ADVOCACY ROUNDUP FOR DECEMBER 2025
by Teresa Reed, VP Advocacy
The progress of Tanasi is nearing completion and that is very exciting for the entire community! The POA has requested funding for the audio-visual wiring and hardware as well as the items for the security infrastructure for Tanasi. Additionally, furniture and kitchen equipment funding was requested to ensure all the interior finishings of the Tanasi restaurant will be on site quickly available for the timely culmination of this project when the space is finished. Our new restaurant is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2026, so having the interior furnishings on site will allow for a timely completion of our new restaurant!
Two questions were asked of the new board during the December board meeting:
- Will the new board stop construction on the main pump station?
- Is the new board not going to open the Tanasi restaurant?
Response Question 1:
On Thursday, 12/11/25, several members of Tellico Village leadership, Matt Benoit, Mike Lackey and Joel Reed, met with LUB. During that meeting, LUB indicated they were unaware the village was changing the main pump station. LUB suggested the village stop work on the main pump station because LUB is going to increase their waste water processing for Tellico Village. Joel Reed indicated many reasons this project is wrong for the village but he thinks our main pump station project is too far along to stop the construction. Our public works continues to work to resolve our I&I (the unwanted rain water in sewer system.). This reduction is cost savings to the village and an assistance to LUB to have less sewer water to process.
Matt discussed the preliminary report for the dedicated sewer line with LUB. The excessive costs and challenges to build a dedicated line motivated LUB to look at different projects to aid the village in processing our sewer water. LUB is considering addressing the “pinch point” where all the sewer water of shared sewer lines meet or possibly build another treatment center on the other side of the lake. These plans are in consideration with limited specifics available.
Response Question 2:
Mike Lackey stated there was never a discussion to not open the Tanasi restaurant. According to Joel Reed, the board did engage in conversation concerning a phased in approach to opening Tanasi. In the 2026 budget, food service has requested an additional $500k subsidy for the Tanasi start up/operation, bringing the total food service subsidy budget to $909k for 2026. A phased in approach might consist of opening with a limited kitchen/limited bar food to start. Considering a phased opening would likely develop good operating practices as the staff learns their restaurant business in smaller bites. Some board members think a phased in start at Tanasi would reduce the negative effects of customer cannibalization from Toqua and the Yacht Club. Ultimately the board voted to pursue a full opening of Tanasi with a 3-2 vote.