Parrott’s position on the line with city following codes controversy

By SUSAN SHARP

LAFOLLETTE, TN. (WLAF)- The City of LaFollette’s new mayor and council are already facing a challenge as they take office. This was a stage set by outgoing Mayor Cliff Jennings at last week’s workshop. It was at that time he suggested the council go “in another direction” with its city judge.

That put replacing LaFollette City Judge Kathy Parrott on today’s meeting agenda.

Jennings placed Parrott’s removal on the agenda as his final act. He did so at the request of the council, Jennings said Monday morning. He declined to comment to WLAF as to why the council wanted to post Parrott’s position.

“It occurred on my watch” was his only comment.

Through a Freedom of Information request WLAF obtained records outlining the concerns brought to city officials regarding Parrott.

The allegations center on new Mayor Scotty Kitts.

On Nov. 14, Parrott allegedly and repeatedly told LaFollette Codes Enforcement Officer Stuart Hurwitz “to not bring Scotty Kitts into her courtroom and that she would not allow retaliation in her courtroom,” the records said. Parrott allegedly eventually relaxed her stance instructing Hurwitz to wait “six months after the election” before taking action.”

Parrott’s direction as to who Hurwitz was allowed to cite to court “struck” the officer “as quite odd,” he said in a formal statement.

The concern of “retaliation” was allegedly connected to Kitts winning the Nov. 5 election.

The city clerk had also been instructed by Parrott to alert her of “any citations” filed with the court. The clerk, Katina Chapman, was allegedly instructed by Parrott to “not sign off on it and let her review it first,” city records said.

Kitts’ property had been a codes concern since the spring resulting in Hurwitz and Kitts having “at least four or five” conversations, the records said. Most of these conversations took place prior to Kitts announcing his mayoral candidacy.

Hurwitz allegedly told Kitts he “would not bother him about it until after the election,” records said.

Of the four times Hurwitz cited someone to city court, all of the cases were dismissed, he said in his statement. When Hurwitz reviewed the cases brought by the previous codes enforcement officer they had been “mostly dismissed as well,” records said.

The council will vote on Parrott’s position with the city this afternoon in its 5:30 regular monthly meeting.

Parrott didn’t respond to a request for comment.

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 12/3/2024- 6AM)