LUB approves bids, other business 

By Charlotte Underwood 

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- The LaFollette Utility Board held its December workshop and meeting, approving several business items on Monday evening. 

First approved was 2026 Banking Services Bid from Builtwell Bank. It was the same bid as last year, according to LUB manager Regina Kennedy.

Board members also approved a fourth amendment to an Interlocal Agreement with the County for the joint waterline extension project. The county commission aporoved this amendment earlier in the month at its December meeting. 

The amendment uses the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds before they run out by the end of December 2026. The funds were originally going towards waterline extension in the Big Four area, but the county secured other funding for that area and engineering is soon to start on that project. The amendment passed by LUB and the county allows those ARPA funds to be used on waterline extension in the first district before the time limit runs out on the funding. 

The County and LUB ARPA Water line project interlocal agreement was originally signed in February of 2022 and was a $6 million dollar project, with the county covering half and LUB covering the other half. Since then, multiple amendments have been made as the project moves forward and additional funding has been added by the county, including $1.2 million in funds which was allotted in August of 2024. 

LaFollette Utility Board members approved an engineering, contract administration and resident inspection services with Robert Campbell & Associates for the Victory Tank project.  

Also approved was a $1,694,600 bid from Southern Tank for the “Victory Tank and appurtenances.”  This also includes site work, fencing and electrical.

In other business, LUB members voted to move forward through legal process regarding the condemnation of property for the Victory Tank. 

LaFollette Utility Board Attorney, Reid Troutman, went to the LaFollette City’s workshop to get formal approval to proceed with condemnation for 0.34 acre property for Victory Tank.   

“We are trying to work with the property owner and have not been able to reach an agreement. Our Board voted to move forward with the process, if needed,” Kennedy said. 

Final business of the evening was the approval of clarification to personnel policy on Bereavement Leave.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-12/30/2025-6AM)