Fond farewells to Povlin aplenty from Town brass
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Vice Mayor Louise Povlin received a hug from a few well wishers, such as local residential developer Bob Mohney, during a reception for Povlin — term-limited after eight years as a North Ward alderman — in Farragut Community Center Thursday, Aug. 8. - Tammy Cheek
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Vice Mayor Louise Povlin stands alongside fellow Farragut Board Of Mayor and Aldermen members, from left, Aldermen David White and Scott Meyer, Mayor Ron Williams and Alderman Drew Burnette, along with Town administrator David Smoak, for a final photo with the Board Thursday, Aug. 8. Povlin, who is term-limited, served in her last meeting as vice mayor/North Ward alderman Aug. 8. - Tammy Cheek
“Always prepared … outstanding … an educator” were the attributes describing outgoing Vice Mayor Louise Povlin.
Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen honored Povlin, who is term-limited, with a reception in Farragut Community Center before its meeting Thursday, Aug. 8.
“We will miss her, hopefully, not for long,” said Mayor Ron Williams, who described her as “outstanding.”
“Louise is one of the hardest-working aldermen I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with,” Town administrator David Smoak said. “One thing I can say is she is always well-prepared for any kind of discussion that we have at the Board level.
“She’s very thoughtful and has worked hard the last (eight) years that she’s been on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen,” he added. “It’s been a pleasure to work with her all these years.”
“Louise’s service has been paramount to the Town of Farragut,” fellow North Ward Alderman Scott Meyer said. “We’re certainly going to miss her, no question about it.
“I know she was a great mentor to me when I first joined the Board,” he added. “She has always educated folks — she educated me — she’s just an educator, and she’s one of those folks who would take time out to help anybody … she’s a great asset.”
“She’s served This town really well,” said Alderman Drew Burnette, who serves the South Ward. “She loves and dedicates herself to research and coming very prepared to Planning Commission and Board meetings, and she’s done a phenomenal job, and (we’re) so thankful for her service.”
Additionally, Board members and attorney Tom Hale shared their sentiments during the meeting, where Povlin provided her last thoughts.
Relating the achievements of which she is proud, Povlin said she was able to “internalize the founding values of this great Town that (co-founder Eric Johnson, in attendance) helped establish and build” while praising all who supported her along the way.
About Town staff, “I appreciate you all being so willing to answer my many questions and provide information and background when I needed it,” she said. “Your professionalism, knowledge and experience is greatly appreciated.”
Of the Board, Povlin said, “I truly appreciate your willingness to serve. We’ve not always seen eye to eye, but for the most part I’ve felt heard and respected.
“Mayor Williams, you and I started this journey together in 2016,” the vice mayor added. “I feel like we complement each other. We’re both engineers by training, very analytical, very pragmatic and looking to solve problems.
“It’s been an honor to serve as your vice mayor for the last eight years. During your administration we’ve accomplished so many goals the early Board members put in place.”
Povlin also praised her husband, Jay Povlin, her “rock and most steadfast supporter.”
“I would like to thank Vice Mayor Povlin for her excellent work,” Hale said. “Always attentive, always on top of the subjects and easy to work with.
“I appreciate her willingness of (she and the whole Board) to put themselves out there,” the attorney added. “It’s not so easy these days to do this. It’s very difficult when people are accusing you of doing things that you haven’t done …
“We’re going to have to make some changes in this society if we’re going to keep good people.”
FMPC service also ends
As Povlin ends her eight-plus years with the Board, she also steps off of Farragut Municipal Planning Commission, on which she has served since 2013.
“She is the Planning Commission Board member,” Williams said. “I will eventually choose someone else, not sure who.”
“Well, I guess I’ve been on the Planning Commission longer than anybody,” FMPC Vice Chairman Ed St. Clair said. “And, when she came on the Planning Commission … right off, she was sitting next to me, and she always showed up and she was extremely well-prepared.
“She’s an engineer by education and showed up with her meticulous attention to detail and her preparation,” St. Clair added about Povlin. “I really enjoyed sitting next to her and actually learning from her, too, because she really dug into the issues. Back when I was still working full-time, too, she got to the bottom of things, and she was the hardest worker I’ve seen on the Planning Commission during my service.”
Background
Originally from New Jersey, Povlin moved to Farragut as an adult. However, she graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Science degree in ceramic engineering before moving to Washington, D.C., to work at the Naval Research Laboratory as a research engineer.
Povlin later moved to New York City to work as a patent paralegal. While in New York, she met Jay, a Middle Tennessee native. They have three children: Jack, Jared and Joshua Povlin.
After Jay’s job took the family to Ohio, Wisconsin and South Carolina for eight years, they subsequently returned to Farragut in 2008. She and Jay opened Anytime Fitness in October 2012.
Town service timeline
Povlin was a Fox Run Homeowners Association board member from 2012 to 2015.
She was appointed to the Planning Commission in July 2013 before being appointed to fill a vacant Board of Mayor and Aldermen seat in January 2016. She was elected to a full term in August 2016 and re-elected in August 2020.
