Sign rules highlight candidate meeting
However, the “hot topic” was the regulations regarding placement of political signs.
“All we can do in the Town is what the state allows us to do,” Town Community Development director Mark Shipley said. “The political sign provisions are governed through the Tennessee Code Annotated and Tennessee Freedom of Speech Act. That gives all municipalities and communities the baseline of what the state allows them to do. They can’t do more than what the state allows them to do.”
For the Town, “some of the big things for us is just making sure that the political signs are not on public properties, including public right-of-way,” Shipley said. “In 2025, we actually amended our sign ordinance to provide for clarity on where we consider the public right-of-way for purposes of sign placement.
“The Town utilizes a 12-foot setback to avoid signs on the right-of-way,” he said. “Keep all signs at least 12 feet from the curb or outer edge of the pavement along roads without a curb.
“Make sure that signs do not block or obstruct vision at roadway or driveway intersections,” Shipley said. “Please consider the perspective of drivers in different size or height vehicles.”
He said Town properties or facilities include all Town parks, Town Hall, the community center and “other properties owned by the Town, including the easternmost
corner at the intersection of West End Boulevard and Kingston Pike, next to Farragut Cleaners.”
Also, “only one sign per candidate, issue or subject is permitted on private property with the consent of the property owner,” Shipley said. “Please remember that the owner of the property is likely different from the tenant/lessee in a commercial center.
“Campaigns and candidates should make sure they have the permission of the property owner before putting up signs on the property,” he added.
On another subject, Town administrator Davis Smoak shared details about the Town, such as it was incorporated Jan. 16, 1980, and the first Board of Mayor and Aldermen was elected April 1, 1980.
In 1981, the Town’s population was 6,360. In 2025, the population was 25,242. The Town encompasses 16 square miles with 1 square mile of urban growth boundary.
Smoak also went over the Board’s duties, as well as the mayor’s duties; Town services; its strategic plan and organizational chart.
