News
July 2, 2025 by Tammy Cheek
A new Town budget for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026) was passed on second, and final, reading in a 3-2 vote when Farragut Board of Aldermen met in its regular session Thursday, June 24.
While Mayor Ron Williams, Vice Mayor Scott Meyer and Alderman Drew Burnette voted to approve the budget, Aldermen Alex Cain and David White voted against passing the budget (same vote results as with first reading Thursday, June 10).
“A year ago, we voted for the budget, I was a ‘no’ vote,” White said. “The reason being there was $500,000 within that budget for land procurement, which turned out, as everyone knows, to be a lawsuit … we needed $500,000 to actually take someone’s property against their will.”
White said he did not want to vote for the procurement, but the Board could not separate the vote on the budget and the vote on the procurement.
“Last meeting (June 10), the same thing occurred,” White said. “We did not separate the two, so it’s necessary for me to stay with my word and my belief that we should never take anybody’s property. I will be forced to vote against the entire (budget) again, unfortunately.”
“Last meeting (June 10), I was also a ‘no’ vote due to the same reasons as Alderman White,” Cain said. “When I came on this Board a little over a year ago, that was one of the things I was (against); we cannot do this kind of stuff to our citizens in this Town.
“And, I spoke, as a candidate, against this (Turkey Creek and Brixworth) project back then,” he added, also noting there are other projects in which he observed the Town did not have community input.“So I will be a ‘no’ vote also,” Cain added.
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July 2, 2025 by Tammy Cheek
The conservative fiscal nature of Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen has kept the Town in the black financially and maintained the meetings as a public opinion forum for 45 years.
This week, it was recognized for those efforts in Tennessee City Freedom Index.
With Index results announced today (Tuesday, July 1), Beacon Center of Tennessee, a free-market think tank based in Nashville that puts out the Index, has ranked Farragut No. 1 as 2025 Best for Cost of Government and No. 2 overall, climbing six spots in the overall rankings since 2020, according to Kylie Walker, communications manager for BCT.
The Town was second to Mount Juliet in the overall ranking, which was based on “fostering an environment that supports freedom and prosperity,” Mayor Ron Williams explained.
“This is a significant achievement, and we want to extend our sincere congratulations to you and your team for fostering an environment that supports freedom and prosperity,” Walker said in congratulating Williams and others.
The mayor attributed the cost of government ranking to how BOMA has run the Town without a property tax.
“We owe no one,” he said. The ranking “tells me we’re following our goals and vision.”
Williams said BCT conducts these rankings every five years, with the last ranking in 2020 when the Town ranked seventh overall.
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July 2, 2025 by Tammy Cheek
Farragut residents can expect some street work — resurfacing and other maintenance — in 2026, as Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved contracts for that work during its Thursday, June 24 meeting.
“A critical success factor from the Town’s Strategic Plan is ‘Advancing a High-Quality and Well-Maintained Community,’” said Eric Schindler, assistant Town engineer.
“Each year the Engineering staff examines our street network and determines our priorities within the limits of our annual resurfacing budget,” he added.
This year’s contract includes the resurfacing of Campbell Station Road from Old Colony Parkway to roughly 1,200 feet north of Parkside Drive, North Williamsburg Drive, South Williamsburg Drive, Georgetowne Drive, Boundary Lane, Crofton Lane, Russgate Boulevard, North Monticello Drive, Weather Vane Drive, Hearthside Road, Turtle Creek Drive, Old Tavern Circle, Brooklawn Street, Ivey Lake Drive from Cottage Stone Boulevard to Stone Villa Lane and Admiral Road.
“The total length of resurfacing is approximately 10.1 lane miles,” Schindler said, adding the Town received three bids on the contract on June 12: APAC-Atlantic, Inc. for $1.654,963.70; PRI of East Tennessee Inc., $2,465,492; and Duracap Asphalt Paving Company, Inc., $1,960,342.59.
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July 2, 2025 by
Among six top five finishes by farragutpress in the Tennessee Press Association contest among Non-Dailies in Group II (based on categories compiled from Jan. 1, 2024 through Dec. 31, 2024), this weekly newspaper earned one first place award as announced at the TPA’s annual banquet Saturday, June 28, in Memphis.
• Best Special Issue or Section: first place, “Courtney: end of an era”
Other top five finishes by farragutpress: -Best Sports Photograph, third; “Good job of capturing the action on the field; the clarity and colors in this photo are spot on,” the Arkansas Press Association judge stated.
• Best Sports Writing, third; “Solid, descriptive writing throughout,” the judge stated.
• Best Business Coverage, fourth; “Nice presentation and everything was well written (Tammy Cheek),” the judge stated.
• Headline Writing, fifth; “Very solid group of headlines,” the judge stated.
July 2, 2025 by
Shepherd of Hope food pantry’s more than 125 volunteers have been feeding and helping those less fortunate in Farragut and beyond.
The pantry started in 2012 with the brainchild and spirit of Faith Lutheran Church Pastor Bob Stelter, 225 Jamestowne Blvd. in Farragut.
At that time, the reaction was “We don’t have any poverty in Farragut,” SOH director Renee Stone said to Rotary Club of Farragut members during their meeting Wednesday, June 18.
“We found that not to be true at all,” she added.
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July 2, 2025 by
Farragut Museum will have a new entry, or “float,” for the Town of Farragut’s 37th Independence Day parade starting at 9:30 a.m., Friday, July 4, on Kingston Pike from Lendon Welch Way westward to just past Boring Road.
In recognition of the Town’s 45th Anniversary, the Farragut Museum committee has chosen to feature a birthday cake on its new entry. Town’s Parks Maintenance department constructed a 10-foot-tall cake replica that can be used for many occasions.
“The committee was very thoughtful about the design of the new float,” Historic Resources coordinator Kristi Vining said. “Next year, the float will be used to honor the 250th birthday of America, and in the future the float will commemorate Admiral David Farragut’s birthday on July 5, 1801.”
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July 2, 2025 by
• At 1:01 a.m., Saturday, June 28, Knox County Sheriff’s Office units were flagged down at 11220 Outlet Drive (Cotton Eyed Joe) by an employee regarding a female standing near the entrance door who was yelling at all employees nearby. When officers attempted to speak with suspect/arrestee, “she kept yelling about being removed from the bar,” the report stated. “I tried numerous times to get (suspect/arrestee) to calm down, but she kept screaming that “bitches were jealous” and calling the employees various names.
“During the time I was near (her), I could smell the odor of an unknown alcoholic beverage coming from about her person and breath,” the report further stated. “(Suspect/arrestee) was unsteady on her feet and her eyes were bloodshot and glassy.
“After several moments I was able to speak with (an employee) who works security for the bar,” the report further stated. “(He) stated (suspect/arrestee) had been removed for vaping within the business then became enraged and started yelling and refusing to leave. (This employee said) he wanted (her) criminally trespassed.”
After being advised she was criminally trespassed, suspect/arrestee “continued to yell over me and still scream at the employees,” the report further stated. “(She) would not stop screaming long enough for me to give her any explanation for why she had to leave the establishment. (Her) behavior caused numerous patrons to slow down and congest the entrance area. With (suspect/arrestee) refusing to leave and being extremely disorderly, I escorted her to my patrol vehicle.
“I arrested (her) for criminal trespassing, public intoxication and disorderly conduct.” She was subsequently transported to Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility by the jail transport wagon.
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