If you believe the weather reports, and at this point I do, then looks like it's another end-of-the-week snow job. Heh.
Anyhoo, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett said in response to this evening's winter weather advisory, the highway crews will begin applying brine to county roads after rush hour - about 6 p.m. - and will continue to treat primary and secondary roads until midnight.
To report a problem with a county road, please call 865-215-5800
No word yet on whether the mayor will join the brine crew again for another round of misadventures.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Police chief to seek 40 new officers
Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch |
I wrote a story today about Knox County
Sheriff Jimmy “J.J.” Jones' plan to ask for 20 more deputies to
patrol the schools. (Click right smack here.)
Well, he's not the only one who wants more officers.
In talking to Knoxville Police Chief
David Rausch yesterday, he told me that he's going to ask the city's
administration to restore 40 positions.
I didn't really get into in my story,
since it was mostly about school security and Rausch said he doesn't
plan to put any new officers – if he gets them – in the schools.
He said in 2003 the department was
authorized to hire 456 officers, but over the years the prior
administration (re: Gov. Big Bill) cut a number of unfilled jobs. The chief said at the time, the department wasn't
retaining the positions, so it did make some sense.
“We're at 416 now – and that's our
authorized full strength, but the reality is there's a need for 456,”
he told me. “But that doesn't mean we can't keep the city safe.
Obviously we can.”
He said he's already mentioned the 40
positions to Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero and several City Council
members.
He also acknowledged that the request will cost some serious coin. My guess - based on what the county pays is that it would be at least $4 million for training, equipment and
salaries/benefits in the first year and then about half that
afterward.
“The reality is that it costs a lot
of money,” he said. “It's a $100,000 an officer from the hiring
process through training and through equipment. That's the initial
cost. It goes down a little more to sustain it, but it's a lot of
money.”
On a side note, I did hear a joke that
if the city gets the extra officers, then instead of clocking motorists every 200 yards on I-40, they'll be clocking them at every
100 yards.
Heh.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Psychiatrists versus Bartenders
Saw this somewhere. Got a kick out of
it. Figured I'd share. Conversation overheard. Joke. All that.
So, ever since I was a kid, I've had a
fear of someone hiding under my bed at night. I go to one of those
headshrinkers and tell him:
“I've got problems. Every time I go
to bed, I think there's someone under it. I'm scared. I think I'm
going crazy.
The shrink: “Just put yourself in my
hands or a year. Come talk to me three times a week and we should be
able to get rid of those fears.
“How much do you charge,” I asked.
Shrink: “$80 per visit.
“I'll sleep on it,” I said.
Six months later, the doctor met me on
the street. “Why didn't you come see me about those fears you were
having?” he asked.
“Well, $80 for a visit three times a
week for a year is a ton of coin! A bartender cured me for $10. I was
so happy to have saved all that scratch I went about bought me a new
pickup!”
“Is that so,” he said with a bit of
an attitude. “And how, may I ask, did a bartender cure you?”
“He told me to cut the legs off the
bed. Ain't nobody under there now!”
Heh.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
School transparency grade improves
Well, darn. It wasn't 100 percent correct. But, hey, I'll admit when I get it wrong. (Which is like never. Heh.) Anyhoo, I'd normally just update the prior post, but there's been some confusion apparently.
Sooooo, the previous posts notes that the school system got a "C-" grade for transparency but the kind folks in the communications department argued otherwise.
Turns out, loathe as I am to admit it, school spin doctress Melissa Ogden is correct. The system actually got a "B-" grade in the latest evaluation, which I believe was in December. The other score was for May.
According to Kristin Decoy over at Sunshine Review, the organization that scored local and state governments, the reports were duplicated on different parts of the website. So, everything is now updated. Click right smack here and all that.
Sooooo, the previous posts notes that the school system got a "C-" grade for transparency but the kind folks in the communications department argued otherwise.
Turns out, loathe as I am to admit it, school spin doctress Melissa Ogden is correct. The system actually got a "B-" grade in the latest evaluation, which I believe was in December. The other score was for May.
According to Kristin Decoy over at Sunshine Review, the organization that scored local and state governments, the reports were duplicated on different parts of the website. So, everything is now updated. Click right smack here and all that.
Government transparency grades out
I thought this was kind of interesting.
I'm not going into a lot of detail, but you can follow the links.
The Sunshine Review, which says it's a
national non-profit dedicated to state and local government
transparency, just released it's “2013 Transparency Report Card”
that graded every state and the largest counties, cities and school
district within each state.
Anyhoo, Tennessee is ranked 24 and
received a “B” overall. Find the report card right smack here.
Knox County got an “A-” which you can check out here.
Knoxville got a “B.”
And the county's school district got a“C-”, which is actually surprising considering
taxpayer spend about $1 million on the system's PR/spin team. Heh.
Gee, go figure. The least expensive
communications department ends up getting the best grade.
On a side note, California ranked No. 1 and Nebraska ranked No. 50.
UPDATE: School system spin department says it really received a "B-" and not a "C-". Melissa Ogden supplied a link with pretty much zero detail. You can find it right smack here. Eh, you decide. I'm moving on. I got a funny story to tell about the city's communication-less department that I need to get to.
UPDATE: School system spin department says it really received a "B-" and not a "C-". Melissa Ogden supplied a link with pretty much zero detail. You can find it right smack here. Eh, you decide. I'm moving on. I got a funny story to tell about the city's communication-less department that I need to get to.
Who really owns that county school?
Officials with the Knox County Commission and the
Board of Education in the next month or so will meet to discuss which
party's name gets placed on the deeds of four elementary schools.
But, at this point, it looks like
there's just no way the BOE will get official ownership of at least
one of them.
Here's the deal: The school board
recently approved a resolution that puts the deeds to
Brickey-McCloud, Amherst and Gibbs elementary schools and the
yet-to-be-built “Southwest” Elementary School in its name, rather
than the county's name.
Officials say – and you can find the
story right smack here – that it's just in case the buildings are
sold as surplus property then it will be clear that the money goes back to
the school system. (There's a whole 'nother debate going on about
whether a name on the deed really means jack, and that's coming.)
The resolution was then brought to the
county commission, which balked. Instead, members said the newly formed education committee will more than likely take up the issue in
February.
Still, at this point, it doesn't appear
that the deed for Southwest Elementary School, which doesn't actually
have an official name, will be transferred.
You see, the county took out Qualified Zone Academy Bonds, or QZABs, to build it. In fact the county issued
$29 million worth in fiscal year 2011, according to finance records.
The Southwest piece is a little over $15 million and the rest is for
various other schools.
Now the problem. If the county turns
the deed over, then it would violate the loan agreement (which says
you can't transfer property) and risk losing the entire $29 million.
That would mean heading back out to the market and issuing more
bonds, possibly at a higher interest rate.
In other words, it would create a big
headache.
As for the other three pieces of
property. I think it's possible that the commission approves the
resolution to transfer the deeds. But, I would not be surprised if a
new issue comes up: Whether it really matter whose name is on them.
There is some talk that it is all
“county” property, meaning any money from surplus school property
– even if the deed says “Knox County Board of Education “ –
goes into the county's general fund for the administration and
commission to spend.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Hang with the mayor at Nick & J's
The county on Friday will continue its
“lunch with the mayor” series, this time at Nick & J's Cafe
at the Lovell Road exit off Pellissippi Parkway. The event, as
always, is Dutch treat, and the restaurant – according to its
website – will serve “southern comfort food in a delightful diner
setting."
The luncheons are an offshoot of the
mayor's “cash mob,” a concept that encourages people to show up
at a small business at the same time and shop. It appears that the
luncheons will move to a once-a-month schedule and the mobs will
become a quarterly event.
In the meantime, Burchett still makes fun of his chief of staff for trying to shoot down the whole (so far successful) concept when he first proposed it.
Education panel starts to take form
Knox County Commission Chairman Tony Norman appointed commissioners Dave Wright, Amy Broyles, Sam McKenzie and Mike Hammond to the long-talked about education committee, which - if it's like every other committee that isn't required under the charter - will probably meet once and that'll be about it.
In the coming weeks, School Board Chairwoman Karen Carson will pick three or four members from her board to also serve on it.
More than likely, the panel will meet in February to talk about whether the county or the school system's name should be placed on the deed to the new Southwest elementary School, Brickey-McCloud Elementary School, Amherst Elementary School and Gibbs Elementary School.
In addition, the panel is expected to address finances and where the money should go - paying off reserves or general fund or wherever - when the county sells surplus land.
Officials say the committee will let the boards work through the issues without the typical bitterness that occurs between the two.
We'll see.
UPDATE: It appears that school board members Lynne Fugate, Doug Harris and Gloria Deathridge will represent the school board on the committee.
In the coming weeks, School Board Chairwoman Karen Carson will pick three or four members from her board to also serve on it.
More than likely, the panel will meet in February to talk about whether the county or the school system's name should be placed on the deed to the new Southwest elementary School, Brickey-McCloud Elementary School, Amherst Elementary School and Gibbs Elementary School.
In addition, the panel is expected to address finances and where the money should go - paying off reserves or general fund or wherever - when the county sells surplus land.
Officials say the committee will let the boards work through the issues without the typical bitterness that occurs between the two.
We'll see.
UPDATE: It appears that school board members Lynne Fugate, Doug Harris and Gloria Deathridge will represent the school board on the committee.
'Casual' county coin report Part III
Chris Caldwell |
And, once again Knox County's top bean
counter, Casual Chris Caldwell, held court with county commissioners
today during their monthly luncheon to go over the finances for the
first six months of the current fiscal year.
As usual, he threw out a lot of mumbo
jumbo, voodoo and whatnot, detailing where, when and why we do or do
not have money. And, yes, we do have money. Got a lot of it,
actually, but there's quite a few folks who would have you believe
the county is flat broke.
Anyhoo, Chris noted that general fund
revenues are up about 2 percent right now compared to this time last
year, which translates to about $3.2 million more.
However, spending is up by about $11.1
million. The Casual One says this is because in December he ordered
his minions to post “all of what we know that is going to be
transferred funds,” which is something the office typically does
quarterly. (Really, it makes no difference, so long as it gets done.)
“So, if you look at the percentage,
then we're at 52 percent half way through the year, and you'd like to
be at 50 percent, but that 2 percent is in direct correlation to the
transfers,” he told commissioners, adding that this will balance
out in the coming months.
Chris also noted that the sales tax
coin that flows into the general fund is up by about $169,000 and
hotel/motel taxes are up a whopping $684.
He said wheel taxes are down slightly,
or up slightly or flat. I can't remember. Regardless, it doesn't look
like it's going to have an effect this year, but it's something folks
should know and study.
He opted not to discuss property tax
just to save a few officials from a heart attack (his words, not
mine), since collections really aren't accounted for until the end of
next month. However, he said we should see some growth, although not
a whole heck of a lot.
Labels:
anyhoo,
Chris Caldwell,
Knox County Commission
Billboard regulation gets response
Had a story today about the proposed billboard bans that the Knox County Commission will discuss later
today. Essentially, Commissioner Richard Briggs, who is leading the
change against the outdoor advertising industry, opted to pull two of
the ordinances (ones dealing with traditional billboards and
electronic messaging centers), saying folks have mostly told him that they'd
like regulation rather than an all out ban.
Note that the good commissioner,
doctor, warrior does not want to pull the ordinance detailing a ban
on digital billboards. Naw, he hates those suckers.
Soooooo, the folks in Briggs' corner
were fairly quiet over the weekend. But this morning I got their
response. You can click right smack here for it.
The letter is from Margot Kline,
president of the Council of West Knox County Homeowners. She says a
ban will not result in lost jobs or lower tax revenues for the
county, but, rather, allowing billboards or digital billboards will
result in lower property values “and a lot of very unhappy
taxpayers.”
Obviously she goes into further detail
in the letter.
Again, the issue is supposed to be put
to rest today.
Supposed to be, anyway.
Labels:
billboards,
Knox County Commission,
Richard Briggs
Sunday, January 27, 2013
County to get $120,000 windfall
The county will get back a little more than expected under a
rebate program it has with Sun Trust Bank.
Officials initially budgeted for
about $200,000 (the county got $210,045 last year) but now folks say it should receive between
$318,000 and $319,000. The windfall will more than likely go toward paying off
debt, if Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett has anything to say about it.
Under the P-card program the county gets a percentage back –
about 1 percent – from the bank.
Briggs to pull billboard ordinances
Commissioner Richard Briggs |
Commissioner Richard Briggs, who was leading the charge, posted the following on the commission's forum on the county website:
Fellow Commissioners:By the way, I noticed that before Briggs posted (it's had nine page views so far), the last time a commissioner put anything up at the forum was in September.
As you know, the vote to ban conventional billboards, digital billboards, and electronic message center is on the agenda for Monday. We have listened to arguments for, arguments against, and received numerous emails from citizens throughout Knox County. Most of us agree we need to do something yet some commissioners also feel strongly a compromise of some sort is more in order than an outright ban.
I have met with several of the smaller, local billboard and EMC companies that are based in Knox County. Most are small family businesses that would be adversely affected by a total ban of all billboards and EMC’s. The message I receive is “let’s regulate, not ban”. The small company owners are not opposed to sitting down with the MPC, environmental groups, homeowner associations, and local government representatives and working on regulations that everyone can live with.
Consequently, I would like to withdraw the ordinances banning conventional billboards and electronic message centers. The ordinance pertaining to the digital billboards would be left on the agenda to ban both the conversion of conventional billboards to digital billboards and a ban on any new digital billboards. The emails we have received from many citizens make it clear that a large number of voters do not want any more digital billboards in our community. Beyond the obtrusive and esthetic objections, the digital billboards are another distraction to already dangerously distracted drivers.
I hope this proposal is the compromise many of you have been looking for. We are listening to both our local small business owners who ask that we “regulate, not ban” and to innumerable citizens who feel passionately that we already have too much outdoor advertising.
Richard Briggs
Labels:
billboards,
Knox County Commission,
Richard Briggs
Friday, January 25, 2013
Mayor, salt crew in wreck but unhurt
Mayor's salt truck in minor wreck |
Tim Burchett is no longer mobile.
The Knox County mayor and his driver
were involved in a minor wreck around 10:40 this morning as the salt
truck they were in hit a “solid sheet of ice” and nearly slipped
off the side of the road.
“A big tree stopped us from
completely rolling over or it would have been a completely different
story,” Burchett said, adding that everyone is OK.
In the meantime, he said they'll hang
out for awhile and if need be, walk home.
“No one is getting up here right now
– it's too dangerous,” he added. “You'd probably need a
helicopter. But, we'll get out of here and we've got enough to stay
warm, so everything is fine for now.”
The accident occurred on Haw Road off
Tarwater in South Knoxville.
No word yet on whether they've spotted Bigfoot.
Mayor part of the road crew today
Knox County offices are closed today,
but Mayor Tim Burchett and folks in the Public Works and Engineering
Department are putting down salt and brine on the roads.
Yup, that's right. The big man is out
there, too.
County Mayor Tim Buchett salting roads with Andrew Bivens |
The mayor said he couldn't sleep last
night, waking up at 2 a.m. He said what the heck and a few hours
later was riding shotgun with a work crew.
It's good for morale, he said, for the top
boss to hang with the rest of the folks whose work often goes
unnoticed. Plus, he said, it gives him first hand knowledge about
what type of equipment and clothing they might need.
“These guys are away from their
families right now, working 20 hours and we don't thank them enough,”
Burchett said. “When the rest of us are curled up safe in our warm
homes, they're out here in this mess and soup.”
The mayor said he's been tweeting away
this morning and noted that so far he's seen upside down cars, a salt
truck in a ditch and “ambulances and people in a bad way.”
“If you don't need to be out today,
then don't go out,” he said.
Asked so far whether he's had any close
calls, Buchett said he was giving a radio interview this morning when
the truck he was in “got sideways as we were going about eight
miles an hour.”
“I told my guy: Dale Earnhardt
doesn't have anything on you,” he said chuckling. “It was pretty
treacherous. We were right there on a side of a hill with the
potential to roll two or three times before we hit.”
In the meantime, Knox County
Communications Manager Michael Grider might not have gotten the
message that county offices are closed.
“At the office . . . crickets at the
City County Building,” he tweeted this moring.
(You can follow the county mayor on
Twitter at by clicking right smack here.)
Most county offices now closed today
Knox County Communications Manager Michael "Big Sexy" Grider just sent out a release, noting that Mayor Tim Burchett has closed down all county offices under his purview due to the hazardous road conditions. Those include, but aren't limited to, libraries, health department, parks and recreation, senior centers, solid waste. (That also means the Virtual Alzheimer's Tour set for this afternoon will be rescheduled.)
In addition, the Register of Deeds and the Law Director's Office also are closed today.
And, it's a safe bet, too, that the clerk's office is closed, but I'm not positive as no announcement has been made. You should probably call if you need to go down there (865-215-2385).
In addition, the Register of Deeds and the Law Director's Office also are closed today.
And, it's a safe bet, too, that the clerk's office is closed, but I'm not positive as no announcement has been made. You should probably call if you need to go down there (865-215-2385).
Thursday, January 24, 2013
County offices to open late Friday
photo by Saul Young |
Big question of the day so far is
whether schools will be closed tomorrow. I'm guessing . . . yeah,
probably, but I have no inside info. It's just a guess.
In the meantime, the county just sent a
out a release, noting that the office under the direction of Mayor Tim
Burchett won't open until 10 a.m. Friday.
In addition, the county's IT Department
has developed a weather closings/delay page. Click
right smack here for it. Right now, it looks like the offices under the
executive branch will use the system, as well as some other county
officials. This is actually a pretty cool thing since a number of county offices are separated by leadership and don't report to the same boss, unlike the city. This time it appears that a number of them are on the same page. Literally.
No word on whether the school system
will use it.
Also, click right smack here for the
KNS site to also get the latest in closings.
It's probably going to be icy bad tomorrow.
Stay safe and all that good stuff.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Virtual Alzheimer's tour on Friday
The Halls Senior Center on Friday will
host a “virtual Alzheimer's tour,” a hand-on experience to help
participants understand the physical and mental challenges facing
those who suffer from the disease or other forms of dementia,
according to a county release.
During the tour, which runs from 1-4
p.m., participants' vision, hearing and other sense will be distorted
to stimulate the effects of the disease as they try to complete
simple instructions and tasks. In addition, Knox County Mayor Tim
Burchett will visit the facility at 2 p.m. to meet with the public.
Alzheimer's Tennessee, Inc. will
conduct the tour. The Halls Senor Center is located at 4405 Crippen
Road.
The tour is not recommended for those
who have Alzheimer's disease, but rather designed to help caregivers,
family members and friends better understand what it is like to live
with the disease.
The senior center is still accepting
reservations for the tour. Those interested should call 865-922-0416.
Time Warp Tea Room meetings return
Looks like Knox County Commissioner Amy
Broyles is bringing back the ol' “meetings between the meetings”
thing. Broyles for a long time used to hold court down at the Time
Warp Tea Room in North Knoxville, but hasn't in recent months, mostly for personal reasons and the holidays.
I wrote about it right smack here.
Anyhoo, it's been awhile, but it looks like they're back, according to an
item out of the commission office.
The meeting, set for Friday at 4:30
p.m., will be open to the public. As always, show up or don't bother
complaining.
Archer's BBQ to open Karns restaurant
I don't normally plug restaurants, but
I'm making an exception here.
Archer's BBQ is hosting a ribbon
cutting tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at the new Karns location on 7650 Oak
Ridge Highway.
These folks used to set up shop every
other Thursday in the KNS parking lot. Good stuff. They stopped,
though, after they got a permanent location on Kingston Pike.
Mayor Tim Burchett, who ate regularly
with us, and commissioner Brad Anders will attend the event.
If you're in the area, you should drop
by for a sandwich.
That's my good deed for the day.
Hawking BBQ. Heh.
Labels:
Brad Anders,
cool stuff,
good causes,
Tim Burchett
Commission to reform finance panel
Several years back when a new county
mayor and “new” 11-member commission (technically Jeff Ownby was
the only new commissioner) took over, officials decided to do away
with the finance and intergovernmental committese and instead hold
monthly work sessions.
Well, guess, what? Yup, looks like the
commission is bringing back the finance committee. Apparently, the
board wasn't supposed to get rid of it in the first place.
(Probably should have consulted the Rules Committee about it. Heh.)
Anyhoo, the commission yesterday talked
further about the proposal and was again told that state law requires
the board to have some type of finance committee that meets at least
quarterly to look over the school system's finances.
At this point, it appears that once reformed it will actually consist of the entire county commission and
will convene and reconvene and whatever-convene during regular
commission meetings. That way no one has to get up early and make it
to another finance committee meeting like the old days.
Or whatever.
In the meantime, some are suggesting the move is another power grab by some
commissioners to micromanage how the school system spends money.
But, commission Chairman Tony Norman
denied it, though, saying he doesn't want to create anymore friction.
We'll see. Regardless of the intentions, well . . . we'll see.
I believe the committee is going to
meet next month.
Labels:
anyhoo,
Jeff Ownby,
Knox County Commission,
Tony Norman
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Panel meets to discuss ethics makeup
A small committee comprised of Knox
County commissioners and Ethics Committee members met earlier today to
kick around a couple ideas about the future makeup of the Ethics
Committee and just how its members get selected.
Right now, it looks like they're
leaning toward recommending (to the county commission) that the
committee be comprised of non-commissioners and that local,
non-partisan civic groups appoint the members.
The four-member subcommittee got the
idea from Nashville-Davidson's ethics committee. Apparently over
there, the local league of women voters organization, a couple of
attorney bar associations, a trade and labor council and some other
group that no one could remember appoints the membership.
But, could that cause a problem? Who
picks the civic groups that cast the final picks?
Yeah. Big Circle.
Anyhoo, at this point, it's just
discussion. The members, though, did agree to narrow down some
official recommendations by next month, so they can actually vote.
And at least one suggestion tossed out there is to set one-term term limits on the
committee.
As you might recall, the committee
upset some folks awhile back when it opted to re-appoint a few
members in what appeared to be a rigged contest. At least that's what
some folks said. Whatever. It certainly didn't look good.
The thought is that if the panel has a
one term limit – whether it's one year or four years – members
won't reappoint themselves.
In addition, some on the subcommittee
felt that it would be worth keeping some commissioners on the panel,
if only for their institutional knowledge but that they would hold
non-voting positions.
Currently, The committee is comprised
of nine members, including one county commissioner appointed by the
commission, a Knox County Sheriff's Office representative appointed
by the sheriff and seven residents — three selected by the
commission, two by the county mayor and two by the Ethics Committee.
Members serve for three years.
If it finds something amiss, it can
refer the issue to the district attorney general for a further probe
or to the county law director for a legal opinion or recommendation.
The panel will meet again next month to
talk more.
Labels:
anyhoo,
Ethics Committee,
Knox County Commission
Monday, January 21, 2013
Morning parade honors MLK's memory
photo by Adam Brimer |
Very nicely done.
Each year, the folks over at the Oak Ridge Environmental Alliance make larger-than-life paper-mache figures. Today's parade, which is actually the 26th annual event hosted by the MLK Commemorative Commission, featured for the first time the likeness of Sarah Moore Greene (pictured above), the long-time Knoxville civil rights leader and local educator who recently passed away.
photo by Adam Brimer |
Overall, more than 150 organizations and more than 1,000 folks marched in the hour-long parade that also include recordings of King's speeches.
The event stared near Tabernacle Baptist Church and ended at Greater Warner Tabernacle AME Zion Church on the street that bears King's name. The parade was designed to honor the reverend and also show the diversity of the city.
photo by Adam Brimer |
In addition, Smart Kids Learning Center was there. I mention them because I like this picture, the one to the right. Yes, that's some folks from the center, including student Mario Jarret, (He's the little kid.)
If you didn't make it, then check it out next year. In the meantime, right smack here, is a story about this morning's parade.
Labels:
cool stuff,
good causes,
Martin Luther King Jr.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Quick look at Carter school finances
Just an update on the finances for Carter Elementary. No particular reason. Just something I started putting together when I was working on a story about the sale of the Hillcrest property.
Soooo . . . .
As it stands, the county has collected $9.76 million for the Carter Elementary School project, including some $2.5 million that the school system contributed that officials initially planned to renovate – and not rebuild – the old school.
In addition, the county has another $2 million from the sale of the Solway property; $900,000 from a class action lawsuit settlement between the SEC and JP Morgan; and a $3.4 million payment from E-911 to the county for the building it uses.
The county more than a year ago, had expected another $770,000 from some property sales along Marble Alley in the downtown area, but the buyer has opted to lease the land for at least another year. The sale will still go through, officials said, but not by June when the county needs it to pay for the school's construction.
Overall, that means the county is still on the hook for $4.1 million, not counting whatever is needed for the furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E), which is another $ 2million.
Still, Knox County Mayor Tim Buchett said he's not concerned about meeting the deadline.
“We're in good shape right now and moving along schedule,” he said.
The mayor added that “when I took office I said we were going to get out of the things that you can find in the Yellow Pages,” meaning he didn't want the county competing with private businesses, something that, in part, led to the sale of the Solway property.
“I said that I wanted to put surplus properties out for sale and get them back on the tax rolls and that's what we're doing,” he said.
The mayor also pointed out that the county is currently in discussions with Hillcrest HealthCare Communities to sell the property it currently leases for $1 year to the nursing home operators for $5.3 million.
If approved by the Knox County Commission, the money would go toward paying off Carter and make up any difference, Burchett said.
The board is expected to talk more about the potential land sales later this month.
Soooo . . . .
As it stands, the county has collected $9.76 million for the Carter Elementary School project, including some $2.5 million that the school system contributed that officials initially planned to renovate – and not rebuild – the old school.
In addition, the county has another $2 million from the sale of the Solway property; $900,000 from a class action lawsuit settlement between the SEC and JP Morgan; and a $3.4 million payment from E-911 to the county for the building it uses.
The county more than a year ago, had expected another $770,000 from some property sales along Marble Alley in the downtown area, but the buyer has opted to lease the land for at least another year. The sale will still go through, officials said, but not by June when the county needs it to pay for the school's construction.
Overall, that means the county is still on the hook for $4.1 million, not counting whatever is needed for the furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E), which is another $ 2million.
Still, Knox County Mayor Tim Buchett said he's not concerned about meeting the deadline.
“We're in good shape right now and moving along schedule,” he said.
The mayor added that “when I took office I said we were going to get out of the things that you can find in the Yellow Pages,” meaning he didn't want the county competing with private businesses, something that, in part, led to the sale of the Solway property.
“I said that I wanted to put surplus properties out for sale and get them back on the tax rolls and that's what we're doing,” he said.
The mayor also pointed out that the county is currently in discussions with Hillcrest HealthCare Communities to sell the property it currently leases for $1 year to the nursing home operators for $5.3 million.
If approved by the Knox County Commission, the money would go toward paying off Carter and make up any difference, Burchett said.
The board is expected to talk more about the potential land sales later this month.
Audit finds issues in several offices
Officials on Tuesday made public the
county's “single audit report findings and recommendations”
during a more than four-hour long Audit Committee meeting. It was a
killer. The meeting, I mean.
Anyhoo, I wrote about some of the
issues auditors touched on in the Trustee's Office right smack here.
But there were some other matters, albeit much smaller, officials
noted. I'll have a story on that for tomorrow, but essentially a
number of fees offices and a few departments in the executive branch,
like parks and recreation and probation, were called out for some
minor things.
Course those minor things could lead to
major issues. But at this point, they haven't. At least, according to
the bean counters looking through the financial statements.
In the meantime, click right smack here
for the report.
Commish sets agenda, Tuesday meeting
The Knox County Commission's monthly
work session is set for Tuesday – not Monday – due to the Martin
Luther King Jr. holiday
Click right smack here for the agenda.
Looks like there will be a number of items
that could get a little bit of discussion, including matters on the
Hillcrest property sale, billboards and the proposed education
committee.
Then again, it could all get deferred
for another month. Heh.
Meeting is set for 2 p.m. in the Death
Star.
Be there or don't whine about what happens.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Some county offices to open later
Knox County offices under the executive branch, like libraries, senior centers, the health department and solid waste convenience centers, will open at 10 a.m. Friday due to the crappy weather.
Employees are encouraged to report to work only if they can do so safely. If they can't, then they're allowed to use "appropriate leave," which technically means vacation time.
To find out if county offices are open, call 865-215-2000.
Employees are encouraged to report to work only if they can do so safely. If they can't, then they're allowed to use "appropriate leave," which technically means vacation time.
To find out if county offices are open, call 865-215-2000.
Due to snow, more things closing
And a few more closing updates. Big Sexy Grider just checked in to let everyone know that the county's highway department is out right now, treating roads with salt and brine. He added that most of the trucks also are equipped with snow plows.
In addition, the Tazewell Pike Knox County Solid Waste Convenience Center is closing early; County Clerk Foster Arnett emailed in that his office closed at 3 p.m. today; and all health department locations are closed for the rest of the day.
On a side note, there were a bunch of knuckleheads on "the site" yesterday who didn't believe it would snow. But are you really surprised that those commentators were wrong? Yeah, didn't think so.
Until Grider sends in another update . . . .
In addition, the Tazewell Pike Knox County Solid Waste Convenience Center is closing early; County Clerk Foster Arnett emailed in that his office closed at 3 p.m. today; and all health department locations are closed for the rest of the day.
On a side note, there were a bunch of knuckleheads on "the site" yesterday who didn't believe it would snow. But are you really surprised that those commentators were wrong? Yeah, didn't think so.
Until Grider sends in another update . . . .
Libraries closing early today, too
Students aren't the only ones taking off early today.
As the snow has begun to fall, county communications manager Michael "Big Sexy" Grider said all county library branches and senior centers are closing at 3 p.m. today.
On a side note, I was watching the knuckleheads on the news last night - the ones who ran to the grocery store to buy milk and bread. Really? Why do people buy milk and bread? WTH? If I'm going to be stuck in my house, I want something a little more tasty. Just saying.
Milk and break. Whatever.
As the snow has begun to fall, county communications manager Michael "Big Sexy" Grider said all county library branches and senior centers are closing at 3 p.m. today.
On a side note, I was watching the knuckleheads on the news last night - the ones who ran to the grocery store to buy milk and bread. Really? Why do people buy milk and bread? WTH? If I'm going to be stuck in my house, I want something a little more tasty. Just saying.
Milk and break. Whatever.
Schools closing early, speech put off
Knox County Schools is sending students home early today because, well quite frankly, the weather and the roads suck.
In addition, officials have decided to cancel Superintendent Jim McIntyre's "state of the schools" speech planned for tonight. It will be rescheduled.
In the meantime, elementary kids will be sent home at 1:30 p.m. and middle and high schoolers will be headed home at 2:30.
In addition, officials have decided to cancel Superintendent Jim McIntyre's "state of the schools" speech planned for tonight. It will be rescheduled.
In the meantime, elementary kids will be sent home at 1:30 p.m. and middle and high schoolers will be headed home at 2:30.
County prepares for winter weather
Looks like Dwight and the boys over at the county's Engineering and Public Works Department put in some extra work, monitoring the local roads and taking some precautions due to this rainy - potentially snowy - mess.
Anyone who needs to report a road problem or hazardous road condition on a Knox County Road should call 865-215-5800.
In the meantime, click right smack here for the department's weather plan.
Anyone who needs to report a road problem or hazardous road condition on a Knox County Road should call 865-215-5800.
In the meantime, click right smack here for the department's weather plan.
Monday, January 14, 2013
The billboard debate elsewhere
So, in theory the Knox County
Commission this month will finally sign off on whatever it is they
want to do about billboards. Ban them, keep them, regulate them,
whatever.
Or, they can go ahead and postpone the
discussions for another day. Been putting it off for more than four
years, so what's another month? Heh.
Anyhoo, Joyce Feld, president of Scenic
Knoxville, shot me over an email that says the Swedish government
“has ordered the removal of digital billboards in that country.”
Hmmm. Interesting. Course, we ain't Sweden.
Still, if you're into this kind of stuff, here's the
report right smack here. (I would not be surprised if this gets cited
by the billboard opponents during discussions this month.)
In her email, Feld also noted that a
“well-regarded” 2006 study by Virginia Tech found that “anything
that takes a driver's eyes off the road for more than two seconds
greatly increases the risk of a crash.”
Well, yeah, no kidding. Hope a lot of
money wasn't spent on that study. I mean, seriously. Anything that
takes a driver's eyes off the road for ONE second greatly increases
the risk of a crash.
Money well spent on the
obvious.
Still, find that report right smack here as it, too, will probably be cited.
Overall, my guess is the commission is going to do some kind of trade off with the billboard industry in that local companies will able to take down a billboard or five and replace it elsewhere (or even at the same location) with a digital version.
We'll see.
Labels:
anyhoo,
billboards,
Knox County Commission,
Scenic Knoxville
Sunday, January 13, 2013
White House says 'no' to Death Star
Our Death Star is better than yours. |
Back in December, I blogged about a petition asking that taxpayers put up some $852 quadrillion to build a moon-sized, planet-killing space station. Here and here for the posts. Anyhoo, enough folks signed the thing to get an official response from the Obama administration.
It's actually quite witty. Click right smack here.
As noted by Paul Shawcross, chief of the science and space branch at the White House Office of Management and Budget, building one of these suckers isn't really all that feasible.
In fact, he questions why anyone would want to spend "countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship."
Plus, he said, the administration "does not support blowing up planets."
Heh. Good stuff.
Mayor Burchett hosts another luncheon
Buchett mingling with the crowd |
Also, Georgiana Vines wrote a story about it. Find that right smack here.
She notes that the "purpose of the Dutch-treat lunch was to focus on locally-owned restaurants and attract people throughout the community who might not otherwise know about the establishments. It's similar to the 'cash mob' events at locally-owned businesses."
Some guy eating some good food |
It's too bad other county and city leaders don't host their own. If anything, it gives the public a chance to interact with them on a more personal level.
That said, there were a few local leaders who turned out for Friday's event, including a number of department heads, as well, as Knox County Commissioner Dave Wright and Ed Shouse, School Board Commissioner Indya Kincannon and Election Commission Chairman Chris Heagerty.
Labels:
Cash Mob,
Chris Heagerty,
Dave Wright,
Ed Shouse,
Indya Kincannon,
Tim Burchett
Friday, January 11, 2013
Resolution to target county debt
I've got a story set for Saturday that
talks about a resolution co-sponsored by Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett
and Knox County Commission Chairman Tony Norman.
You can find the resolution right smack here.
If approved, the county would have to
to apply the proceeds from the sale of county surplus properties “to
reducing the county taxpayers' debt,” which stood at $669 million
when the current fiscal year began last July.
And yes, this does affect school
property and - if passed - it will repeal a resolution the commission passed in April
2009 that lets the school system determine how to spend money the
county gets from the sale of surplus school property. You can find that bad boy right smack here.
Not counting interest (which would put
us all on the hook for about $1 billion), the county owes $669
million as of the end of the last fiscal year, which wrapped up June 30. By the end of the current fiscal year, the county
will be on the hook for $645.8 million, according to finance numbers. (The county and school system will each chip in about $30 million but about half will go directly tote interest.)
Of that $645.8 million, the county will owe $388.7
million and the school system will owe $242.4 million. Still, it's
all county taxpayer debt.
The commission will address the matter
later this month.
Labels:
Debt,
Knox County Commission,
Tim Burchett,
Tony Norman
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Mackay to take job with Knoxville
Greg Mackay |
Looks like former Knox County Elections
Administrator Greg Mackay has landed a job with the city.
According to the latest spin piece
coming out of Knoxville's side of the Death Star, Mayor Madeline
Rogero today hired Mackay as director of public assembly facilities.
He succeeds Bob Polk, who retired from the gig in November.
I got no idea what the job does or what
it pays.
Mackay, a Democrat, served as elections
administrator from 2003 to 2011. Since then, he got a job doing
something I can't remember, but it's probably nowhere as cool as
whatever it is he'll be doing for the mayor.
The hippie has the full press release right smack here.
Labels:
Election Commission,
Greg Mackay,
Madeline Rogero
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Chance to have lunch with the mayor
Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett on
Friday will continue his “lunch with the mayor” program, this time at Central Flats & Taps in
the Happy Holler community.
“It's really just a continuation of
our cash mobs,” Burchett said. “We're trying to pick locally
owned businesses throughout the county.”
The mayor said the North Knoxville
restaurant serves “pretty good food,” and that he hopes the
event, which runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., draws a large crowd.
Central Flats & Taps is located at
1204 N. Central St.
The luncheons are an offshoot of the
mayor's “cash mobs,” a concept that encourages people to show up
at a small business at the same time and shop.
The county has held a number of them
since late last year.
Friday's event is “Dutch treat.”
Monday, January 7, 2013
Electronic-waste event on Saturday
The county, city, the West Knoxville
Optimist Club and the Knoxville Volunteer Rescue Squad are partnering
up this Saturday for the “plug-in your community” electronic-waste recycling
event.
Yeah, that's what I said, too. Huh?
Wha-?
Well, apparently you can take all
your old computers, printers and other electronic junk and drop it all
off Saturday – rain or shine – between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at
Chilhowee Park in the Midway Parking lot on North Beaman Street.
The event is free and includes
drive-thru service, so you don't have to hang out. Those who
participate are eligible to win a wide-screen TV from Best Buy, which
you'll eventually no doubt be lugging down to the next
electronic-waste recycling event in a year or two.
Please note that you cannot drop off
refrigerators, air condition units, smoke detectors, light bulbs,
stoves and electronic equipment containing hazardous chemicals.
For more information, click right smack here.
Or you can just throw all the junk off your
porch and into your neighbor's yard in the middle of the night. Not that I'd know anything about that.
Visit Knoxville group unveils guide
I've had this in my email inbox for
awhile. Last week, Visit Knoxville released its 2013 City Guide &
Visitor Handbook, a 72-page magazine that covers
attractions, events, blah, blah, and all sorts of fancy going ons in the city.
The organization's president, Kim
Bumpas, called it “an important resource for visitors when planning
their trip to Knoxville.” She also noted that it will feature new
editorial content from local writers and personalities that are
designed to give a visitor and insider's perspective to Knoxville.
No mention of whether visitor's will be
assaulted with the popular city and county catch phrase: “You're
not from around here, are you?”
Heh.
The guide is actually pretty cool. You
can see it online, right smack here, or download it (or have it
mailed to you) by clicking here.
You can also get one at the Knoxville
Visitor Center at 301 S. Gay St. in downtown Knoxville.
Political parties set to reorganize
Looks like it's that time again, time to
reorganize the local Democratic and Republican parties.
According to
the rogue blogger, Brian Hornback, the red team picks officers, delegates, whatever for local precincts on Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. Then on Feb. 2 at 10 a.m. some folks
can vote at the party's reorganization. Click right smack here for the details
and to see who is running for party chairman.
The blue team's next convention is set
for April, some time, according to the hippie's blog site. Find that
entry right smack here. I didn't see a whole lot of information
(just some bickering over Mark Padgett), so I headed over to the
party's website. Looks like the Democrats will actually hold their
convention for delegates selection on March 10. The party also will
host a March 24 Congressional district convention.
So, that said, I'm not sure if it's March of April.
You can find that info right smack here.
We've got some local elections this year, but they're for non-partisan Knoxville City Council seats. There are, however, some big county races set for 2014.
Expect county to sell Hillcrest land
Hillcrest north campus (photo by J. Miles Cary) |
First post of the year. About time, I
suppose. Just really getting back after a good amount of time off for
the holidays.
Anyhoo, had a story in this weekend's
paper about a deal between the county and Hillcrest HealthCare Communities that could lead
to the nursing home securing the property where it operates for about
$5.3 million. It currently pays the county $1 a year to lease a
combined 33 acres in the north, south and west parts of the county.
Hillcrest has tried this before and it
didn't work out, I think mostly because Paul Pinkston was on the
commission and he wanted to let others bid. Ornery, yet charismatic he
was able to get enough of the then-19 member commission on board. In
the end, officials just extended the least.
I don't expect that to happen this
time. Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett has the six votes he needs to
sell the property. Plus, he's going to argue that regardless of
whether the deal is put out to bid, only Hillcrest can continue to
use it as a nursing home for the indigent. And he's pretty much
right. (It all comes down to Hillcrest owning the “certificate of
need” to operate a nursing home and that's based on local
demographics and the need for beds.)
Sooooo . . . expect this to pass. The
board is supposed to talk about it during its work session and voting
meeting later this month, but it is possible that it gets deferred for until February
out of courtesy to any member who wants to further study the matter.
Labels:
anyhoo,
Hillcrest,
Knox County Commission,
Paul Pinkston,
Tim Burchett
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