Town bids farewell to outgoing Board members
Williams and Meyer, representing the North Ward, bothwere term-limited, with North Ward Alderman Alex Cain succeeding Williams as mayor and Joey Ruffalo succeeding Meyer. After being sworn in as mayor, Cain will have to appoint someone to his North Ward alderman seat. Alderman Joe LaCroix was defeated in the election by Greg Wiberley, who is to be sworn in, along with Cain and Ruffalo, just before the Thursday, Aug. 27, Board meeting.
Prior to the meeting, citizens crowded the conference room to speak to the three Board members. Then at the beginning of the Aug. 13 meeting, Town administrator David Smoak presented a plaque and framed photograph to the Board “celebrating the Board members that will be rolling off the Board here,” he said.
“This is their last Board meeting this evening,” he added. “Being a public servant, being an alderman, being a mayor, is a very difficult position but a very rewarding one. And, I think they will all say that in some different way, shape or form.
“Volunteering for your community is one of the best services you can possibly give, and they do it with their heart each and every day,”
Smoak said. “We wanted to celebrate each of them … in grateful recognition of dedicated service … extending its sincere gratitude and appreciation for your faithful public service …”
LaCroix has served as South Ward 2 alderman since he was appointed in late 2025, replacing the late Alderman David White following White’s passing. Since his appointment, he started the “office hours,” in which he meets with citizens to listen to their concerns.
Meyer has served since 2018, both as North Ward alderman and vice mayor, for which he served the last couple of years. He advocated for infrastructure, such as the Union Road improvements; school area safety improvements and long-term capital project oversight.
Williams has served the Town for 10 years, first as alderman starting in 2016, then as mayor starting in 2018. He led a full-town revitalization to eliminate derelict structures and bring in new commerce and was involved in the Biddle Farms at Town Center development and advancing road and other infrastructure projects.
“I’m saying goodbye to the best job I’ve ever known,” Williams said.
“It’s the only one I’ve ever asked for in my whole life. You think it would be sad, but how can it be? This farm kid who grew up in the small town of Powell that was elected for a job that never felt like a job but a mission.
“I’ve taken the journey farther than I ever imagined,” he said. “For me it has been an incredible run that will soon be in the rearview mirror … I hope I can continue working in some small way with some of the same causes and many more to make a difference
because they made a difference with me .. I’m grateful for yesterday and hopeful for tomorrow.”
“I do appreciate, more than I can really express, how much time you people [Board members] spend doing this job,” Town attorney Tom Hale said.
While he acknowledged Board members do get thanked every now and then, the attorney observed, “What I think is the hardest part of the job, though, is to spend hours and hours and hours just understanding what it is we’re doing here and what the decisions are to be made. Most people don’t have a clue how much time is spent by these unpaid volunteers to do what they do.”
Smoak said he looked at the Board’s votes over two years, and observed of the 284 votes, 94% were unanimous.
“That means the Board’s pretty united on most of the things that come through this body,” he said. “There were only 16 votes they were not unanimous on.
“I think this Board does a great job,” Smoak added. “I’ve worked with 14 different elected officials in my time here. We’re going to have three more – and probably a fourth – soon that I’m going to get the opportunity to work with.”
During the citizen comments portion, also at the end of the meeting, several residents expressed their gratitude to the three Board members.
“I’m here to say thank you,” said Jerry Martin, a Knoxville attorney who lives in Farragut. “You all serve in a
thankless position. … for what you all do, the time and the effort that it takes and that you all invested in this town.”
Among others, Alderman-elect Joey Ruffalo also thanked the outgoing Board members for their service, as did Farragut Municipal Planning Commissioner Derek Wright.
To Williams, Wright said he has seen the mayor all over town, “and now I understand your love of the community is unparalleled … I think we lose sight of that … I want this town to be a place of unity and harmony.”
“I believe we are all on the same page more than we are apart,” Kim Parks said. “We may disagree about policies, priorities and how decisions should be made, but I believe everyone here in this room cares deeply about Farragut and wants this community to succeed,” she said.
“Public service requires countless hours away from your family, and I greatly appreciate it.”
