LPD Detective Noah Riggs, and Captain Charles Duff commended by Chief Matt Forsyth at workshop

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Yesterday afternoon the LaFollette City Council met for the monthly workshop. Three ordinances and two resolutions will be on next week’s agenda for a vote. Those are Ordinance 2025-02 amending C2 Hwy Business District permitting retail package stores; Ordinance 2025-03 amending R-1 and R-2 residential districts prohibiting burial plots; Ordinance 2025-04 amending zoning C-1 and C-2 pertaining to storage facilities and Resolution 2025-10 providing for in lieu of tax payments from LaFollette Utilities and Resolution 2025-11 to allow financing/bonds with Wiley Bros Aintree Capital for LaFollette Utilities.

In the public works department, the council discussed closing Church Street between Nevada Avenue and Iron Street. Public Works Director Casey Boshears reported this closure would not impact the public.  At next week’s meeting the council will vote on declaring an old sweeper truck bed as surplus. Also on the agenda for the public works department is the promotion of Corey Baird to a full time sanitation laborer.

The council discussed the promotion of Lee Ann Helton to a full time dispatch supervisor effective May 17.  The police department would like to declare old police equipment surplus so that it can be discarded. The equipment is outdated and cannot be sold to the public. Utilizing off duty police officers for non-city events was discussed. Police Chief Matt Forsyth explained to the council that it is a violation to supply officers to a non-city event in which the city has to pay the officers wages. He told the council officers can be supplied to such events for an hourly fee that would be paid by the organization conducting the event.  Forsyth commended two officers at the workshop, the first was Detective Noah Riggs for doing an excellent job. Captain Charles Duff was commended by Forsyth for his work in helping to recover three stolen trailers worth $40,000.

Mayor Scott Kitts read a proclamation recognizing April 28 as John and Margaret Faulkner Day. The Faulkner’s were recognized for their dedication to education.

Under administration, City Administrator Stan Foust announced a Veterans Banner Dedication Ceremony on May 22 at 1:30 pm at city hall. Scott Kitts had recently requested approval from the council to personally rent a billboard on I-75 to advertise the city’s flea market. Last night Kitts presented what the billboard will look like and told the council the billboard would go up on June 30. Scotty Kitts will pay for the flea market billboard himself.

Elsewhere under administration, two event permits are slated for approval by the council. The first permit is for Step of Faith Tent Ministries May 16-23. The second permit was for the Show It Off Festival on June 7.  The council discussed approving a portion of Beech Street to S. Cumberland Ave as an approved ATV route.

The council discussed an appeal from Code Officer Stuart Hurwitz about a prior decision made by the planning commission for a property located on North Cumberland Avenue. The council decided to send the issue back to the planning commission to be resolved. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-04/29/2025-6AM)

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