Vice Mayor Clay Crumbliss

10/28/2026

As we near Election Day on November 3, I’m sharing some of the key accomplishments of the past four years and my priorities for building on that progress over the next four.

10/27/2026

I’m proud to have the public endorsement of respected community members who have recognized different aspects of my work during my first four years of service to our Town. Thank you to each of you for your trust, support, and confidence in me.

You can read the full endorsements here:
https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/10/14/524678/Crumbliss-For-Signal-Town-Council.aspx

https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/10/15/524756/The-Job-s-Not-Done---Vote-For-Clay-Crumbliss.aspx

https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/10/21/525024/Crumbliss-And-Coyle-Have-Earned-The.aspx

https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/10/13/524646/Signal-Mountain-Fire-Fighters.aspx

10/26/2026

Short answer: An ordinance is local law, a resolution is a formal action of Town Council, and a policy is a rule or guideline for how the Town operates.

An ordinance is municipal legislation. It is the closest thing Town government has to a local law.

Certain actions must be taken by ordinance, including levying taxes, establishing certain fees or utility rates, creating rules that carry penalties, and amending or repealing an existing ordinance.

Signal Mountain ordinances also have a more formal adoption process. An ordinance must be considered and approved on two different days, receive the required Council votes, and at least one reading must occur at a regular Council meeting.

A resolution is also a formal action of Town Council, but it is generally used for matters that do not have to be accomplished by ordinance.

Resolutions can authorize agreements, approve expenditures, make certain appointments, express Council positions, or take other official actions. The Town’s annual budget, for example, is adopted by resolution.

A policy is a rule or guideline governing how the Town operates. Depending on the subject, a policy may be adopted by Council or established administratively by Town staff within their authority. A policy cannot conflict with an ordinance, the Town Charter, or state law.

An easy shorthand is:
Ordinance = local law
Resolution = formal Council action
Policy = operating rule or guideline

The form matters because different government actions require different legal procedures.

I’ll continue posting simple explainers like this about how our Town government works.

10/22/2026

Thank you to Kurt Wells for his endorsement and for recognizing my work to push back against Plan Hamilton’s approach to growth on Walden’s Ridge. Kurt has been a consistent and pragmatic voice on this issue, and I appreciate his strong advocacy for the mountaintop.

Much of the development pressure we are concerned about lies in the unincorporated areas of the ridgetop, where the Town does not have zoning authority. But we can lead by example within our own borders, continue advocating for area-specific planning across Walden’s Ridge, and ask our Hamilton County partners to ensure that roads, wastewater, emergency services, schools, and other infrastructure keep pace with development.

Growth should be manageable, sustainable, and, above all, safe. At a minimum, we need to make sure the infrastructure required to support the development that has already occurred is a priority.

I also believe Andrew Coyle would bring valuable experience to Town Council. His service on the Planning Commission has given him firsthand exposure to many of the land-use and growth issues facing our community, and I have appreciated his thoughtful involvement in that work.

Over the last couple years, I've been deeply involved in the efforts to protect Waldens Ridge from overdevelopment as several high-density subdivisions have...

10/22/2026

Short answer: The Town Manager prepares a proposed budget, and Town Council ultimately decides how the Town’s money will be spent.

Signal Mountain’s fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30.

The Town Manager and staff develop the proposed budget based on expected revenues, departmental needs, ongoing obligations, capital needs, and the priorities Council has established for the coming year.

Council then reviews the proposal, asks questions, considers changes, and ultimately adopts the annual budget by ordinance before the new fiscal year begins.

The budget is more than an accounting document. It is also one of the first ways Council puts its strategic priorities into action. A goal in a strategic plan does not accomplish much unless the Town provides the people, equipment, capital funding, or other resources needed to carry it out. The budget is where Council authorizes that spending and makes choices among competing priorities.

Adopting the budget also does more than estimate what the Town expects to spend. It appropriates, or legally authorizes, money for the purposes included in the budget.

And the process does not end on July 1. Revenues and expenditures are tracked throughout the year, and Council can amend the budget when circumstances change.

So at its simplest, the budget answers three basic questions: Where do we expect the money to come from? What are we authorizing it to be spent on? And how does that spending advance the Town’s priorities for the year?

I’ll continue posting simple explainers like this about how our Town government works.

10/21/2026

Want to know where I stand on commonly-asked questions?

10/20/2026

Early voting is happening now until Oct 29. Election Day is Nov 3. Make a plan and go VOTE!

The Signal Mountain Fire Fighters Association didn't pick these four candidates on a whim. We did the research - in-depth interviews with each one - because detail is life safety, and life safety is on the line. We're not here for popularity or a hidden agenda. Citizens' lives matter most to us, and we want to keep providing the best quality of care. These four - Crumbliss, Coyle, Scofield, and Gossett - will give us the tools to do that. When you vote, remember who will put you first.
International Association of Fire Fighters
Tennessee Professional Fire Fighters Association

10/19/2026

Short answer: Some of the infrastructure Signal Mountain residents use every day belongs to the Town, but some belongs to Hamilton County, the State of Tennessee, or other entities.

When we hear the word infrastructure, roads are usually the first thing that comes to mind. But the infrastructure serving Signal Mountain is owned and operated by several different governments and public entities.

The Town is responsible for much of the municipal infrastructure residents use every day. That includes Town streets, stormwater and drainage infrastructure, the Town water system, municipal buildings and facilities, Town-owned parks and recreation facilities, and the vehicles and equipment used to provide police, fire, public works, and other municipal services.

But not everything serving Signal Mountain belongs to the Town.

Ridgeway Avenue, for example, is US 127/State Route 8. It is a state highway under the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

The sewer system serving Signal Mountain is owned and operated by the Hamilton County Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority, not the Town.

Our public schools are operated by Hamilton County Schools and receive their local funding through Hamilton County government, along with state and federal funding. The Hamilton County Board of Education operates the school system, while the County Commission determines the amount of local funding provided through the County budget.

These distinctions matter because responsibility for maintenance, improvements, and funding generally follows the government or public entity that owns or controls the infrastructure.

So when someone asks, “Why doesn’t the Town just fix it?”, one of the first questions is often: Who actually owns it, and which government has the authority and responsibility to address it?

I’ll continue posting simple explainers like this about how our Town government works.

10/17/2026

Knocking on doors this chilly morning with these men from the Signal Mountain Fire Fighters Association. I am honored to have their endorsement and I’m grateful for their support of my re-election campaign.

These men and women do so much in our community to keep us safe by providing essential fire, medical, and rescue services. They deserve our unwavering support, and I’m committed to ensuring open, honest communication between council and the Association.

Early voting is happening now through Oct 29. Vote Clay Crumbliss for Town Council.

Out door knocking this morning in the neighborhoods! Vice Mayor Clay Crumbliss is out here with us. We’re handing out pamphlets and sharing info on our endorsed candidates. Hope everyone has a fantastic Saturday!

10/16/2026

Thank you to Del and Tom Francescon for this thoughtful endorsement. The Town’s financial position is one of the accomplishments I’m proudest of from my first term, and I hope to keep building on that progress over the next four years. I have tremendous respect for the Francescon family, which makes their support especially meaningful to me.

I met Clay when he first ran for Town Council a few years ago. We had a good meeting, and we’ve since communicated many times. My wife and I have been reside...