Loudon approves 2022 election ch

Loudon City Council approved Monday a resolution to set in motion changes to the 2022 election.

Angie Carrier, Municipal Technical Advisory Service Municipal Management and Finance program manager, recently advised council of options to stagger election cycles. Council opted to choose between the bottom two vote-getters receiving two-year terms or having candidates pick up petitions for either a two- or four-year term.

Jeff Harris, Loudon mayor, checked with Susan Harrison, Loudon County election administrator, to see what she thought before council voted.

“I talked to Susan Harrison today, and she didn’t have a preference either way,” Harris said. “She said both of them pretty much are very similar in nature. She didn’t see a difference. I just wanted to make sure one wouldn’t cause her office more trouble than the other.”

Councilmen Tim Brewster and Tim Dixon motioned and seconded, respectively, to approve the option in which candidates choose.

Harris clarified this will only be in effect for the 2022 election. After that, all council members serve four-year terms.

Tammi Bivens, councilwoman, asked for clarification about what happens if nobody picks up a two-year petition.

“It would be treated as a vacant seat as far as the council that is in place then would fill that seat,” Harris said. “This is just to create the two-year, so you always have a mayor and two council members who have two years of experience, so you wouldn’t be starting from scratch.”

The motion passed 4-1, with Bivens the lone opposing vote.

Bivens said she preferred the option in which the top two vote-getters receive the four-year term and bottom two vote-getters serve two years.

In other news, Loudon City Council:

• Approved fuel bids from Dec. 17 and Jan. 14, both from Rogers Petroleum Inc., at $11,812.40 and $13,076.05, respectively.

• Amended on first reading the Loudon municipal code to eliminate tractor trailer parking on Cedar Park Drive.

• Approved on first reading the designation of parallel on-street parking on Grove Street from Wharf to College streets.

• Accepted a bid for the 2021 Independence Day and Riverfest fireworks shows.

• Authorized the refurbishment of the sidewalk lanterns in the downtown courthouse square area.

• Accepted a bid for Tennessee Department of Transportation signalization replacement at major intersections on U.S. Highways 11 and 72.