LUB terminates General Manager Regina Kennedy’s contract

LUB Engineer Keith Atkins takes over as interim general manager on April 1 

By Charlotte Underwood

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- The LaFollette Utility Board voted to terminate LUB General Manager Regina Kennedy’s contract “without cause” at its special-called meeting held Monday at 11am. The decision was unanimous. Her last day will be March 31^st and an interim manager, LUB Engineer Keith Atkins, will step into the GM role until a permanent general manager is hired. Kennedy’s contract stipulated that if she was terminated without cause, she would still receive pay and benefits for one year.

LaFollette Utility Board member Laura Byrge read a statement at the meeting regarding the decision before a vote was taken.

“After several weeks of consultation and communications with Ms. Kennedy, we have reached a mutual agreement that it will be in the interest for the board to terminate Ms. Kennedy’s employment contract without cause. Pursuant to the terms of Ms. Kennedy’s contract, we have agreed to the following.

(a.)  Accumulated sick and vacation leave.

(b.)  Payment of manager’s salary and benefits for twelve (12) months, to be paid bi-weekly for the period beginning April 1, 2026.

(c.)  The manager shall be entitled to all employee benefit and retirement plans for the periods during which taxable wages are paid biweekly.

These items are mandated in her contract.

In addition to the above compensation, and/or benefits, and in consideration of Ms. Kennedy’s 38 years of LUB employment, the parties mutually agree that LUB shall provide health insurance benefits to Ms. Kennedy and her spouse until each attains their 65^th birthday at the current employee rate.

In consideration of these contractually required payments and the insurance benefits, Ms. Kennedy agrees to release LUB from any further liability, claims, damages, etc.”

After reading this statement into the record, Byrge took a vote on the matter, which was unanimously approved by the board.

Byrge then asked for a motion that LUB Engineer Keith Atkins would take over as interim general manager on April 1^st until a permanent GM is hired. After this motion was made, it was also unanimously approved.

“We will have more specifics on hiring a new GM at the next board meeting,” Byrge said.

WLAF caught up with Byrge after the meeting was adjourned for additional statements on the board’s decision.

She said the investigation into the grievance filed was ongoing, but that at this point, no evidence of wrongdoing had been presented to the board.

“In light of the information that has been brought forth, it is our due diligence to do the investigative work and to do what we feel is best for LUB to move it forward. We feel like based on the information that we have gathered and the circumstances, that the best way for us to be able to move forward as a company and to save costs to the rate payers and to the board and to the company as far as production is concerned, we need to move forward in a different direction. We appreciate the service of years that Ms. Kennedy has given to LUB, but it is imperative that we move in a different direction so that we can get back to business as normal,” Byrge said.

When asked if there was anything that had been found in the investigation so far that led to the termination of Kennedy’s contract, Byrge said not at this point, but that the decision was made in order to “move the company forward as a whole.”

“No, there is nothing that we have seen up to this point that would dictate any wrongdoing. At that particular point that is where the process needs to take place; I am very black and white, show me the facts and then we will make a decision on that and there have been no facts presented to the board at this point, the investigation is still under way,” Byrge said, adding that the board wanted to make sure that “everything was handled correctly.”

“We do not want to cost the rate payers or LUB as a company any undue monies and so this is the best way we can move forward and get us where we need to be; we are making this decision that is best for all parties involved,” Byrge said.

She also said this issue had “taken its toll on all parties involved.”

“Those that have presented the accusation and those that were there, there is no admission of wrongdoing or guilt on either party, and the board is most certainly not saying that. We are just saying that at this point, this is the best way to move forward,” Byrge explained.

She said the “hope was that it would not take long to find the right GM to move LUB forward.”

Kennedy had served as the GM since she was unanimously voted into being hired for the position on July 29^th, 2025. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-03/10/2026-6AM)