Article by Olivia Lupia, Tennessee Conservative News –
The Signal Mountain Conservative Club hosted a Town Council candidate forum last week, allowing eight candidates vying for four seats to offer their views on issues like development, taxes, infrastructure, and public safety.
Participating in the forum were Andrew Coyle, Councilmember Miles Jorgensen, Rufus Marye, John Foreman, Signal Mountain Vice Mayor Clay Crumbliss, Scott Gossett, Chris Gailmard, and Austin Scofield.
Each candidate was allotted two minutes for opening remarks and general statements about why they are seeking a seat, or reelection, on the council and their background or experience before turning to questions about pressing issues facing the area.
While topics varied across the event, several candidates repeatedly returned to the overarching concern of accommodating future development without overwhelming schools, emergency services, and other infrastructure.
*Article continues below…
Watch on Facebook HERE!
Watch on X HERE, or Rumble HERE.
Listen to the Podcast HERE or below.
Plan Hamilton & Future Development
The first discussion centered on Plan Hamilton, where most of the candidates agreed in their general opposition to the most current iteration of the plan.
“I think none of us like it and none of us agree with it,” Scofield said. “And the biggest problem with growth up here, which we all know is an area we don’t control and Walden doesn’t control. At this point, I think all we can do is keep working with our county commission and all hopefully be dedicated to doing everything we can to communicate how unhappy we are and how that’s not something that’s working for us, and explain over and over and over again what the infrastructure is like up here, what the roads are like, work with our county commissioner and just try and get it through their heads that this is something that needs to change or they need to have some kind of variance for up here due to unique circumstances.”
Crumbliss noted the council previously approved a resolution opposing the current version of the plan, arguing that additional development does not necessarily generate enough new revenue to cover the cost of the required services of that growth. He also agreed that town officials should continue pressing Hamilton County leaders for amendments creating different zoning and development standards for mountaintop areas.
Coyle called for an “infrastructure first” approach, saying Signal Mountain’s limited access points make development different from other parts of the county, while Jorgensen pointed to emergency evacuation considerations, noting that road closures could create serious problems during a wildfire or other emergency.
Most candidates urged greater cooperation between Signal Mountain, Walden, and county representatives to present a more unified position to Hamilton County officials, though some were varied in their opinions on development overall.
One candidate said the town should “pump the breaks right now,” citing road and safety concerns, while another called for no new subdivisions or additional high-density housing.
In contrast, Foreman took a more measured approach, saying that rather than an automatic “yes” or “no” regarding new development, proposals should be evaluated based on how they would affect the greater community, with special emphasis on “smart development” that preserves the mountain’s small-town character.
Grocery Stores
Regarding another grocery store in Signal Mountain, the majority seemed to express little enthusiasm for locating another large store inside of Signal Mountain itself, noting that residents already have access to Pruett’s Food on the mountain, along with Aldi, Food City, Walmart, and other options at the bottom of the mountain.
However, several candidates did say they would not be opposed to another grocery store farther out in the unincorporated portion of the mountain or a different, less congested location so long as consideration is taken for traffic and infrastructure needs.
Foreman again urged against taking an automatic position for against such a project, saying that factors like location, size, appearance, and traffic impact would need to be considered.
Perhaps most notably, Crumbliss called the grocery store a “non-issue” for the town, saying he is unaware of any current proposals for a grocery store within the town limits and that council members would likely have “almost no say” on a project located in unincorporated Hamilton County.
Tax Increases & Nonprofits
Candidates then offered their thoughts on tax increases and how the town is spending taxpayer dollars, with most voicing a strong opposition to any raises. Several gave an unequivocal “no” while others stopped short of promising taxes would never increase, though they reiterated that any increase should only be considered if officials have exhausted other options.
Coyle noted the town council had done relatively well with their stewardship lately, leaving the town with a surplus. He suggested a portion of that surplus should be put towards investments and infrastructure that has not been addressed for years prior because the town could not afford it.
Jorgensen said the town has for the last four years “continued to streamline the town budget to make sure stuff is utilized at the maximum and we’ve got a lot of efficiencies. So, I think we need to keep on that same track… I think the more transparent we are with our finances, the better it is for everybody.”
Marye countered that there was room for improvement in the budget and how that money was spent. “We just bought a $389,000 garbage truck, which I personally think we could have gotten a used one for about a third that price. We’re discussing the pool, currently, the daily rate, Signal Mountain residents are paying the exact same rate as people who don’t live on Signal Mountain. I think people who don’t live on Signal Mountain who go to the pool should be paying at least double. I think that’s fair because our tax dollars provide the funding for that pool. I’d like to use my business background to provide a little bit more efficiency,” he said.
Most of the candidates also concurred that tax dollars should not be distributed to nonprofit organizations
“The government doesn’t need to be donating on your behalf. That’s something you need to do for something that you value,” Jorgensen said in a general summation of the candidates’ thoughts.
Candidate Priorities
When each candidate was asked to name his top three priorities, infrastructure and controlling development emerged as a common answer, with several candidates pointing to roads, sidewalks, deferred maintenance, emergency access, and town facilities as areas requiring continued attention.
Scofield said that alongside slowing development, his top priority would be to direct surplus revenue to existing infrastructure rather than “fun stuff or pet projects.”
Crumbliss agreed, adding the town should continue using its improved financial situation to address decades of deferred maintenance through a long-term capital investment plan and saying the goal should be to prioritize projects in advance instead of making spending decisions in isolation from year to year.
Public safety was a second highly mentioned priority, with many candidates emphasizing the need to provide support for retention of police officers and firefighters.
“We need to protect and support the people who keep us safe- the police, the fire. We’ve got to keep the happy. We’ve got to give them what they need to protect us and keep us safe,” Gailmard said.
Gossett added, “If you look at the um the survey that was done this past year, safety is a big thing. And so, I think we need to look at fire and police very closely. I think turnover in the fire department is pretty insane. And we need to look at that and try to retain some of our guys that have the experience rather than using that as a steppingstone for them to go off to other departments.”
In Conclusion
Despite differences in approach, throughout the forum nearly all candidates repeatedly returned to a similar theme of preserving what residents value about Signal Mountain’s distinct character while confronting the realities of growth.
While some called for more aggressive restrictions on development, others favored a case-by-case approach, but overall, concerns about roads, public safety, infrastructure, schools, and finances were prevalent talking points through the event.
Four of the five seats on the Signal Mountain Council are up for election in November, making the upcoming contest significantly consequential for the direction of the town over the coming years.
Signal Mountain voters who missed the forum or would like to hear full candidate answers can watch the video or listen to the podcast of the entire event.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
