The Tellico Village HomeOwners Association hosted a forum Thursday for five candidates seeking two spots on the Tellico Village Property Owners Association Board of Directors.
Voting is Oct. 29-Nov. 16.
Candidates Mike Braddock, Ed Grollemond, Don Hart, George Luttrell and Mark Pantley shared personal background and responses to advance questions. Lavonne Mitchell moderated the forum, which included questions from the audience, at Community Church at Tellico Village.
Braddock and his wife have been residents since 2015. He was a business executive and manager with more than 27 years of leadership experience in financial accounting, income tax and internal auditing, and business development.
He has been a member of the Finance Advisory Committee since January and helped create and recommend an updated policy to better manage short-term investments and increase returns. He has served as a systems replacement project consultant and on the Food Services Management Selection Committee.
As a board member, he said he would advocate the financial management of assets, specifically mentioning upcoming projects for water and sewer. Improved communication would equip the POA and board to be better prepared for decisions, he said.
Braddock said he wants to meet with every department head to understand the challenges faced and attend at least one meeting of each advisory committee.
Grollemond and his wife moved to the Village in 2014. He has expertise managing small and large information technology projects of varying budgets.
He said he worked with others to obtain a $1.6 million state grant to install fiber-optic internet in Kahite, which he said saved the POA $750,000. He said he also helped facilitate a partnership to obtain a $16 million state grant to improve internet for Tellico Plains and Coker Creek.
As chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee for two years, Grollemond said he co-authored the Master Land Use Plan in 2022. He served on three POA committees 2016-2023.
Grollemond emphasized a need to improve communication between POA departments, the board and property owners. He said he would like to tap into the vast knowledge and expertise of residents to improve the community.
“If you look for somebody who can get things done, I’ve got a record of getting things accomplished here,” he said. “I’ve worked with the committees, I’ve worked with the departments and I know the people. I know how to get things done in the Village.”
Hart and his wife have lived in the Village for three years. His second time running for the board, Hart’s background includes real estate and management consulting for small business. He has been an auto mechanic and co-owned gas stations.
Hart described himself as a people person.
“I come before you because what I bring to the table is a need and a desire to make sure that you know what really is going on with the POA board,” Hart said.
He said he believes at least once a quarter each member of the board should be in the community talking to residents and listening about issues.
Luttrell retired in 2015 and has a 42-year background in engineering and construction. He worked on projects of various budgets across the globe, including the People’s Republic of China. He said during his professional career he found people and communications were the most valuable assets when completing projects.
He serves on the board of New Villagers and worked to improve communications to members. He said he would focus on property values and transparency.
Citing the example of the rebuilding of the Tanasi Golf Course Clubhouse, Luttrell said the board needs more technical expertise. He said he is concerned about Village infrastructure of the Village that must be brought up to code in an economical fashion.
Pantley and his wife have been residents since 2016. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he has a background in accounting and worked in various domestic and international roles in the oil and energy sector.
He was president of the HOA in 2022 and 2023 and was HOA Vice President of Advocacy in 2020 and 2021.
Pantley said he has witnessed much growth in the Village and recognizes utilities, amenities and aging infrastructure will be ongoing challenges. He noted that many community residents are on fixed incomes and can’t always afford everything they might need.
He said growth needs to be controlled and suggested amenities should only be added because of residential demand and the need for capital improvements.
Pantley also said he is concerned about aesthetics and the environment, emphasizing the POA must strive to maintain the natural beauty of the area.
All candidates were asked about their top goal if elected.
Braddock said he would pay the most attention to infrastructure because without adequate water, sewer and road services all other amenities become secondary. For 2024, a focus would be on food service management, he said.
Grollemond described the need for better technology to improve communication. He also agreed food service should be a priority and referenced his experience on the Kahite Pub Food Service Committee since 2018.
Hart focused on the cost of improving infrastructure and where the funding would come from.
Grollemond said the Village has a 30-year plan to replace water, roads and sewer and suggested the POA can work to secure funding through a budgeting and planning process.
Because of his background, Luttrell said infrastructure would command his attention.
Pantley said he would seek to improve communication and transparency. He said he believes the POA does a good job of keeping the community informed but would like to see “the why” of decisions shared with residents. He also said an emergency broadcast system is needed to warn Villagers in a major event.
A member of the audience asked if candidates would support an entry fee to the Village as discussed earlier this year in the state legislature.
Pantley said the matter could have been handled better. He said the fee is a tax and would not support it.
Luttrell said he could see benefits and downsides but doesn’t yet have an opinion.
Hart said he would say “no” but believes the proposal needs more investigation.
Grollemond said the POA must find alternative revenue sources that don’t impact resident pockets. He said the fee is one way to finance infrastructure needs and improvements.
While he supports the idea in theory, Braddock said the measure as proposed needs revision. He questioned details such as what happens when a property is inherited by children. He said any state legislation must give the board as much control as possible.
