LAFOLLETTE, TN., (WLAF) – Monday afternoon’s City of LaFollette Council workshop agenda presented an array of items ranging from ordinances to purchases to be voted on at next week’s council meeting.

Joanne Myers, a representative from Postmark LaFollette, was in attendance to present a proposal for leasing the old post office. At the March council meeting, Karen Cumorich, another representative from Postmark, approached the council to discuss the possibility of a 24 month lease on the building for zero dollars. After a brief discussion, Councilman Mark Hoskins requested Postmark bring a proposal to the council of its best offer on the building. Hoskins requested the proposal be brought to the council in April and the council would decide at that time. Last night was the time; Myers brought a proposal of $500 per month to be construed as a rent or utilities payment at the city’s preference. In the proposal, the city would continue its present obligations or maintaining the building and paying the utilities cost and to provide Postmark the first right of refusal in the event the city decides to sell the building. The length of the proposed agreement would be for two years with an option to renew for consecutive terms.  The council will vote on accepting or declining the proposal at next month’s meeting; next Tuesday.

The council will vote on accepting four bids for various work around the city. The first bid is for resurfacing and striping in the rear parking lot of the municipal building and the entrance street to fire station #3 next week. Next is a bid of $2,869.15 from AMC in Knoxville for sealing and striping the parking lots all city ballfields. Two bids were received for equipment for the fire department; rescue equipment bid is $34,923 and extraction equipment for $44,031.

Also on the agenda is accepting a bid of $153,177 for a bucket truck for the public works department. Estimated delivery of the truck is three to six months. In other public works items the council discussed repairing streetlights on North Tennessee Avenue. One light has been broken for about three months, Public Works Director Casey Boshears reported he has been trying to find a light to replace the broken one that matches the other lights. Boshears reported the light had been discontinued, but he was finally able to find four and they were shipped on Friday. Hoskins reported he had looked at the existing lights and had concerns the city could be trespassing on some buildings. He continued that the conduit had been run across a few buildings to power the lights. City Attorney Reid Troutman said he would investigate the issue. Local business owner Katie Goins voiced her concerns about how long it has taken to repair the light. Hoskins replied the city would get the issue resolved as soon as possible.

Ordinance 2022-03 adopting and enacting supplemental and replacement pages for the Municipal Code of the City of LaFollette, Tennessee will have its final reading as well as Ordinance 2022-04 amending section 5-A of the Employee Personnel Policy. Ordinance 2022-06 abandoning a portion of an unopened street located within South Ninth Street in the City of LaFollette. Ordinance 2022-07 amending the personnel policy on recommendations from comptroller’s office has a first reading, the ordinance is in response to recommendations made in last years comptrollers report. Troutman told the council it could take additional resolutions to address the recommendations.

Five resolutions are on the agenda for approval pertaining to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Resolution 2022-09 applying for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds; Resolution 2022-10 for engineering services for Fulghum, MacIndoe and Associates and Resolution 2022-11 for administrative services. Funds received from the grant will be used for rehabbing the old jail at the municipal building, a rescue truck for the fire department and a back up system for 911. Resolution 2022-12 amending the 2021-22 budget and Resolution 2022-13 supporting restoring the historic revenue sharing relationship between the State of Tennessee and its local governments and to return the local share of the single article cap to local governments.

City Administrator Stan Foust announced the city Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Fri., April 15 at 9 am and the opening of the Dogwood Trail on Thu., April 21 at 10 am. The city has declared April as clean up fix up month. Foust stated the brush truck would be making extras trips in the city to pick up debris as a part of the initiative. Jonathan Finley was in attendance to discuss employee life insurance and the options the city has for its employees.

The beer board will have a new application for Sideline Grill and a violation notice for Red Roof Market to be discussed at next week’s regular monthly meeting. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 03/29/2022- 6AM)