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Wlaf1450
By Charlotte Underwood
LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- The LaFollette City Council held a special meeting on Monday afternoon, approving a resolution to remove LaFollette Utility Board members, as well as a resolution recognizing two LUB members for their service on the utility board. New LUB board members were also appointed to the board at Monday’s meeting.
According to LaFollette City Administrator Stan Foust, LaFollette Utility Board member Jay Willoughby’s term expires in two weeks and the city “considered him retiring off the board”. LaFollette Utility Board member Janice Walker retired last week, and LUB member Joe Snodderly was removed under the resolution 2026-07-A, which was passed by the council unanimously on Monday.
The city council also voted on and approved the appointment of three new utility board members to fill the vacancies. Michael Malicote will fill the vacancy by Willoughby’s term expiring, meaning Malicote will fill a five-year term. Mike Melton will fill Janice Walker’s spot, filling the one year left on her term. Brian Younce will fill Joe Snodderly’s spot and finish out his remaining 2.5 years on the utility board.
Monday’s meeting started with city attorney Karen Crutchfield reading the lengthy resolution, which states that pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated 7-52-112 and the city’s charter, the city has the ability to remove LUB members and to appoint new members. Reasons cited for doing so included that “the LaFollette Utilities Board has failed to provide the appropriate oversight and fiduciary duties of a Supervisory Board of a Municipal Utility under Tenn. Code Ann. 7-52-101 and Tenn. Code Ann. 7-35-401 … or to hold management of the Utility accountable for the general and financial operations of the LaFollette Utilities, to the extent that financial and contracting/purchasing irregularities have been publicly reported, and Human Resource grievance investigations have been made, without the LaFollette Utilities Board taking action to address the findings of such investigations, or requiring an independent investigation of any alleged financial irregularities and/or alleged failures by management to follow budgeting, contracting, procurement, purchasing and conflicts of interest policies and procedures required of public utilities by stature and by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office.”
Other reasons cited included some LUB members voting in favor of a 4-percent raise for LUB employees “without regard or consideration of the basis for a raise of that percentage or amount, the current or anticipated finances or budget of the Utility Company, the source of the funds … or the potential impact.”
Part B of the resolution which “recognized and commended the retiring LaFollette Utility Board members” was then read into the record and approved.
This part of the resolution recognized Jay Willoughby and Janice Walker for their “dedicated service.”
The resolution stated that the retiring board members “have served with professionalism, honor, and a strong sense of civic duty, as they have endeavored to ensure the on-going success of LaFollette Utilities, and its mission to “provide customers with reliable, economical and friendly service in a continuous effort to enhance the quality of life in our community and that their service on the board has positively impacted the City of LaFollette, LaFollette Utilities, as well as customers and communities it serves.”
The city council extended its “sincere gratitude and appreciation to the retiring board members of Jay Willoughby and Janice Walker.”
After this resolution passed, the floor was then opened up for the nomination of LUB members. City Councilman Chuck Queener nominated Joe Bolinger; however, this nomination failed for lack of enough votes.
Council member Stephanie Solomon nominated Michael Malicote, Mike Melton and Brian Younce for the board. Each one was put to a vote and was appointed to the utility board. Malicote will serve the five-year term taking Willoughby’s vacancy, while Melton will fill Walker’s spot finishing out the last year on her term, while Younce will fill out the 2.5 years remaining on Snodderly’s term.
LaFollette City Councilman Mark Hoskins said he would like to evaluate LUB board members on an annual basis and suggested it could be something the city start doing.
The full resolution can be read below:
Resolution No. 2026-07-A
WHEREAS the City of LaFollette by the provisions of its Charter, and by Tenn. Code Ann. 7-52-103 has the authority, obligation and duty to acquire, improve, operate and maintain within or without the corporate or county limits of such municipality, and other municipality, and electric plant and to provide electric service to any person, firm, public or private corporation, or to any other user or consumer of electric power and energy, and charge for the electric service; and
WHEREAS, The City of LaFollette by its Charter and by Tenn. Code Ann. 7-35-401, et. Seq., is authorized and empowered to own, acquire, construct, extend, equip, operate, an maintain within or without the corporate limits of such city or town a waterworks system or a sewage system, to provide water or sewage service and to charge for such service; and
WHEREAS, the City of LaFollette has authorized and designated the LaFollette Utilities Board be the Supervisory Board providing the general supervision and control of LaFollette Utilities, and appointed Board Members in accordance with its Charter, and
WHEREAS, Tenn. Code Ann. 7-52-12 authorizes the governing body of the City of LaFollette to remove any appointed Board Members for cause; and
WHEREAS, the LaFollette Utilities Board has failed to provide the appropriate oversight and fiduciary duties of a Supervisory Board of a Municipal Utility under Tenn. Code Ann. 7-52-101 and Tenn. Code Ann. 7-35-401 … or to hold management of the Utility accountable for the general and financial operations of the LaFollette Utilities, to the extent that financial and contracting/purchasing irregularities have been publicly reported, and HR grievance investigations have been made, without the LaFollette Utilities Board taking action to address the findings of such investigations, or requiring an independent investigation of any alleged financial irregularities and/or alleged failures by management to follow budgeting, contracting, procurement, purchasing and conflicts of interest policies and procedures required of public utilities by stature and by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office; and
WHEREAS, the LaFollette Utilities Board has failed to require that those responsible for the finances of LaFollette Utility Company provide its financial and budgeting information, chart of accounts, and other reports for the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year, that are required to be filed with the Tennessee Comptroller’s office by June 30, 2026, to the LaFollette Utility Board or the City of LaFollette, such that the budgets for both LaFollette Utilities and the City of LaFollette may be timely presented to the Comptroller’s office, and
WHEREAS. certain members of the LaFollette Utilities Board moved and voted for a 4-percent raise for all employees of LaFollette Utilities for the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year, without regard or consideration of the basis for a raise of that percentage or amount, the current or anticipated finances or budget of the Utility Company, the source of the funds or revenue to be allocated to pay for a raise of that percentage, the potential impact of such raises on the customers and rate payers, and/or the other operations, maintenance or prior obligations of the Utility during the 202602027 Fiscal Year;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF LAFOLLETTE, TENNESSEE, as follows:
1. That all LaFollette Utility Board Members who have served at least one five-year term, or at least half of their first appointed five (5) year term on the Board be removed for cause, pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann.7-52-112, for the reasons outlined above; and
2. That new Members of the LaFollette Utility Board be appointed in their place; and This resolution shall take effect from and after its passage, the public welfare requiring. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-06/23/2026-6AM)