Loudon City Council approves series of grant matches, contracts and schedules; schedules annexation hearing

The Loudon City Council on Oct. 2 approved a series of motions to pursue grant funding, authorize local matches and schedule public hearings, and took first reading on a rezoning ordinance for property at 448 Hope Drive.

Council voted to authorize submission of a park improvements grant that would require a local match of up to $1,000,000 from the city recreation fund for a total project cost estimated at $2,000,000, contingent on receiving the grant award. The council also preliminarily authorized participation in a Tennessee Riverline regional planning grant with a local match of $497,800 for a $950,000 total project, subject to award and implementation conditions.

Council approved a project order with Kimberly Horn and Associates for recreation and park consulting services (project order number referenced in the meeting) and set a regular schedule for the city beer board to meet at 4 p.m. on the second Wednesday of even-numbered months when applications are received.

The council adopted a resolution calling for a public hearing on Nov. 24 to consider owner-consent annexation and an approved plan of services for roughly 5 acres at 448 Hope Drive (tax map 040B Group A Parcel 8). During the same portion of the meeting the council read an ordinance on first reading to rezone that parcel from county A-2 to city R-1 (low-density residential), citing Tennessee Code Annotated sections discussed in the meeting; the planning commission had recommended approval unanimously.

Most procedural items received voice approval after motions and seconds. Where the meeting recorded only voice votes, the motions were passed by the council through the recorded "aye" responses.

Items noted for information only during the session included a fuel-quote summary dated Oct. 2, 2025, reporting a low deliverable price from Rogers Petroleum for a projected $18,258 purchase.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded in the meeting): - Adopt agenda — motion seconded, approved by voice vote. - Approve Sept. 22 minutes — approved by voice vote. - Pay-classification amendment (add "tourism" to classification plan; no salary change) — motion seconded, approved by voice vote. - Authorize park improvements grant application (local match up to $1,000,000 for $2,000,000 project) — approved by voice vote. - Authorize participation in Tennessee Riverline grant (local match $497,800 for $950,000 project) — approved by voice vote. - Approve Kimberly Horn and Associates project order for parks consulting — approved by voice vote. - Authorize beer-board meeting schedule — approved by voice vote. - Adopt resolution to call public hearing on annexation (448 Hope Drive) — motion seconded, approved by voice vote. - Ordinance on first reading to rezone 448 Hope Drive from county A-2 to R-1 — first reading held; roll-call recorded as "Aye" by council members present.

The council did not list recorded tallies for many voice votes in the meeting transcript. Formal roll-call was recorded for the ordinance first reading with affirmative responses logged.