Tellico Village POA lots will not be voted in upcoming board election

Becca J. G. Godwin news-herald.net

During a board of directors meeting for the Tellico Village Property Owners Association on Oct. 17, CEO Chet Pillsbury urged Tellico Village residents to vote in the 2025 board election taking place in November.

The top two vote-getters between Lavonne Mitchell, Phil Brenner, Bruce Gibbons, Michael Lackey, Joel Reed, Kevin Ward and Skip Willard will be elected to the board. The board currently consists of President Bob Brunetti, Secretary John Arguelles, Vice President Steve Schneider, Marty Inkrott, John Orr, Treasurer Mike Braddock and Ed Grollemond.

NO FAVORITES, CEO SAYS

While encouraging people to participate, Pillsbury addressed a rumor that he might have favorites among the candidates.

“I’m not sure where it came from, but vote for who you want to be on the board,” he said. “There’s some theory about ‘Don’t vote for Chet’s guys’ … well, everybody on the board here takes me apart every board meeting, so I haven’t found a ‘Chet’s guy’ yet.

“So please vote — that’s all I’m really asking for; who you vote for is obviously your own opinion.”

In last year’s one-voteper- household race, Pillsbury said, about 2,600 out of 6,900 ballots were cast.

“It would be great to see a lot more people get out and vote for no other reason than voicing your opinion, and this is your opportunity to do it,” Pillsbury said.

ELECTION OPENS NOV. 3

The election opens on VoteNet or by paper ballot on Nov. 3, and all ballots must be received by noon on Nov. 21.

If anyone has problems voting online, they may go to the Welcome Center for assistance.

At the top of the Oct. 17 meeting, the board voted on whether the 84 lots owned by the POA could be used to vote in the board election.

Braddock made a motion that the POA forgo voting any of the lots, and the move was seconded by Arguelles.

“All in favor with that motion, which is to NOT vote the POA lots, which has NOT been done in the last 15 years, to my knowledge?” President Brunetti asked.

The motion passed 7-0.

“I hope that satisfies our critics on Nextdoor, who again were misinformed as to the correct information,” Brunetti said.

The election results will be announced on Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. in the POA conference room and via the Tell-E-Flash newsletter. The results will be officially certified during a board meeting scheduled for Dec. 18.

Aside from the election, Pillsbury urged residents to participate in another big upcoming event: The Community Fest. It takes place at the Tellico Village Wellness Center from 4 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 27 — and Pillsbury will be sitting in the dunk tank.

“All of you will get to take out your frustrations on the dunk tank, and I look forward to heckling you all,” Pillsbury said. “But anyway, no, it’s going to be a lot of fun and it’s for an incredible cause, so please come out and participate in that as well.”