The Lenoir City Police Department is pulling out of the Loudon County Metro Narcotics Unit. 

Lenoir City Council voted Monday to dissolve the unit from the city's end. As the council's meeting began, Chief Don White asked its members to add an item on its agenda to consider dissolving the unit. Council members agreed and then took action. 

Council member Eddie Simpson made the motion, which was seconded by Douglas Buddy Hines. Most voted for the disillusionment except Tony Aikens, chief deputy with Loudon County Sheriff's Office, abstained from the vote. He did note, however, he does agree with the chief's request. 

The metro narcotics unit is an agreement between Lenoir City, the City of Loudon and Loudon County Sheriff's Office. 

"When this unit was formed, I'm thinking that was probably 12, 13 years ago, the two cities and the county put together some funds to start this program," White explained. "They assigned each agency an officer, an investigator, to the unit. And, over the last 10 to 12 years, we've had to pull out because of personnel issues, just not having the manpower to actually participate in the unit.

"For the last three or four years we have not had anyone actively assigned," the chief said. "We have had a meeting with the sheriff and the Loudon police chief and we stopped the funds where they were at that point. Loudon County Sheriff's Office still operates solely with their manpower," White said. "We just don't have the resources to do it currently, and Loudon City had pulled out some years ago as well; so we felt like it would be in the best interest to go ahead and draw up the proper documents to dissolve the unit."

He noted there is approximately $89,000 just sitting in an account, which is being controlled by the county. Once the unit is dissolved, that money would be divided among the two police departments and the sheriff's office. All the equipment purchased would go to the sheriff's office. 

"At some point in the future, we could always bring it back up," he added. 

Dissolving the unit would free up the funds for the agencies.

"Right now we can use those funds because we do have a vehicle that was totaled and we've got to replace that, and it would be an opportunity to do that," White said, adding there is enough money in the fund to make the purchase.

Subsequently, the council approved the purchase of a new vehicle, replacing the wrecked car, from Alexander Automall in Murfreesboro. The quoted price was $22,719, but that figure does not include the cost to outfit the car with necessary equipment, Mayor Matt Brookshire noted. The dissolving of the drug unit is expected to be in about a week to 10 days. 

The dissolving of the unit, however, does not leave the city unprotected. 

White said the sheriff's office still works inside the cities and helps them with their street-level narcotic busts.  

"Jason Butler, who's now assigned to the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) still works with the sheriff's office," the chief said. 

"The sheriff's office, as always, as you (White) said, worked with the police departments, and the sheriff is going to continue to do so," Aikens assured. "That's going to be done.

"I just want the public to be aware of that," he said.  

In other business, the council:

• Approved the hiring of a Cannon & Cannon Inc., a Knoxville engineering firm, to perform stormwater-related work for the city. This would include investigating the city's stormwater program. 

• Postponed action on a recommendation from the purchasing committee concerning adding the city attorney to the city vehicle use policy. 

• Discussed the city's new Web site at www.lenoircitygov.com. Citizens will be able to find information, such as city council agendas and meetings' minutes; business licenses, tax rate information, liquor license renewals and hotel/motel taxes; trash pick-up schedules; applications for employment; control burn rules; and parks and recreation's youth sports applications, Memorial Building rental applications and other forms and upcoming events. A Web page for codes enforcement is under currently under construction.