Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Hillside plan and upcoming talks

The county commission next Wednesday (that's April 13 if you're really taking notes) plans to hold a workshop to talk about the Hillside Ridgetop Protection Plan.

It's at 8 a.m.

I'll be there. (Maybe. I'm not sure I'm even human at that hour.)

Anyhoo, you might want to sit this one out. Because they're not going to let you talk.

Uh, uh. Not this time.

(Which means I'll probably be back at the office by 9 a.m. I hope.)

I'll let the commission's big dog explain:

“We've had a lot of calls from people, saying that we're holding the meeting at 8 a.m., so the public can't participate, but that's not the case,” said Chairman Mike Hammond. “It's not designed to be a public hearing. This is a workshop for the commission. If I've got a question and need to get it answered, well, that's what we're holding it for.”

In other words, this one time, they want to get the facts without the emotion and the personal attacks.

However, it is open to the public.

So come on down. Just don't say anything.

Additionally, the commissioners will talk further about the issue at the regular work session ( 2 p.m. April 18) and again on April 25 during the regular meeting.

Please note – because I understand people are spreading all kinds of rumors about this thing – that the commission will talk about it at 6 p.m. during the REGULAR meeting. No, it will NOT be moved to 2 p.m.. It is part of the zoning agenda. That means 6 p.m.

Now, with that said, expect it to get tabled. Again.

Heh.

Because a number of commissioners want to hold a joint workshop with the City Council, which also has to sign off on this mess.

And of course, these things never, ever can get done without getting tabled two, three, four, whatever, times.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mike, I think I know how the 2:00 "rumor" got started. This past Monday several people called the Commission office and asked when the vote would be on the Hillside and Ridgetop plan. They were incorrectly told it would be at 1:30 PM April 25th. It will be as you said at 6:00 PM on April 25th.

It was just a mistake and the Commission office has been notified and has pledged there will be no more mistakes.

In other news, Mike Hammond and Tony Norman may be looking at a recall petitions next September. It seems Commissioner Hammond is not returning phone calls about his little deception on the Wednesday April 13th Hillside and Ridgetop plan workshop. First Hammond scheduled the meeting at 8:00 am up against the Ethics Committee meeting to insure it would not be on CTV. Apparently Tony Norman, Amy Broyles, and Mike Brown are upset at the YouTubes showing their unethical and rude behavior to those who dare disagree with them. But the Ethics Committee canceled their meeting because several Commissioners needed to attend. Now the workshop is back in the Main Assembly Room and will be on CTV. Looks like the Hammond ploy backfired. People will be watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRVf51UQOeY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz-QqLKF_B0

Mike Donila said...

Thanks for the heads up. I just looked at my calendar and noticed that the ethics folks were set to meet at 9 a.m.

glad to hear it got canceled.

Anonymous said...

"First Hammond scheduled the meeting at 8:00 am up against the Ethics Committee meeting to insure it would not be on CTV. "

Do you have any evidence of Hammond's motives? Or are you making an unsupported allegation based on your own opinion.

Anonymous said...

Mike, got a news story for you:

http://www.knoxviews.com/node/16092

Word is that Commission Chairman Hammond made a big miscalculation with his 8:00 Wednesday morning workshop for the Hillside and Ridgetop Plan. Also his new habit of not returning phone calls is a big issue. Might want to call a few prominent Realtors for the scoop. It is true that buses will be leaving from Wallace and Wallace Realtors to the City County Building Wednesday at 7:30 am. It is true that Wednesday a prepared statement will be read from the Knoxville Realtors and Builders. You should attend the meeting.

Anonymous said...

Mike, buses leave from the KAARMLS office.

Anonymous said...

Just how is a statement going to read from the realtors when there is no public forum at this workshop?

They're picking the wrong day to show up en masse. Should wait til the regular Commission work session on the meeting itself.

Anonymous said...

"Just how is a statement going to read from the realtors when there is no public forum at this workshop?"

That is why we are coming. And we will keep coming until we are heard. This is more than a single event.