At the last city council meeting, Aikens asked to have an item added to the agenda. This is his standard practice when he wants the council to vote for something, but doesn't want anybody to know it's coming. His agenda add was to appoint a 3 member charter review committee. This is another common practice of the mayor. When he wants something done, he appoints a committee then when the committee comes back with the recommendation Aikens is wanting, he'll claim he's only taking the recommendation of the committee.

According to the mayor, the charter review committee is looking at things they might recommend for the next election. We already know what two of the things he wanting done, sales tax increase and bring liquor stores to the city. Neither of which have anything to do with the city charter.

Aikens' hand picked candidates are Jeremiah Wampler, councilwoman Jennifer Wampler's son, Cole Sitzlar and Cory Newman. The final two are family members of city hall employees. Aikens picked Jeremiah Wampler to be the chairman of the committee. Not to be disparaging in any way, but if Aikens picks someone to serve on one of his committees, he already assumes that pick will do whatever he tells them to do.

Aikens said they might even hold a special election to vote on whatever items the charter review committee might recommend. The next regular Lenoir City election will be November 2024. The city ballot will include the mayor's seat, treasurer recorder seat and three council candidates, Jennifer Wampler, Mike Henline and Eddie Simpson, the three most loyal followers of Mayor Aikens. I'm sure the mayor and these three council members don't want the question of raising the sales tax on the ballot at the same time their names appear on the ballot, with everyone knowing they voted to raise the sales tax. The liquor store idea might not be too popular either given that it has already been voted down twice before.

As I said before, the question of a sales tax increase or allowing liquor stores in the city have nothing to do with the city charter. One other item that the mayor has been hot on for the last few years, that does involve the city charter, would be the elimination of the city school system. That would require a charter change. Not saying that's coming, but something to keep an eye on.

Then there's the idea of eliminating the elected treasurer/recorder position and instead making it an appointed position. He's tried that twice in the past also and was defeated by the voters.

Looks like there will be a lot of items to be watching in the next few months.