Knox already has $9.2 million for Carter

By Wednesday, we'll finally know whether the school board will sign off on county Mayor Tim Burchett's plan to build a new Carter Elementary. (Actually, we'll probably have a pretty good idea after Tuesday's blab session, but I digress.)

Here's something that hasn't been reported yet. Because, the sixth floor Deathstar spin squad hasn't really gotten this out. Not sure why. But, I figure it's worth mentioning.

All this talk about selling land to build a new school? Naw. They don't really have to do that. Not entirely. The county says it needs $13.9 million to replace the busted-up East Knox County elementary school.

But, if you count the $2.5 million that it still expects the school system to cover, then we've pretty much got $9.7 million in the bank. Sooooo, that means we've got two years to raise the other $2 million or so.

Here's the breakdown:

$2 million: The sale of the Solway land and Commissioner Tony Norman's BMX track. (Yeah, the deal hasn't officially closed, but whatever. The sale has been approved)

$900K: Young-Williams Animal Center. You see the county has an agreement with the city to jointly operate the animal center as 50-50 partners. The county – along with some private coin – built the building and the city has been paying its share over the years. Well, the city fulfilled its commitment toward the building this year, according to the county's czar of finances, John Troyer. (I think the city actually paid up early, but who's complaining? Money spends the same.)

$3.4 million: This scratch represents E-911 money the center owed to Knox County for financing the construction of its building. E-911 recently bid out what amounts to a re-finance, thus paying off its obligation to the county. The E-911 board has approved the mortgage – which has been bid, but not closed yet – but it should close this month.

$900K: This beauty comes from a legal settlement (Class action, SEC v. JP Morgan). Click right smack here for the details. Or, if you want the easy to understand version, then here it is: Say your college roommate stole $20 from you a few decades ago, then felt bad about it and decided – out of the blue – to give it back to you. Well, you didn't really miss it because you didn't know about it, but it sure is nice to have. Except think about it actually being $900,000. So, really this is money we shouldn't have lost in the first place, but whatever. At this point it might as well be free money.

$2.5 million: The county issues bonds on behalf of the school board, which actually affects the school system's debt service. This is how the two sides were going to renovate Carter anyway.

There you have it. If the school board doesn't want the coin, then the mayor will use it to pay down the county's $1 billion debt (that includes the interest), which is pretty much a drop in the ocean.

Padgett: I got more money than you do

In his never-ending effort to nickle and dime anyone who doesn't live inside the county (OK, so a few people do), Knoxville mayoral candidate Mark Padget has raised another billion dollars, according to the spin release issued by his PR flack who once lifted weights with the Governator.

Actually, the spin says he's raised another $45,015 and now has over $183,000 cash-on-hand of which $132,900 can be used for the primary which he is not expected to win, but could maybe, possibly force into a runoff.

Once again, the man who has run on his business-like acumen doesn't really talk about that business.

Heh.

According to a quote which was no doubt written by Laura Braden, who bombards me daily with this minutiae, Padgett says he is “humbled and grateful by the support I have received from the community.”

In other words: “Thanks for the money, suckers! Wooooooh.”

He, I mean, she, goes on to say: “The financial support is needed, but more important is the growing number of Knoxville voters joining our campaign to keep Knoxville moving forward.”

In other words: “Damn I got a lot of coin, but I'm not too sure I got the votes.”

Finally: “With just thirty days until voters head to the polls, I urge everyone to encourage their friends, families and colleagues to register to vote.”

In other words: “The next time you see me I'll be on MTV answering questions about whether I wear boxers or briefs.”

Tim Hutchison's legal bills due?

Hey, guess who is back? And wanting some mega-coin?

Well, sort of.

Attorneys for former Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchison want the county to pay up - to the tune of some $134,000 in scratch for successfully defending the long-time sheriff during a series of ouster suits that began in 2007.

(It's not actually known if Hutch paid the attorneys and they're collecting for him or if they were waiting for the county - former county law director John Owings hired the firm - to just flat out reimburse them. Not sure if that sentence even made sense.)

Click right smack here for the memo and the itemized statements from the law firm.

The county (that means taxpayers) paid for former Commissioner Paul Pinkston's legal fees ($24,000), and plan to pick up the bill ($4,300) for Commissioner R. Larry Smith's tab for some Ethics Committee related crap that didn't have anything to do with ouster suits.

I'll have a story in Saturday's paper with more detail.

Have a good weekend.

McIntyre agrees with mayor? Huh?

In what has got to be one of the most long-winded letters I have read in quite some time, it appears that Lord McIntyre is recommending to his nine disciples to approve county Mayor Tim Burchett's plan to sell off the county, piece by piece, and to replace the busted-up elementary school in the Carter community with a fancy, new one. (How's that for a long-winded sentence?)

Here's his memo to the school board right smack here.

I have to admit I'm surprised. I told Emperor Dean Rice the other day I didn't see this happening. You know - cut the nose off to spite the face. Or whatever.

Next week, we'll see if the school board goes along for the bus ride.

In the meantime, thanks goes to Shock and Awe for bringing this to my attention. Click right smack here for his post and more links to the Carter stuff.

He sent me a twit or a tweet or whatever that Twitter stuff is called last night, but I was catching up on Breaking Bad, which is a kick-ass show, so I didn't see it until just now. I typically don't write about the school board, but any time I can can call the good doctor "Lord" and the chief of staff "Emperor" I jump.

You know. Cause I'm mature that way.

Dwight, Myretta no longer "acting"

Knox County Public Works and Engineering Director Dwight Van de Vate and county Director of Library Services Myretta Black can finally drop “interim” from their titles.

Brief history lesson: When county Mayor Tim Burchett took office last September there was a big ol' mess about severance packages, and who knew what and when, and whatever. In the end, Bruce Wuethrich (public works and engineering), Larry Frank (top dog librarian) and Susanne Dupes (communications director) quit.

The mayor then put Black in charge of the library system as acting director, and Van de Vate (former county Mayor Mike Ragsdale's chief administrative officer or something like that) over public works.

Somehow Michael “Spin Doc” Grider got Dupes' old job, but it has a different title and pay and he has to carry the chief of staff Dean “the Emperor” Rice's bags wherever he goes. (Rice also requires him to walk three steps behind him wherever they go. Kidding. Not really.)

Anyhoo, I think they mayor this afternoon finally got sick of me asking him when he'd make permanent appointments. He then said he'd call Black and Van de Vate today and let them know they could drop the “interim” label from their business cards.

Course the mayor is so cheap, I mean frugal, that he'll probably just tell them to grab a pen and cross out the title rather than order new cards.

And no, they don't get a pay raise.

Email flap: Cox gone, Salter stays

Ever since David Cox was put on paid suspension for sending county Commissioner Amy Broyles some rude emails, folks have been asking about solid waste director Tom Salter, the funny man who supposedly created an email account and pretended to be his own arch nemesis, Brad Mayes.

I blogged about it right smack here. Funny, stupid stuff.

Anyhoo, internal auditor Richard Walls on Friday fired Cox for sending the emails although that wasn't the official reason. It something to do with not being able to maintain objectivity or something.

Rebecca Ferrar wrote the story. Click for the brilliance right smack here.

So, where does that leave Salter? Some folks wonder why county Mayor Tim Burchett hasn't done anything about him.

First off, Walls answer to the county commission – not the mayor. Second, the Salter incident didn't happen under Burchett.

It happened under then-county Mayor Mike Ragsdale (back in May 2008). So, really, it's his choice. Or was.

Here's Burchett's response when I asked him about Salter: “All that happened prior to me being in office. (Salter) just needs to continue doing the job that he's supposed to. It was under a different administration and the things that went on then, aren't permitted. now.”

Larry Frank and his one-week job

Do you remember Larry Frank? The county's former wild-haired library director (some called him "Yoni") who has some even wilder ideas?

The same guy, left, former county Mayor Mike Ragsdale let quit before Tim Burchett came in and was (possibly) about to axe him? Then there was that whole severance package snafu.

Well, he got a job. Then he quit. After ONE WEEK!

Here's the story right smack here.

The story doesn't mention whether Frank will repay the $15,000 moving stipend the Grand Haven system gave him.

Mayoral forum: Riddled with drivel

It was either the tranquilizers, the boredom or the ADHD, but something kicked in and I turned off last night's Knoxville mayoral forum, went outside and shot myself in the head a couple of times, before taking a nap.

I'm OK now; thanks for asking.

I can only comment – not that you asked, nor do I care, but you know who you are – on the first 17 minutes of the muck.

The four candidates (the fifth couldn't raise the necessary coin to participate so he was barred, banned and censored) were asked about their vision.

Madeline Rogero talked about working to create jobs, removing blighted properties, whatever. She also said something about “wanting a sustainable Knoxville” and installing solar panels on city buildings. Now THAT I would like to see. Heh.

Joe Hultquist started out his vision speech with some kind of cliché'. Something like (I'm paraphrasing): “A leader is measure not so much by what he's said but what he's done.” OK then, what have you done? He also said he “walked and prayed over the city I love.” (For some reason that gives me the creeps.) Then he rambled about the nation “teetering on the brink of insolvency” and I tuned that part out because I'm tired of folks bringing national crap into the local realm. He also said he'd focus on four key areas: economic development, accountability, transparency and a high quality of life. None of that really says much. He did say he's working with a company in Switzerland (something to do with transportation). And by “working” I think he means that he's had two conversations with the business in the past 10 years.

Mark Padgett once again bragged about some minuscule business he started that he has over and over and over and over again failed to really get into detail about, and how all that will make him a leader of some 2,000 employees. He said now is not “the time to make a U-turn.” Whatever the hell that means. I hope he wasn't talking to the dude riding the bicycle (the one carrying his “vote for me cause I started a business” sign) who almost crashed into a car on Gay Street. He also said he wants to recruit comparable businesses that already have a presence in Knoxville. HUH? Screw that, man. Go out and get businesses that we don't already have. Like a casino. A legal one. (Cause the Man with the Badge keeps busting up all the card games.)

Ivan Harmon also wants to create jobs and make Knoxville a place to raise families. He'd tap the resources of UT, the TVA, etc., etc. to do that. This observation for the highly obvious is truly remarkable. Come on. That's all you got? Oh yeah, he said he'd put a good team in place (that's actually a good idea because you wouldn't believe how many people wouldn't do this) if elected.

Bo Bennett said . . . . NOTHING. Click right smack here for a funny picture of Brian Moneyhun explaining why Bennett said nothing.

At some point, they got to pensions, since the city programs are expected to grow to as much as $30 million by 2019.

Pretty Boy Padge said he wanted an open and transparent process (lame); to honor the commitment made to the employees already on the program (no kidding dude – state law says you have to) and doesn't want reform on the backs of taxpayers. Seriously. Nice spin. The whole idea of reform is to NOT have it on the backs of taxpayers. Repeat the obvious. Be remarkable.

Ivan the Republican said he'd work with the task force committee that's already looking into the pension problem.

Rogero (who is my biggest fan) said she'd also let the task force do the job before drawing conclusions. Or something like that.

Sooooooo. In other words, neither of these three had the guts to publicly say how they feel about the city's pension plans.

Joe, however, did. He wants to start offering new employees a 401(k) plan. He even felt that the task force will “kick the can down the road so that the (pension problem) is not an issue right now.” Ah, like Mickey said to Rocky in Rocky II: “Ya got the heart kid, but you ain't got the tools. So forget it.” (No, Joe isn't going to pull off an upset.)

Finally, Bo said . . . . Oh yeah. He didn't get to say anything. Cause he wasn't invited.

There's my take on the first 17 minutes. I'm sure you all feel a little dumber now if you managed to get this far.

Have a good weekend.

Mayoral fist bumpin' continues on

County Mayor Tim Burchett continues his one-wrist-at-a-time-wrecking-machine-tour in August.

So far he's held constituent meetings in Fountain City (no one showed), Cedar Bluff (3.5 people appeared), South Knoxville (a whole bunch attended) and Hardin Valley (about 5 showed).

For the big spin and the upcoming schedule by the Spin Doc Michael Grider himself click right smack here.

There will be another meeting at the Corryton Senior Center, the Bearden Branch Library, the Burlington Branch Library and the Farragut Branch Library.

After consulting the Bat-map, it appears that the mayor has hosted or will host these fist-bumpin' sessions twice in the north; four times in the west; and one time each for the east and south.

Just saying.

“We can only do so many,” Grider told me.

Then, he laughed and added: “Are you trying to start problems where there isn't one?”

Me: “Yeah.”

Grider: “I'm going to sic Randy Neal on you.”

Heh.

More Knoxville mayoral race drivel

I always get a kick out reading articles about so-called public polling initiatives during election time.

Only weirdos answer those things. Only weirdos talk to phone solicitors. Only weirdos . . . whatever.

Anyhoo, apparently Madeline Rogero, whose campaign is riddled with so much inner turmoil right now it’s shaking like a junkie who lost his last fix (from what I’m hearing, anyway), says she’s kicking ass by a 2-to-1 margin over Mark Padgett, who is campaigning on the fact that he can run a city of several thousand employees, since he can runs his own business which has a grand total of about two. (That’s with a plus or minus 10-person margin.)

Here’s the Rogero story right smack here.

In the meantime, “vote for me because I’m the best looking and I promise I’m not a Republican” Padgett’s spin doc (Laura Braden) released another tired cliché from her camp, quoting Padgett as saying that his polling numbers put him only seven points behind Rogero.

Whatever. Seven, 7,000 or 7 million. You’re behind. Coming in second just means you’re the first loser.

By the way, here’s another quote from Padgett’s spin doc that says little or nothing: "I’m the only candidate with a plan to create jobs and economic growth, and the experience needed to move Knoxville forward.”

I mean WTH does that mean? Does that mean the current governor - in his seven or eight or how many years as mayor moved us backward? Whatever. Don't answer that. Just give us some real examples, slick, instead of this Ragsdale-like drivel.

“I’m the only candidate with a plan” to blah, blah, blah.

Man, I’m going to laugh my ass off if Ivan Harmon wins this thing from his hospital bed and the $5 he’s raised so far. (Laugh even harder if either Bo Bennett and Joe Hultquist wins. Heh.)

The nonpartisan primary election is Sept. 27.

Do yourself a favor and just write in my name.

Update: Rogero has a 2-1 lead over Ivan - not Padgett - according to her latest pollings. My bad.

Ivan Harmon heads to hospital

Knoxville mayoral candidate Ivan Harmon (who will tell everyone he meets that he's the only true Republican running for the city's highest elected office) plans to check into the hospital today as a routine precautionary measure.

Ivan, left, should be back on the campaign trail this Tuesday. You might recall that toward the end of May, Harmon was in the hospital because of a blood clot it in his left leg. We wrote about it right smack here.

I don't have a dog in this mayoral race - I pick on all the candidates equally - but I do wish the guy well. And knowing Ivan, he'll be campaigning inside the hospital.

Here's the official press release right smack here.

Jeff Roth new MPC commissioner

There's been quite an uproar about Mayor Big Dog's appointment to the Metropolitan Planning Commission – a group of folks who are nothing more than a RECOMMENDATION panel.

A panel, I might add, that the county has pretty much dismissed in recent months. You know, the Midway business park proposal. Or that Ridgetop/Hillside protection plan thing. (I'm not saying it's a bad panel, but it makes makes only recommendations.)

Anyhoo, Big Tim Burchett decided he wasn't going to reappoint Rachel Craig, who was serving out the remaining two years of City Councilman Nick Pavilis' term. Craig posted her thoughts on "that obscure liberal blog," which you can read right here. She's not mad about the mayor stiffing her. But, she – and a lot of folks – are upset that Burchett didn't appoint someone who lives south of the river.

We wrote a story about the issue (click right smack here) and county Commissioner Mike Brown stopped just short of calling the mayor a D-bag. The Metro Pulse wrote a story about it (click right smack here) and pretty much put a dunce cap on the mayor's head and sat him in the corner.

Of course it didn't help that, according to the story, the mayor admitted to getting a list of “potential South Knoxville replacements for Craig” and then “looked at the list but chose to ignore it.”

Personally, I don't think he ignored the list. I bet he looked at it; thought what a great paper airplane it would make and then threw it at Dean “The Emperor” Rice's head.

But, here's what's been bothering me: So far, no one has bothered to call the mayor's pick – Jeff Roth. So, he doesn't live in south Knoxville anymore. But, doesn't anyone want to hear what he has to say? Apparently not.

Sooooooo, I got bored, like I often do when I eat horse tranquilizers, and I called the guy last night. He was out, but he got back to me early this morning and we talked about his appointment and ties to south Knoxville.

Let me say that first off, sometimes tone gets lost in the printed word. So, if some of his comments seem sarcastic, they weren't. The guy was funny, sincere and a tad humble. Also, this post isn't about taking a side or not on Burchett's appointment, but rather a chat with Roth. (And as a disclaimer, I live in South Knoxville and do think that in the past few years local government has treated it like a turd.)

“It's a little funny that there's so much controversy about this – I didn't realize being a volunteer would bring that out,” said Roth, 47. “It's the MPC. We're not raising taxes or redistricting property lines. We're just a recommendation body.”

Roth said he was born in Baptist Hospital and attended South Knoxville Elementary (and spent sixth grade at Galbraith Elementary School).

His parents divorced when he was five. When his mom later remarried, they did move out of South Knoxville. After high school, he joined the Army and then went to UT where he earned a degree in business administration and marketing.

Yes, he has lived in Karns since 1985, he said, but “I'm not completely out of touch with South Knoxville.”

His uncle was the owner of Gravely Tractor, off John Sevier Highway, for more than 30 years. He has a cousin who teaches South Doyle (forgot to ask whether that was the middle or high school).

“I want to represent the whole county – that will be my goal,” Roth said. “I certainly don't want to go into any situation with a biased opinion or predisposition about how I'll vote on a particular issue. I want to walk in with an open mind.”

I asked why he'd want a thankless job like that.

He gave me the typical “I want to contribute and serve the community" answer.

“The bottom line is, I think, the reason Mayor Burchett appointed me is that he has faith in my ability to make decisions that are non-biased and based on what we hear in our meetings,” he said. “I don't think geography has a lot to do with that. I feel Knox County is all one group of people, so I don't tend to make a distinction between people who live in one area or another. I'm looking forward to serving. I told Tim I'd do a good job and do the best I can and do what needs to be done up there.”

I also asked him his thoughts on whether it's important – in his opinion – to have representatives (what are there? 15 on the MPC?) – from all parts of the county.

He responded: “Up until my appointment, I never gave it a whole lot of thought. The quick answer is 'no I don't think it's necessary.' It's set up so that the mayors make the appointments and I think you have to give those guys the benefit that they'll do a good job. I know several people on the commission and it's a good group, and I think we can make decisions based on education and not about being biased.”

Roth owns Knoxville-based Quality Machine and Welding Co, Inc., which his grandfather founded in 1966 and his father took over 10 years later. He grew up in the business and said at one point it employed 130 people, but is down to 66, mostly because of the economy. (Not the best time to be in construction, I suppose.)

Finally, I asked him his thoughts on the ridgetop/hillside issue.

“I'm going to have to educate myself a little more about the details,” he said. “Certainly, I'm not as familiar with the details (as other people are), but development is important in bringing businesses to Knoxville. My employees depend on us to do that – to have jobs. But having said that, we need to be cognizant of the communities, subdivisions, people and of the environment. We don't want to go paving paradise. But we also have to keep in mind that development is good for economic growth.”

So, those are Roth's thoughts.

I'm not saying Burchett was right or wrong about not appointing someone from the south. (Remember, the glass is always half-empty. He was probably wrong.) But, maybe there's still some South Knoxville in the boy.

I mean at this point, everyone will be squarely focused on what decisions he makes because it will reflect on the mayor.

Roth is in the spotlight right now.

And so is South Knoxville.

And that might not be a bad thing.