Commish rejects superintendent's contract, but it doesn't matter

Jim McIntyre

Knox County commissioners voted at their regular Monday meeting to reject the contract of Knox County Schools superintendent Jim McIntyre.

That vote, however, was only symbolic.

Nine of 11 Knox County commissioners voted not to approve the contract. Commissioners Sam

McKenzie and Amy Broyles voted to approve it.

"We're kind of making the rules up as we go along, unfortunately," McKenzie said after the vote.

In fact, the item never should've come to a vote, McKenzie said.

A long-standing agreement -- called a consent decree -- between Knox County Commission and the

Board of Education says commissioners can't tell the school board how to spend its appropriated money.

School board members voted last month to approve McIntyre's contract, so all the commission legally could do was pass it.

"That vote just came up two for, nine against. What does that mean? It means absolutely nothing," McKenzie said. "I think we are - in spirit - disregarding the consent decree, and I don't think this last process was correct."

The "no" vote Monday, therefore, was symbolic.

The move came after county law director Bud Armstrong last week declared the contract unenforceable.

RELATED: Law Director: Superintendent's contract 'unenforceable' 

State law limits superintendents' contracts to four years, and Armstrong said this new contract effectively adds two years to McIntyre's existing four-year contract.

RELATED: Sanger blasts Armstrong over contract notation; law director counters

Armstrong cited a 2001 opinion from the Tennessee attorney general on a nearly identical case. In it, the AG's office said, a school board may not extend beyond four years the term of its contract with the director of schools. To do so, the opinion says, ties the hands of future board members.

The law does, however, allow school boards to renew a superintendent's four-year contract. The opinion then goes on to differentiate between extending and renewing.

"Black’s Law Dictionary defines renewal as '(T)he re-creation of a legal relationship or the replacement of an old contract with a new contract, as opposed to a mere extension of a previous relationship or contract,'" the opinion says.

Read that full opinion HERE.

For now, McIntyre's board-approved, commission-rejected contract is set to go into effect the first of the new year.

McIntyre was at Monday's meeting but declined to comment on the results of the vote.

Commissioners, public: Some of Clerk's claims just not adding up

Clerk Foster Arnett Jr

Some thoughts on yesterday afternoon’s Knox County Commission meeting with Knox County Clerk Foster Arnett Jr. in regards to the roughly $476,000 in estimated deadbeat hotel-motel tax debt.

First, know that there’s way more than $476K out there. It’s probably closer to $800K (we’re talking a period that dates back to 2009 and the $476K only touches a couple of years.).

Commissioners are not happy. Not overall they’re not. Poll the majority and a lot of them were not pleased with Arnett’s presentation yesterday.

Some felt like the numbers they got were not on the up and up, others felt the clerk’s office has taken a lackadaisical – at best – approach to collections, and others wondered just what is really going on.

A lot of claims, they (and people in attendance) told me after the meeting, just were not adding up.

So . . . here ya go.

During the meeting Arnett blamed – in part – his office’s inability to collect the $476K in folding paper on a short-staffed office.

Huh?

It appears that the majority of the commission isn’t buying this excuse. Seriously, this is an answer someone gives when they’ve had weeks to think about it. This is now an issue? Short staffed office? 

And the office has been short staffed for how long?

Commissioner Sam McKenzie said (I’m paraphrasing here): Spend some money to make money.

Don’t brag that you cut staff and expenses only to find out you’re not bringing in the coin.

Contradictions.

How many people actually owe this money? Arnett said he sent out two letters last week and then six are going out this week to the scofflaws. That’s eight.

When asked how many are more than 30 days behind, he said 12.

In interviews after the meeting, he told the media that it was eight.

The audit report suggests somewhere in the low 20s.

Arnett has claimed there’s nothing he can do about the deadbeats. There is. He can padlock doors. He can sell property.

He says he doesn’t want to do this and put people out of jobs.

WHAT?????

What do you think Knox County Trustee Ed Shouse is gonna say when Joe Blow tells him that he can’t pay his taxes? Is Easy Ed gonna give ol’ Joe a pass?

No, he’s not.

There’s no free passes here. Collect the money and quit making excuses.

Now, Arnett told the commission that he actually went down to padlock a door back in 2009. He said he had “chains in hand.” I wasn’t there, so we’ll just take him at his word. He said the owner came out and he promised that he’d cut him and check. Arnett said he did and that he’s been up to date since.

So, if this worked, then why aren’t we doing this every time?

Why is there $476K in coin out there?

Oddly enough, after the meeting, Arnett told reporters that he actually padlocked the door.

So which is it? Did you or didn’t you padlock a door?

OK, the local paper quotes Arnett as telling the commissioners: “If I’m not doing what needs to be done, there’s an election in three years, and someone else can take this over. We’re going by the law, by the book.”

That got a chuckle out of the back standing room. Talk about a red herring. Someone else is gonna take over his job in three years because Arnett is term-limited. (Of course he might have been talking about that long rumored run at mayor.)

There’s more.

Arnett tried an old political trick to soften the blow. Bait and switch.

He pointed out that his office during the past three years has collected more than $18 million in hotel-motel taxes and bragged about a 94 percent collection rate.

Um, this is called “doing the job.”

You’re supposed to have a 94 percent collection rate. Actually, when it comes to property tax collections, 98 percent is the average, so maybe 94 percent is low.

I don’t know.

I do know that that the manager at Tyson McGhee doesn’t brag that the airplanes over there all land safely.

You know why?

Because they are supposed to!

Now, people are going to think I’m picking on Foster. Heck, Foster is going to think I’m picking on him, and that’s fine. Whatever.

The ol blog is an equal-opportunity picker-on.

Just ask Foster’s last political opponent. We did a whole newscast on some of his claims.

In the meantime, I hope the people who owe the money pay up. I hope Foster doesn’t have to padlock doors, but if he comes to it, then he needs to.

Call up the media, bring out the cameras and chain the business.

That should get the others to listen.

The hotels.

The commissioners.

And the public.

Covington to hold campaign kickoff tomorrow for 1st Dist. Commish seat

Covington

Received this from the Michael Covington campaign. He is running for Commissioner Sam McKenzie's 1st District seat on the Knox County Commission. Sam, one of only two Democrats on the board, has opted not to seek re-election.

Covington's campaign handler told me he has "strong conservative values" and is running as a Republican.

We welcome all of Knox County to attend the campaign kickoff for Michael Covington who will be running for County Commission District 1. 

The event will take place on July 7, 2015 at Calhoun’s on the River. The event will run from 5-8 p.m. This will be a free event, however, donations will be accepted. 

Citizens are encouraged to bring friends and family to meet a true leader who believes rebuilding district one. There has not been a true conservative serving district one as a county commissioner in many years. It is time to bring in a Real Leader in Real Time! 

Supporters who are unable to attend but would still like to support can send donations to PO Box 6312, Knoxville, Tennessee 37914.

As always, send me your political stuff for publication. Please note it's subject to editing and if you're a jerk, I just won't run it. Heh.

Have a good day.

Law to regulate door-to-door sales

Knox County Commission

The Knox County Commission on Monday approved a new law that lets the county clerk deny a door-to-door soliciting permit to someone who has an outstanding warrant issued against them or has been convicted in the past decade of a "crime of moral turpitude."

The move, which was spearheaded by Knox County Clerk Foster Arnett Jr., comes as a thrice convicted drug dealer who was also convicted of murder sought a license. Arnett declined to give him one, but the county's law department said he couldn't refuse.

Arnett then appealed to the commission to pass legislation.

"I think part of government's responsibility is to protect its citizens and I'm not giving someone with that background a license to go door to door," Arnett said. "I don't think it's right. I'm not saying anything bad about this guy, but he's been convicted of serious crimes."

Commissioner Mike Brown agreed.

"It's hard to draw a line in the middle when you're talking about crime," he said. "We have the responsibility of protecting those citizens just as much as (the sheriff and police chief) do."

Commission passed the measure in a 10-1 vote, with member Sam McKenzie dissenting.

The ordinance, which must be approved again next month on a second reading before it becomes official, also gives the clerk permission to revoke a license if it is discovered that there is an outstanding warrant against a license holder or a license holder has been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude within the past 10 years.

State law defines moral turpitude as an offense that contains "elements of fraud, theft, intent to cause great bodily harm, and sometimes lewdness, recklessness or malice."

McKenzie said he was concerned that 10 years was too long a time for some of the crimes.

"We're talking about perjury being equated with murder and that's not the same," he added.
The door-to-door permit costs $55 per month.

Probably be a long time before school board, commission ever get along

Apparently, it’s OK for school officials to crap all over county leaders and call them out in public meetings, but not for county leaders to ask the superintendent questions.

According to Commissioner Sam McKenzie, members of the joint education committee (of commissioners and board of education members) met last week and a “majority” of the conversation focused on “how we talk to each other.”

McKenzie told fellow commissioners last night that committee members (including some commissioners) felt the tone of a recent public meeting with Superintendent Jim McIntyre turned “nasty.”

(That particular meeting by the way occurred on April 21. At the time, McIntyre talked finances with the commission and mostly dodged questions. I blogged about it right smack here.)

McKenzie said the committee agreed that there should be a level of “tone and civility” toward “our elected or appointed leaders” and that last week “we may have missed the mark.”

McKenzie said the commissioners who serve on the committee agreed “probably to varying points,” but told the BOE members that “we can’t legislate tone.”

Anyhoo, it’s obvious that the discussion was focused around commissioners Mike Brown and Tony Norman who took McIntyre to task, and said that he and the school system really didn’t care much for teachers (in so many words).

Brown on Monday said he wasn’t apologizing, and that – in fact – he’s still waiting for answers, which, he added, was typical.

He then took a shot at the school system’s administration, saying “they have some marvelous spin doctors over there,” and that he doesn’t believe any of the numbers that the system provides to the commission or the public.

Norman, for his part, said he was actually disappointed in the “general demeanor of the (school) board – some individuals in particular almost had their backs to the people who were speaking.”

He was referring to a number of public meetings that took place last year in which students, teachers and parents – wearing red shirts – attended the school board meetings to show support for teachers.

Norman said a number of Board of Education members were “obviously dismissive in their posture and in the way they treated the teachers.”

Folks, this isn’t going to end any time soon.

Now granted this is fun stuff to watch, but probably detrimental in the end if neither side can get along and work together.

And let’s face it: Neither side will.

Sure, they formed some lame joint education committee, but it’s comprised of members who agree with each other. Duh! Put members who don’t agree on it.

Further, there’s all this talk – every freaking year – about how both sides are going to meet super early in the year and talk about budgets, so that there won’t be any surprises.

Yeah, sure.

Remind me again when that happened?

It didn’t.

And it won’t next year, either.

Commission says BOE should pay $219K

The Knox County Commission last night agreed that the school system should use its own reserve funds to cover the $219,000 supplemental appropriation that it requested to pay for the recruiting, hiring and training of 58 new security guards. (Story right smack here.)

After that, it gets a little strange. The board also somewhat committed to appropriating the remaining $1.7 million in ongoing starring expenses that the school system will need next year (and every other year).  The money, members said, would come through "natural growth" from current revenues, such as property and sales taxes.

It's almost as if the commission said: "You're going to use your own natural growth money to pay for this and not ours."

(Set aside the fact that it's really all taxpayer dollars and not "county" or "school" money.)

The problem, you see, is that the county commission can't exactly tell the school board how to spend money. It can appropriate the coin, but after that . . . well.

The language was put in at Commissioner Sam McKenzie's request. I get what he was doing. The school board wanted a commitment from the commission that if it covered the $219,000 the commission would approve the rest. That way, they didn't have to can 58 new hires right after they trained them. The language gave them that commitment.

The way it's worded, however, pigeon holes the commission. In the end, though, it probably won't be an issue as  all the money is really jumbled in one metaphorical pot of gold anyway.

The final vote will come next Monday.

Residential development for Alley

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett this morning announced plans for a multi-million dollar residential development on the Marble Alley property in downtown Knoxville. And once again, I called it. Thank you, thanks, whatever.

Artist rendering of what to expect

The plan calls for developer Buzz Gross, along with TDK Construction, to begin phase one - a 200,000-square foot residential development - within the next eight to 12 months, once the property transfers from the county to the developer. Phase one calls for a 200,000-square foot residential development.

 The three-to-five story facility is a $15 million to $20 million planned investment, according to county communications guru Michael "Big Sexy" Grider. It will include 238 units, a 350-space parking garage, resort-style pool and fitness and lounge facilities.

If there is no security, I will be leaping the fence and hanging at the pool once this sucker is complete.

Other development phases call for some retail

The announcement was made during a rpess conference this morning. Burchett was joined by city Mayor Madeline Rogero, county Commissioner Sam McKenzie and Gross.

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.

Billboard ban extended. Once again

Well, the county's had a billboard moratorium in place for four years now. So, what's another two months?

Yeah, the commission yesterday decided to extend the ban through Jan. 31. Now, last week, they had agreed in theory (work session stuff) to hold a workshop on Nov. 29, extend the ban just one month and then vote on whatever it is they come up with in December.

Then Commissioner, Colonel, Doctor and overall bad a$$ Richard Briggs came back from a trip and told the dais that they'd be extending the ban two months. Yup, he told them flat up: It's a holiday period, we've spent a lot of time on it, so set it aside.Again.

So, they did.

But, get this, the board had to vote twice to do it. Yeah. First they extended it until Jan. 28. Then some commissioners realized that the board meets that day. So, they had to vote again to extend it to Jan. 31. Oh, man, entertainment at the expense of others. Heh.

By the way, the vote wasn't unanimous. The measure passed (both times) 7-3. Commission Vice Chairman Rrrrrrrrrr. Larry Smith, and commissioners Jeff Ownby and Dave Wright voted against it.

(Commission Chairman Tony Norman was out. His mother-in-law passed away, so he was at her funeral. Condolences to the family.)

So, when the board does meet in another week, they will talk about the three proposals that Briggs has touted for months now. But, they're not voting on them. Click right smack here for a prior back story about this mess.

Anyhoo, Commissioner Sam McKenzie again called out his fellow board members for stalling.

“How many more times are we going to put this thing off,” he asked them. “I still think the parties up here know what they are going to do . . . . I think we all know what we want this thing to look like in order to get (the six votes needed to win). It's not fair to both parties (to hold off any longer). The opponents or the proponents.”

He added: “And who knows what will happen in January. We're starting to get eerily close to budget season.”

In other words: Are you jokers going to postpone it again in January and blame it on the budget? (My words, not his.)

In the end, Briggs agreed that he was “tired of beating a dead horse,” but “I'm not sure what horse I'm beating,” suggesting that a compromise next week could change everything. “This is very important to our community and something that can affects us for the next 20 to 25 years.”

October commission board birthdays

Just notice that one-third of the members on the Knox County Commission have a birthday this month. And two - Vice Chairman R. Larry Smith and Amy Broyles - celebrate theirs today.

Additionally, board Chairman Tony Norman has a birthday on the 23rd and Sam McKenzie celebrates his on the 26th.

I'm not sure how old/young they are. I used to have this stuff written down. Not sure where I put it.

For the county's complete October calendar, click right smack here.

Just more mindless info from da Porch.

Campfield: McKenzie after a free meal

To the surprise of no one, the County Commission voted down Commissioner Sam McKenzie's proposal to begin censure proceedings against state Sen. Stacey "Mr. Wrestling II" Campfield.

You can find the original story right smack here.

Sam was pretty upset with Stacey over the comments the good senator made about AIDS and monkeys and monkey sex. (Just Google "Stacey Campfield" and "monkey sex" and you'll see what I'm talking about. Heh.)

Anyhoo, KNS report Tom Humphrey talked with Stacey today about the commission's decision to not do anything. Campfield told him that the proposal "was ludicrous from the beginning" and he was not surprised at the rejection of what he considered a "partisan game." (Stacey is a Republican and Sam is a Democrat.)

Campfield also said Sam was "somebody looking for a free meal at the Bistro." (As opposed to Stacey who has been banned from the restaurant.)

One thing of note. When Sam initially proposed his resolution, Stacey said it had to do with the whole "Don't Say Gay" bill, or don't teach it, or whatever it is. Sam denied that and said it had everything to do with the monkey sex comments.

"Stacey's accusations that I want to teach homosexuality in classrooms is a flat out lie," McKenzie said during tonight's commission work session. "I am strongly against that. I do not want that at all. I do not think that's a way to instruct our children."

Well, apparently Stacey reiterated to Tom Humphrey that Sam did, in fact, say - on the Hallerin Hill show - that it was about the bill.

Charter review committee picks, thoughts

OK, so the Knox County Charter Review Committee, which will look into possibly amending the county’s governing documents, met for the first time tonight. I’ll have a story about it in tomorrow’s paper.

Here’s some quick thoughts.

As you may (or may not or don’t care to) know, the committee is comprised of nine commissioners (only Chairman Mike Hammond and Jeff Ownby aren’t on it), and nine of their appointees and nine picks from county Mayor Tim “Sasquatch” Burchett.

Soooo, the members had to select a chairman tonight. They chose former commissioner, former Trustee’s Office worker and current Property Assessor’s Office worker Craig Leuthold.

Here’s what happened:

Commissioner Amy Broyles nominated fellow Commissioner Sam KmcKenzie. Commissioner, Colonel, Doctor Richard Briggs – who actually appointed Leuthold to the committee – nominated Arghhh Larry Smith. Commissioner Mike Brown nominated Leuthold.

In the first round of voting, Sam and RRRRRRR Larry each nabbed six votes and Craig got nine. In the do-over, Sam got five, R. Larry got one and Craig got 15.

There were some top county leaders who were secretly hoping Sam would get the nod.

Just saying.

The committee ended up picking Ann Acuff as vice chair. Acuff recently retired from the county after serving mucho decades as the county’s deputy financial minister(ess).

Sam was selected as the committee’s secretary. Whatever that is.

Couple of other things. Commissioners initially thought they would have to sign off on any recommendations that the committee made. In other words, to get it to the ballot where the people get to make a decision, the commission would have to approve that.

Nope.

Apparently, the charter – that document that could get amended – says it goes to the election commission. So, that eliminates a layer of BS.

You know, provided it doesn’t get too political on that committee.

And it will. I feel sorry for some of the newcomers. They have no clue. Heh.

Now, in the meantime, a few folks have commented on the so-called oddity of some of the mayor’s picks. You see, a few of the people he selected don’t always see eye-to-eye with him. Don’t kid yourself. He’s got the support he needs.

Hammond back as commission chairman

The Knox County Commission a few minutes ago reappointed Mike Hammond and Brad Anders to serve as chairman and vice chairman, respectively.

Each of their one-year terms expired on Wednesday.

They both were approved 10-0. Commissioner Amy Broyles didn’t get to the meeting until after the vote.

Commissioner Richard Briggs initially nominated Anders for the chair spot and even voted for him, but changed his mind for the final tally was made official.

In addition, Commissioner Tony Norman nominated Dave Wright for the vice chair spot, but Wright turned it down, so Anders - who Sam McKenzie nominated - automatically got the spot.

Burchett weighs in on proposals

OK, so I'm checking out today's story - “Amendment would aid Beck” - that details a number of commission proposals that would rearrange money in the administration's proposed budget to fund a number of things like the Beck Cultural Exchange Center and pay raises for employees.

I decided to look for some reaction and gave county Mayor Tim Burchett, at left, a call. He weighed in on each of the proposals.

So . . . .

Me: Commissioner Sam McKenzie wants to use at least some of the additional $364,000 that went to the county's engineering and public works department to help out the Beck Center and restore $75,000 to the Knox Area Transit's senior rider program. Your thoughts?

Burchett: That's where we've been taking money from the past (the engineering department) and that's supposed to repair out roads. When we talk about infrastructure and what we're doing for jobs, I think that is a vital role of government. It doesn't make headlines, but filling in the potholes and patching the streets – that's important. And right now our roads are showing it because of the freeze we had this fall. We haven't made those repairs in the past and now they're catching up to us.

Me: It looks like commission Vice Chairman Brad Anders proposed cutting $2.6 million from the Great Schools Partnership to give employees a 2 percent raise.

Burchett: That's our (Teacher Advancement Program) money - and although it's one area where we do have control over the school system - from all indications, it's been very successful, so I would hate to see us lose that program. I don't think it's a wise move right now. With the money from the Great Schools – that goes with paying teachers on their performance and that's what people have demanded. That we reward the teachers.

Me: Commissioner Amy Broyles is looking at restoring the $100,000 cut to Ijams Nature Center.

Burchett: Yes, we took that money out and they're talking about putting it back in. Well, we've got to make cuts and that's an area where we think we should. It's better than cutting people.

Me: What about dipping into the reserves?

Burchett: Ah, no. That's just bad news. We need to be very careful about that. We have to have at least $26 million that we can't touch to balance out against our debt, which is a best practice procedure – what the bonding agencies told us. So that means we have $10 million. If there is an emergency, a tornado, then we'll need that. We need it for real emergencies. We did that once before with the sheriff's automobiles over my protest. Members said that was one-time deal, but how many one-time deals are we going to have.

Team Spin chasing the rumors

This is rich. Apparently, the good spin docs over in the mayor's office hear that “a few commissioners” are “reportedly discussing the possibility of a tax increase."

Uh. No. They're not.

Here's the deal. Commissioners Amy Broyles and Sam McKenzie met with some deputies Wednesday night (yes the meeting was sun shined) to talk about employee pay raises.

This morning, Commissioner Mike Brown – on 100.3 FM – was asked about the pay raises and ta ax increase, the latter which he said he'd support as a last resort.

In the meantime, Team Spin – chief of staff Dean Rice and communications director Michael Grider – designed what I supposed was some type of preemptive strike against a rumor that no one in the administration bothered to follow up on. Or perhaps, they're all overworked and it was the voices they were hearing.

Heh.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that the administration said Broyles, Brown and McKenize were behind the discussions. They've all denied it.

“That is a lie,” Broyles said.

Man, I love this stuff.

Anyhoo, here's the spin release:

Knoxville, Tenn. — A few Knox County Commissioners are reportedly discussing the possibility of a tax increase to fund pay raises for Knox County Government employees and sheriff’s deputies. Friday, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett released the following statement indicating his strong opposition to such a move:

“I truly appreciate that some commissioners agree that we must be fiscally conservative and put taxpayers first.

“Our employees and law officers do a great job and work hard for the citizens of Knox County. However, at a time when private-sector employees are not getting pay raises, and many families are struggling, it is not right to take even more of their money so Knox County’s employees can get a pay increase.

“I’ve stated very clearly that, as a fiscal conservative, I am very much opposed to raising taxes in this economy or raiding our general fund’s emergency reserves. On May 2, I presented a proposal that would balance the budget without either a tax increase or a withdrawal of funds from the emergency reserves. I also proposed an additional week of paid vacation for fulltime employees as a way to show appreciation for the work they do.

“Our first priority must be the Knox County taxpayers. This simply is not the time to raise taxes. We must not increase the tax burden on our citizens in this economy, especially when those same taxpayers are already funding a defined benefit pension plan for Sheriff’s Department employees and a minimum 6 percent contribution match for county employee retirement accounts. Those benefits simply don’t exist for many private employees.”

East Sector Plan coming back

It appears that commissioners again are finally set to vote – for what seems like the thousandth time but probably isn’t – on the East Knox County Sector Plan, a long-term guide for economic development.

But, area residents who want to keep the land pristine and rural shouldn’t worry. Because the nefarious, divisive, controversial (blah, blah, blah) Midway Business Park proposal is still off the table.

However, Commissioners during their monthly work session agreed 9-2 (Sam McKenzie and Vice Chairman Brad Anders cast the dissenting votes) to put the rest of the proposal on Monday’s agenda.

In the meantime, county Mayor Tim Burchett said a “visionary” committee he put together in January to brainstorm ideas for the remaining land where the park was planned will report back to him in about 60 days.

“We haven’t really set any parameters,” Burchett said, talking about the marching orders sent to the committee. “We’re just looking for (new) ideas and solutions.”

(On a side note, the good doctor and Commissioner Richard Briggs pointed out that the committee – comprised of business park opponents and supporters – doesn’t own the land. So, the group making the proposals really doesn’t have any control of the outcome. It will be up to the Development Corporation of Knox County – the owners – to act on the recommendations.)

The land in question? About 380 acres off the Midway Road exit from Interstate 40. The Development Corp. bought it for almost $10 million and set aside roughly $17 million to develop it. (Its nerd-name by the way is “E.C.O. 7”.)

As it stands right now, according to Metropolitan Planning Commission Executive Director Mark Donaldson, developers could currently build five units per acre (either houses, complexes, duplexes, whatever), on the land.

However, as pointed out by one of the coolest-named community activists around, Lisa Starbuck: Nothing is getting built on the land right now because there isn’t any sewer out there.

As far as the rest of the East County Sector Plan goes?

Commissioner Dave Wright (whose district includes the area) said: “It’s been worked on for three years. It’s current, it’s up-to-date and people like it.”