The City of LaFollette looks to indefinitely suspend its animal control program; lay off ACO

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- The City of LaFollette is looking at suspending the city’s animal control program indefinitely.  At Monday afternoon’s city council workshop, City Administrator Stan Foust made the recommendation to suspend the program indefinitely and lay off the animal control officer, Frankie Dople. Foust told the council that the city had not been able to take animals to the shelter in 18 months. At Tuesday afternoon’s regular monthly meeting, the council will vote on the fate of the program.

HERE is the back story of recent history of the ongoing animal control dilemma between the city and the animal shelter.

The council will vote this afternoon on who will receive the two liquor licenses for the city. One license will be awarded for the east end of town and another for the west side.

The complete list of the 15 applicants vying for a liquor license is found HERE.

City of LaFollette Attorney Reid Troutman has tendered his resignation as the city’s attorney effective after today’s meeting.

Ordinance 2025-09 will have a first reading at this afternoon’s meeting. The ordinance regulates the use of motorcycles, motor driven cycles, motorized bicycles, bicycles etc. The ordinance requires these cycles to have a steady white light located in the front and a red reflector on the rear, both visible to 500 feet, and they are also required to comply with safety equipment required in TCA 55-8-177. The ordinance requires helmets for people riding bicycles under the age of 16.

A new league agreement is on the horizon for the city.  The agreement permits an association to use its facilities as follows West LaFollette Gymnasium, East LaFollette Gymnasium, Recreation Gymnasium, Liberty Park, Frank Archer Park, Pine Park and Ken Snodderly Park for a yearly fee.

The council agreed to do away with the investment charges from LaFollette Utilities for the athletic lights at Pine Park, Liberty Park and East LaFollette. This will save the city around $14,000.

Attorney David Winchester was present on behalf of his client Donnie Byrge. Winchester expressed concern about the city adopting the International Property Management Codes. Winchester stated that it could put additional requirements on citizens that they may not be able to afford. He urged the city to think about this before adopting the codes.

When the city opened the RV Park, there were not any policies or regulations put in place except for quiet hours. So the city has established policies and regulations for the RV park. The regulations limit the amount of time someone can spend at the park, how the campsites should be kept, the number of people allowed per campsite and how visitors should not behave while staying at the park.

It’s a quick turn-a-round from Monday’s workshop to Tuesday’s regular monthly meeting which is this afternoon at 5:30pm, at City Hall.

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-07/01/2025-6AM)

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