, removal and/or destruction of weeds, grass or brush, vegetation or rubbish withing seven days of receipt of the notice. The notice will be delivered in person, and if contact cannot be made in person, a letter will be mailed to the last known address of the owner.  The notice will be mailed as certified mail. The ordinance passed on the final reading last night.

Ordinance 2020-04 amending a Parks and Recreation Ordinance as set forth in Ordinance 2012-04.  The ordinance makes all City of LaFollette parks non-smoking parks.

The council agreed to move forward with plans for the annual Christmas parade.  However, it will revisit whether to have Trunk or Treat or not at its next workshop.

The beer board addressed two citations issued to Red Roof Market for selling beer to minors. One of the employees who had sold the beer was present at the meeting and told council she was busy and forgot to ID the buyer. The market was fined $1,500 for each citation and has seven days to pay the fine or lose its license.

Twin Flames was approved for a beer license. The owner explained it would be a sports bar located in the old McDonald’s building at Woodson Mall-Food City Center. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED- 09/2/2020-6AM)

One Reply to “Thompson and Foster square off at council meeting”

  1. I do want to comment that I have lived on east Kentucky Avenue for 6years. The gentleman has been on our street on different occasions. Some of the neighbors that were not very good about maintaining the outside of there homes have begun clean up. For that I’m grateful

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