Mayor gets heat on Flock cameras, wants them removed

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- The LaFollette City Council met Monday afternoon for the monthly workshop. The first item discussed was the special audit findings from Pugh and Company pertaining to the LaFollette Utilities Audit. Keith O’Connor with Pugh and Company was present to discuss some of the findings. The biggest item discussed from the draft audit was the need for more formalized procedures. However, the audit is not complete yet.

Three bids are to be discussed for acceptance at the 5:30 pm meeting on Tuesday. The first is the THDA home grant bid for 408 South Indiana Avenue from 83 Development for $85,255. Next is the bid for $22,000 from Boshears Paving for repairing/paving city right of way on Nevada Avenue, and last is the bid for a guardrail on Depot Street and Claiborne Road which is about 1,000 feet; the bid is for $32,318.75. The council will vote at this afternoon’s meeting on advertising for bids on striping and sealing the rear parking lot at the LaFollette Municipal Building.

Two beer licenses are slated for approval on Tuesday afternoon. The permits are for 1984 LaFollette Inc., and Legacy Driven Dreams. Bradley Smiddy is seeking an event permit for Postmark LaFollette for a rummage sale on Sat., Sept. 5, from 10 am to 3 pm.

The fire department has two promotions on the agenda for approval. Promoting Daniel Stevens to full-time entry-level fire fighter and promoting Jesse George to full-time entry-level fire fighter are on the agenda.

Two resolutions and one ordinance are on the agenda for approval. It begins with Ordinance 2026-07 which establishes a temporary one-year moratorium on the acceptance of processing and approval of application for new data centers is slated for discussion. Resolution 2026-13 amending the 2026-27 budget is on the agenda, and lastly Resolution 2026-14 authorizing the City of LaFollette to participate in PEP Risk Management Pool (Property Conservation) Loss Control Matching Grant Program will come up for approval.

As the workshop drew to a close, Mayor Scotty Kitts brought up the topic of Flock cameras. Kitts told the council that he wanted the cameras in the city taken down due to him having to “take some heat” on this topic stating that he was against the cameras. At this point, Police Chief Matt Forsyth was asked to give the council an overview on Flock cameras and the reasons for having them. Forsyth told the council that Flock cameras have helped the police department with investigations. He continued that there is a limited number of people who have access to the city’s cameras. “The cameras do not video, they only take pictures of license plates and sometimes depending on traffic, the side of the vehicle. When used correctly, it (the Flock camera) is a good tool,” said Forsyth.

After the workshop was over, WLAF spoke with City Administrator Stan Foust and Recreation Director Chris Smith about alleged changes that have been made to the Flea Market that takes place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning behind the municipal building. Smith reports the changes made are patrons cannot drive through the Flea Market. The area was previously marked off by a rope, and that rope has been taken down. However, signage remains about not driving through for the safety of patrons and vendors. Vendors are asked to keep the area close together to make browsing easier for patrons. Smith notes that there is plenty of space available for vendors. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-09/01/2026-6AM)