LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Yesterday afternoon, the LaFollette City Council met with several administrative matters on the agenda in its regular workshop.

First up in administrative matters was a discussion of the sidewalk along Depot Street. Hank Hamblin spoke to the council about removing the sidewalk beside Renew U Spa. Hamblin reported that the sidewalk was beginning to crumble. He would like to see a portion of the sidewalk removed and replaced with an egress and ingress. He would also like to put in some landscaping near the entrances. He proposed putting in asphalt berms to help with any water issues. After a brief discussion the council requested he go before the planning commission with a drawing of what he is proposing. If they approve then he could move forward with the work.

Bill Claiborne with the Tally Town Festival spoke to the board about the possibility of closing Depot Street and a portion of Beech Street for the festival that is slated for July 9. Claiborne explained this is a historical festival that will celebrate the Italian history of LaFollette. Proceeds from the festival will go to preserve some of the area’s historical cemeteries.

At next week’s regular monthly meeting the May clean up winner will be announced.

The council discussed amending the purchasing policy. The policy would change the limits of purchases and how they are purchased. If approved the policy would allow for items up to $10,000 to be bought without a bid or quote, items from $10,000 to $25,000 can be purchased with three quotes and purchases over $25,000 will require a bid.

Work on Brantley Lane could begin as soon as next week. The council previously approved cutting a portion of the road down for safety reasons.

Council will vote on the approval of an event permit for the Coolidge Ridge Missionary Baptist Church to gather in the rear parking lot of the municipal building on June 15 at 7 pm.

The fire department will have a promotion up for approval at next week’s meeting, Jacob Wagner to a full time firefighter at a salary of $31, 077.47 effective May 6.

The police department has two items on the agenda, first is the promotion of Nicolas Marcum to a full time patrol officer at a salary of $35,596 effective May 6.

The police department is currently using ink jet printers and is spending a lot of money on the ink refills, City Administrator Stan Foust reported that the city could purchase replacement laser jet printers for $8,000 from Novatech to save the city money on ink.

The public works department has one promotion on the agenda. That is promoting Jamie Pack to a full-time sanitation worker at a salary of $28,601.04.

The council discussed the acceptance of bids for portable restrooms and concession building, two bids were received. The lowest bid was $60,000 for the restrooms and $26,863 for the concession building. The need for a guardrail at Seargeant Park was discussed, given the amount of the guardrail it will need to be bid out.

Two ordinances will have a final reading at next week’s meeting. Those are Ordinance 2023-06 amending the personnel policy pertaining to bereavement leave and Ordinance 2023-07 amending Title 8 section 8-212 of alcoholic beverages. Ordinance 2023-08 abandoning a portion of unopened street located at South 16th street will have a first reading. Resolution 2023-07 authorizing the City of LaFollette to submit an application to the Tennessee Housing Development Agency for the Home Grant Program (THDA grant) will also have a first reading.

In the final business of the evening, Foust spoke to the council about the flower baskets that have previously lined Central Avenue in downtown. The original baskets were donated by the LaFollette High School Alumni about 15 years ago and have begun to rust and break. Replacement flower baskets will cost the city between $4,000 and $4,500.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 04/25/2023-6AM)

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