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LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- At Tuesday’s LaFollette City Council meeting, there were a few moments of uncertainty.
The first came when Ordinance 2026-05 approval of the 2026-27 budget was put to a vote with the council. When the mayor asked for a motion to approve the item, no one made the motion. After a discussion of why the budget was not moving forward, it appeared the issue was the employees only receiving a two percent cost of living raise. However, in the budget the employees were slated to receive their annual Christmas bonus and a one time bonus of $1,500. The two percent increase plus the $1,500 bonus equals out to a five to six percent increase.
At one point during the budget discussion, Mayor Scotty Kitts told Finance Director Terry Sweat that he needed to find more revenue. Councilman Mark Hoskins said the only way to find more revenue would be to “cut services or increase taxes.”
After continuing to discuss the budget, Councilman Stephanie Solomon made a motion to pass the budget on the first reading with Councilman Wayne Kitts making a second. The only council member who voted against the budget was Councilman Chuck Queener. The motion passed. The council can still make changes to the budget. A second and final reading is needed for the budget to be passed. This reading is scheduled for Thu., June 25 at 4 pm. If the council fails to pass the budget at that time, they can hold another meeting to try and pass the budget. June 30 is the deadline for the city to have a balanced budget passed. If it is not passed by that point a continuing resolution for the 2025-26 must be passed.
Resolution 2026-06 a capital outlay note for the LaFollette Utility Board from Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund not to exceed $1.2 million was the next item of uncertainty. Council members had several questions for Interim General Manager Keith Adkins. Questions ranged from what the loan proceeds were going toward, how they were planning to give their employees a four percent raise and how much those raises were going to cost. Adkins responded that the loan proceeds were going to cover costs on a water line project that the grants have not come through yet. Adkins reported the funds would come, but they were slow to arrive and the contractors needed to be paid. He was unable to answer the question about raises due to not having that information in front of him and not wanting to give an incorrect number. After discussing the topic for several minutes, the council approved the resolution.
Next, ordinance 2024-04 amending the municipal code regarding chapter 4 storage of used tires section 13-402 unlawful storage in all zoning districts was discussed. The ordinance changes the number of tires allowed to be stored outside from 300 to 200, the tires cannot be stored for more than 30 days and the violation fee changed from $50 to $100 and Ordinance 2026-03 abandoning a portion of unopened street along the intersection of South Avenue and West Chestnut Street were approved on a final reading.
Other items on the agenda approved were an audit contract with Pugh and Company year ending 2026, approval of the Clean Up Improvement Program for $100 per month for the most improved property clean up and finally setting interview dates and times for Thu., June 11, beginning at 1 pm for LaFollette Utility Board Member.
The council approved declaring a portion of canopy surplus at East LaFollette Community Center.
The beer board approved a beer permit for New York Style Deli and Smoothies, located in the former Corner Market Building on West Central Avenue at North 13th Street. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-06/03/2026-6AM)