SIGNAL MOUNTAIN — The Signal Mountain Town Council will convene a special meeting on Friday, June 26, 2026, at 8 a.m. to vote on abandoning a state grant for sidewalk construction and purchasing a new garbage truck. The council held a meeting on Monday, June 22, 2026, during which members discussed both topics.

A consensus of the council favors abandoning the state grant funding from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). Mayor Elizabeth Baker supported abandoning the grant, suggesting that property owners become responsible for sidewalk construction with town assistance. Councilman Charles Poss advocated for continued use of the grant money, stating that the council's role is to provide services for all residents.

Sidewalk construction in the Old Town neighborhood has been under consideration for 10 to 12 years. Signal Mountain previously accepted a TDOT grant to help fund these sidewalks, which required the town to pay 20 percent of the project cost. Last year, the town divided the project and reduced the scope of work covered by the grant after specifications changed continually, increasing costs and delaying construction. The public works department built some sidewalks using town funds. A decision on the grant must be made before TDOT approves funding for right-of-way acquisition. Missing this deadline would require Signal Mountain to repay funds already spent on construction.

Regarding the garbage truck, all council members except Miles Jorgenson favored buying a new one. Public Works Director Wesley Stokes explained that the town operates two garbage trucks, one primary and one backup. Stokes stated that continuous use of the truck complicates diagnosis of problems. He indicated that purchasing a truck currently in stock would cost $389,000, while a rent-to-own option would cost $450,000. Renting a truck monthly would cost $10,300. The town has a vehicle replacement fund containing $216,000. If a new truck is purchased, the current primary vehicle would become the backup.