Looking Back 3
October 2020

Just another, looking back, at some past stories of Mayor Aikens and his council members votes and actions. Below are a couple oldies but goodies.

Who Owes Who?

So, we know in 2016, Lenoir City council gave Mayor Tony Aikens a 10x raise from $7,200.00 per year to $72,000.00 per year. Now we know the mayor is totally bankrolling three city council candidates, two which voted for his 10x raise and one who was appointed a month after he got his raise. One could surmise that the mayor owes the two candidates something for his raise. So, if these three win the election with the mayor's massive support, will they owe him or will that make everybody even? One thing for sure, the seven year string of the council members voting "YES" for everything will not be ending any time soon. Or maybe if they're even, council members might be allowed to vote "NO" on something?

I have noticed in the mayor's ads and the ads of the candidates he's promoting, there's a lot of back slapping and taking credit for great accomplishments for the city. Seems they've forgotten to mention a few of their other accomplishments.   

Who could possibly forget the now infamous Rain Tax? How could you forget when it's on your utility bill every month. Last year the Rain Tax brought in $528,000.00 to the city coffers. All the while, the chosen three claim they keep taxes low.

6/26/17-A motion was made by Simpson and seconded by Shields to approve an Ordinance authorizing the acceptance of a Stormwater Utility Fee (Rain Tax). The Following vote was recorded: Henline, Hines, Shields, Simpson, Wampler voting AYE. Johnson Abstained from the vote. Final Reading. Ordinance 2017-06-26-2168-A

How about a sales tax increase? Remember back in 2018, the full council voted to add a half cent sales tax increase to the November ballot. Just be thankful they couldn't pass it themselves or they would have. But not only did they vote to add it to the ballot, they actively campaigned for the increase. The voters rejected the increase by a wide margin.

7/9/18-A motion was made by Henline and seconded by Johnson to adopt an Ordinance to proceed with Referendum for funding of additional and improved school security for safety of students, faculty, and staff of Lenoir City School. The following vote was recorded: Henline, Hines, Johnson, Shields, Simpson and Wampler voting AYE. Second and Final Reading. Ordinance-2018-07-09-2197-A.
 
7/9/18-A motion was made by Shields and seconded by Wampler to adopt a Resolution requesting the Loudon County Election Commission to include a question on the ballot of the November 6, 2018 election. The following vote was recorded: Henline, Hines, Johnson, Shields, Simpson and Wampler voting AYE. Second and Final Reading. Resolution- 2018-07-09-2197-B.

How about a gas tax increase? How could you forget every time you pull up the the pump. Even though the city has no authority to raise the gas tax, they enthusiastically supported it, even voting unanimously on a resolution to sent to the state legislature urging passage of the gas tax increase.

Lenoir City Council approved a resolution Monday supporting Gov. Bill Haslam’s recommendation to increase the state gas tax.
Vice Mayor Eddie Simpson made a motion and Councilwoman Jennifer Wampler seconded in order to send the resolution to Nashville. The vote passed 6-0. News Herald 1/23/17

Seems the mayor and council are very pro higher taxes in spite of their campaign rhetoric.

These are just a few accomplishments the mayor and candidates seem to have forgotten to mention in their ads. There are others. And while it certainly it didn't happen in the last few years, but the city now has more than twenty-five million dollars in debt. Much of that was added in the last few years. 

I really want to be clear, I'm not supporting or opposing any candidate in the city council race. Just adding a few facts to the race. I don't intend to upset anyone but if they are, they'll have to be upset with their own words and actions.

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10/28/24