I was out a few days, so I'm catching up on returning calls, emails, etc. To the person who called once and then the next day told an editor that I haven't returned your calls, you are last on my list.
Anyhoo, we ran a story Monday about county officials prepping to appoint a charter review committee. It didn't get much reaction. (Click right smack here for the story.)
Lot of rumors going around about what could happen. I doubt any of it will, but a few folks are talking about increasing the county commission and doing something to term limits – either eliminating them or clarifying them. (Different suggestions depending on who wants to weigh in.)
So, I got a couple documents if you're interested. The first – click right smack here – is the resolution that the commission will vote on when it appoints members.
The second – click right smack here – is a (at this point) primer on term limits. You see, there's been some debate about whether someone who was appointed and then won the office can run again. Right now, the answer is “yes.”
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Mayor sharpening 2013 budget pencil
Fresh off electric shock treatment and because he has absolutely nothing to do, county spin-kid Michael “Big Sexy” Grider just let me know that the “FY 2013 budget season (is) officially underway.”
According to BS and the spin release, county Mayor Tim Burchett:
OK, fair deal.
(In their defense, it will be a tough budget season and I imagine Mayor Cheapskate will upset quite a few people. And while Grider probably has nothing to do, it could be worse. The city has three Griders with nothing to do. Heh.)
According to BS and the spin release, county Mayor Tim Burchett:
“ . . . kicked-off the formal budget season during a meeting with departments’ budget staff Tuesday. 'We have done a lot of good work for the citizens of Knox County in the past year-and-a-half, putting together a fiscally responsible budget last year, increasing transparency in government and ensuring that services are provided efficiently and at a savings to taxpayers,' Mayor Burchett said. 'But our work is not finished. Now we must stay the course and continue to find the savings and efficiencies that our citizens expect.'”When reached for comment, the mayor said it's “just another release that you can put on your blog and make fun of us.”
OK, fair deal.
(In their defense, it will be a tough budget season and I imagine Mayor Cheapskate will upset quite a few people. And while Grider probably has nothing to do, it could be worse. The city has three Griders with nothing to do. Heh.)
Ethics Committee sub-panel to disband?
You know how local officials like to appoint sub-committees and then you never hear back from them? Yeah, started thinking about that the other day.
Anyhoo, the Ethics Committee meets tomorrow. (There's not a whole lot going on.) But chairwoman Elaine Davis said she might ask for an update from a sub-panel or committee or whatever that the board put together a long time back to look into possible changes to its makeup. (Long sentence, I know.)
You see, Knox County Commissioner Richard Briggs wanted to the committee to consist solely of county residents to avoid conflicts of interest among elected leaders. He also wanted to more clearly define just what the panel is supposed to preside over. And, he wanted the group to serve as a tool for elected officials who want to implement something but want to make sure it's not unethical first - for example, creating an unofficial office account or taking a trip paid for by the private sector.
Right now, the nine-member committee, which includes one commissioner and a Knox County Sheriff's Office representative, investigates ethics complaints regarding county business and employees. 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.
To make a long story short, I wrote a story in December 2010 about this issue – find it by clicking right smack here.
The committee formed a committee to look into these suggestions, blah, blah, blah and I don't think it ever met.
And now it looks like the board will disband it.
“We had too many other things going on,” Briggs told me the other day. “With the change in government about a year and a half ago (when the commission dropped from 19 to 11 members and a new county mayor took office), I don't think there has been a single incident that's come up.”
Briggs said he'd still like to see an all-resident board, but he'll hold off at this point, since there hasn't been too many referrals to the committee.
(All that's coming to my mind was that mess about whether a developer got some inside info on the Midway Business Park land, and he didn't bother showing up to the inquiry, which was kind of funny. In a way. But I digress.)
Speaking of which, what ever happened to that committee that was supposed to look into other ways to use the Midway land?
Anyhoo, the Ethics Committee meets tomorrow. (There's not a whole lot going on.) But chairwoman Elaine Davis said she might ask for an update from a sub-panel or committee or whatever that the board put together a long time back to look into possible changes to its makeup. (Long sentence, I know.)
You see, Knox County Commissioner Richard Briggs wanted to the committee to consist solely of county residents to avoid conflicts of interest among elected leaders. He also wanted to more clearly define just what the panel is supposed to preside over. And, he wanted the group to serve as a tool for elected officials who want to implement something but want to make sure it's not unethical first - for example, creating an unofficial office account or taking a trip paid for by the private sector.
Right now, the nine-member committee, which includes one commissioner and a Knox County Sheriff's Office representative, investigates ethics complaints regarding county business and employees. 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.
To make a long story short, I wrote a story in December 2010 about this issue – find it by clicking right smack here.
The committee formed a committee to look into these suggestions, blah, blah, blah and I don't think it ever met.
And now it looks like the board will disband it.
“We had too many other things going on,” Briggs told me the other day. “With the change in government about a year and a half ago (when the commission dropped from 19 to 11 members and a new county mayor took office), I don't think there has been a single incident that's come up.”
Briggs said he'd still like to see an all-resident board, but he'll hold off at this point, since there hasn't been too many referrals to the committee.
(All that's coming to my mind was that mess about whether a developer got some inside info on the Midway Business Park land, and he didn't bother showing up to the inquiry, which was kind of funny. In a way. But I digress.)
Speaking of which, what ever happened to that committee that was supposed to look into other ways to use the Midway land?
Monday, January 9, 2012
Teachers can still get gifts here. I think.
I was talking to Elaine Davis, the chair of the county's ethics committee, this morning, just checking to see if the board's got anything going on for Wednesday's meeting.
They don't.
Anyhoo, she said she was visiting some folks in Alabama over the holidays and was reading a local paper that talked about state problems about teachers accepting gifts. Apparently, the governor over there in that godforsaken state (yeah – I said it and I don't really care what you think about me saying it) had to come up with a plan, so that teachers could accept gifts and it wouldn't be an ethics violation.
Not sure what article Davis saw, but a Google search popped up this one from the Montgomery Advertiser – click right smack here for it.
Yeah, Alabama. Yee-freakin'-haw. I like your football team. I hope you crush LSU tonight in the Big Game. But your state makes no sense.
By the way, Elaine says she doesn't think it's an ethics violation in Tennessee for teachers to accept gifts, particularly in Knox County.
Because, you know, we don't pay them anything, anyway.
They don't.
Anyhoo, she said she was visiting some folks in Alabama over the holidays and was reading a local paper that talked about state problems about teachers accepting gifts. Apparently, the governor over there in that godforsaken state (yeah – I said it and I don't really care what you think about me saying it) had to come up with a plan, so that teachers could accept gifts and it wouldn't be an ethics violation.
Not sure what article Davis saw, but a Google search popped up this one from the Montgomery Advertiser – click right smack here for it.
Yeah, Alabama. Yee-freakin'-haw. I like your football team. I hope you crush LSU tonight in the Big Game. But your state makes no sense.
By the way, Elaine says she doesn't think it's an ethics violation in Tennessee for teachers to accept gifts, particularly in Knox County.
Because, you know, we don't pay them anything, anyway.
LWV to host shindig for commish, BOE
OK, I got an email that was forwarded to me from the League of Women Voters Knoxville-Knox County. It's a little fuzzy, but I think I understand it. Apparently the organization is holding a meeting tomorrow (actually two meetings) to congratulate the county commission and the school board because the two governing bodies are getting together to hang out and talk shop at the end of the month.
The email also notes that “we have four specific suggestions to inspire our local officials, all easy and engaging . . .” but never says just what those suggestions are.
Oh well.
“We've heard others applaud the goals of this retreat and we sense growing grassroots support of education in Knox County,” the email states. “We'd like to bring people together to talk about communicating to our elected officials that we have high expectations for their success, and we also need your ideas and community connections to encourage our officials to keep their collaboration intact in the coming months.”The group will hold two meetings tomorrow. The first from noon to 1 p.m. at the East Tennessee History Center on South Gay Street; the second from 6-7 p.m. at the West High School Library off Sutherland Avenue.
The email also notes that “we have four specific suggestions to inspire our local officials, all easy and engaging . . .” but never says just what those suggestions are.
Oh well.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Hirings continue under Knoxville mayor
The other day I posted about county Mayor Tim Burchett meeting with some local businesses about creating jobs.
Apparently, they met with the wrong mayor.
According to R. Neal, Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero has named a new redevelopment deputy. (You ever notice how there's never any mention in the spin releases about how much coin these folks earn? I mean, come on, that's all anyone really cares about anyway.)
Anyhoo, at this point I think she's hired a new person each day since taking office last month.
Heh.
Have a good weekend.
I'm outta here!
Apparently, they met with the wrong mayor.
According to R. Neal, Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero has named a new redevelopment deputy. (You ever notice how there's never any mention in the spin releases about how much coin these folks earn? I mean, come on, that's all anyone really cares about anyway.)
Anyhoo, at this point I think she's hired a new person each day since taking office last month.
Heh.
Have a good weekend.
I'm outta here!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Yeah, about that $7 million for the schools
I don't think it's a major secret that one of this year's big issues will be figuring out how and where local government will find the coin to make up the school system's $7 million shortfall, stemming from the end of the federal stimulus dollars.
That amount doesn't take into consideration another couple of million (I'm guessing about $4 million) in natural growth that the school budget also will need.
And, I'm not going to mention the county's financial increases – pension contributions, employee raises, etc.
Just here to talk about the school system and where they can find $7 million.
Because I found $7 million. Yup. Sure did.
I'm not sure if it's good or not, but it certainly hasn't been discussed yet. Strange really. Because it's right there in the budget. But, if the school system is like me, then it would rather spend someone that isn't their own.
Heh.
Anyhoo, let me explain where I found the scratch.
If you click right smack here and jump to page 27 you'll see that in the school system's adopted Fiscal Year 2011 budget, officials planned to use $2.9 million from the “fund balance.” That's fancy talk for rainy day reserve tank by the way.
You'll note also on that same page, officials expected the balance on June 30, 2011 to have a little more than $17.1 million in it.
Heh.
Guess what? Yup. It's got more than $17.1 million in it.
So, click right smack here on the recently released County Annual Financial Report, or CAFR.
It takes a second to load, but scroll on down to page 202 of the document where you'll find the balance sheet for general purpose school spending. Or whatever.
Anyhoo, check out that “unassigned fund balance” as of the end of this most recent fiscal year (June 30, 2011).
It's a cool $27.1 million.
You see, it started at about $20 million and should have dropped to about $17.1 million. (Remember the first thing I had you click on?) Instead it jumped.
How?
Well, check out the next page (203 for those not keeping up) and you'll see that revenues from 2010 to 2011 rose from around $368.7 million to about $380.3 million.
Meanwhile, expenditures only slightly increased from 2010 to 2011 ($367.2 million to $370 million).
Keep in mind that the schools were budgeted at $378.7 million, so, overall, officials spent $11 million less than budgeted.
Not bad. The school system now has some flexibility. Credit goes to them for holding down costs or whatever.
But, there's the $7 million. Now granted, it's a recurring cost, so they'd have to figure out something for 2013-2014.
But, this certainly looks like it could be a start.
That amount doesn't take into consideration another couple of million (I'm guessing about $4 million) in natural growth that the school budget also will need.
And, I'm not going to mention the county's financial increases – pension contributions, employee raises, etc.
Just here to talk about the school system and where they can find $7 million.
Because I found $7 million. Yup. Sure did.
I'm not sure if it's good or not, but it certainly hasn't been discussed yet. Strange really. Because it's right there in the budget. But, if the school system is like me, then it would rather spend someone that isn't their own.
Heh.
Anyhoo, let me explain where I found the scratch.
If you click right smack here and jump to page 27 you'll see that in the school system's adopted Fiscal Year 2011 budget, officials planned to use $2.9 million from the “fund balance.” That's fancy talk for rainy day reserve tank by the way.
You'll note also on that same page, officials expected the balance on June 30, 2011 to have a little more than $17.1 million in it.
Heh.
Guess what? Yup. It's got more than $17.1 million in it.
So, click right smack here on the recently released County Annual Financial Report, or CAFR.
It takes a second to load, but scroll on down to page 202 of the document where you'll find the balance sheet for general purpose school spending. Or whatever.
Anyhoo, check out that “unassigned fund balance” as of the end of this most recent fiscal year (June 30, 2011).
It's a cool $27.1 million.
You see, it started at about $20 million and should have dropped to about $17.1 million. (Remember the first thing I had you click on?) Instead it jumped.
How?
Well, check out the next page (203 for those not keeping up) and you'll see that revenues from 2010 to 2011 rose from around $368.7 million to about $380.3 million.
Meanwhile, expenditures only slightly increased from 2010 to 2011 ($367.2 million to $370 million).
Keep in mind that the schools were budgeted at $378.7 million, so, overall, officials spent $11 million less than budgeted.
Not bad. The school system now has some flexibility. Credit goes to them for holding down costs or whatever.
But, there's the $7 million. Now granted, it's a recurring cost, so they'd have to figure out something for 2013-2014.
But, this certainly looks like it could be a start.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Walls is finalist for university audit gig
Remember awhile back when some county folks were talking about outsourcing the internal auditor's office? Whatever happened to that, anyway? I sure don't remember.Hmmm. I should probably look that one up, huh?
Anyhoo, Richard Walls, at left, the county's internal auditor, sure didn't forget. Cause apparently he's been out looking for a new job.
You know, just in case.
According to a University of Tennessee spin release, the school's Audit Committee will meet next Monday to interview candidates for the executive director's gig for “audit and consulting services.”
They'll be held from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on the 8th floor conference room of Andy Holt Tower.
According to the fancy note: “Audit and Consulting Services provides objective, independent appraisals of accounting, financial and other operational systems in University departments and units and oversees institutional compliance.
Other candidates include Betsy Bowers, Associate Vice President for Internal Auditing and Management Consulting, University of West Florida; Judith Burns, Interim Executive Director, Audit and Consulting, University of Tennessee System; and Sandy Jansen, Assistant Chief Audit Executive, Texas Tech University System.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Mayor Burchett to meet with 'job creators'
Tomorrow afternoon, a number of “job creators” and county Mayor Tim Burchett will hold a round table discussion to determine how the county can help businesses create new jobs.
That's all according to some release that wasn't sent to me by county spinster Michael “Big Sexy” Grider.
Funny stuff. Cause – other than hooking up a few pals here and there (kidding. Sort of.) - Burchett has long said that the “role of county government isn't to create job.”
In all seriousness, a number of businesses plan to meet with the mayor at the Knoxville Chamber's Market Square office from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tomorrow. There's not a whole lot more to the release.
The mayor again stressed that “our job is on infrastructure – sewers, sidewalks and roads” - so he doesn't expect Knox County government to post many “Help Wanted” signs on the Deathstar windows.
He added: “A lot of times government just gets in the way of building jobs. But, I want to make sure that whatever we're doing and the decisions we make are not putting (businesses and potential jobs) in peril. We just need to get out of their way and facilitate a business friendly environment.”
That's all according to some release that wasn't sent to me by county spinster Michael “Big Sexy” Grider.
Funny stuff. Cause – other than hooking up a few pals here and there (kidding. Sort of.) - Burchett has long said that the “role of county government isn't to create job.”
In all seriousness, a number of businesses plan to meet with the mayor at the Knoxville Chamber's Market Square office from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tomorrow. There's not a whole lot more to the release.
The mayor again stressed that “our job is on infrastructure – sewers, sidewalks and roads” - so he doesn't expect Knox County government to post many “Help Wanted” signs on the Deathstar windows.
He added: “A lot of times government just gets in the way of building jobs. But, I want to make sure that whatever we're doing and the decisions we make are not putting (businesses and potential jobs) in peril. We just need to get out of their way and facilitate a business friendly environment.”
Election commission recruiting right now
The Knox County Election Commission is recruiting people to help with the March 6 Presidential Preference and County Primary elections.
In a note by Cliff Rodgers, the administrator of voting says “it takes hundreds of folks to run an election in nearly one-hundred polling places across Knox County. Election officials are paid - both for working on Election Day and for training classes.”
Not everyone, however, can apply.
You have to be registered to vote in the county; able to life 50 pounds and be able to understand and follow written instructions (that immediately rules me out) and willing to work 14 hours on election day and attend training classes before each election.
Also, government employees – other than school teachers and “employees of higher education” (whatever that means) - can't serve.
The commission plans to host five orientation session for new election officials in the coming weeks.
To sign up, click right smack here.
In a note by Cliff Rodgers, the administrator of voting says “it takes hundreds of folks to run an election in nearly one-hundred polling places across Knox County. Election officials are paid - both for working on Election Day and for training classes.”
Not everyone, however, can apply.
You have to be registered to vote in the county; able to life 50 pounds and be able to understand and follow written instructions (that immediately rules me out) and willing to work 14 hours on election day and attend training classes before each election.
Also, government employees – other than school teachers and “employees of higher education” (whatever that means) - can't serve.
The commission plans to host five orientation session for new election officials in the coming weeks.
To sign up, click right smack here.
Welcome back; it's cold; Knox newsletter
Mornin' ladies and germs. I'm back. New year. All that.
I took some time off, got a little electric shock treatment; I should be better. Not really.
Anyhoo, I was cleaning out my emails, so I figure I'll share a little bit of info with you.
First, the weather sucks today. Freakin' cold. Michael "Big Sexy" Grider sent out a notification that the county's highway maintenance crews are working to treat some secondary roads in the Halls and Carter communities with salt and bring. Hmmm. Tasty.
No Knox County-owned roads are closed at this point and "all trouble spots are expected to be treated by noon," Big Sexy says.
BS also recently started a newsletter for county employees. No, it doesn't cost anything other than Grider's time and we know that ain't worth a whole lot. Heh. Kidding.
Here's the most recent newsletter right smack here.
OK, I've got some more stuff, but I better get back to doing some real work.
I took some time off, got a little electric shock treatment; I should be better. Not really.
Anyhoo, I was cleaning out my emails, so I figure I'll share a little bit of info with you.
First, the weather sucks today. Freakin' cold. Michael "Big Sexy" Grider sent out a notification that the county's highway maintenance crews are working to treat some secondary roads in the Halls and Carter communities with salt and bring. Hmmm. Tasty.
No Knox County-owned roads are closed at this point and "all trouble spots are expected to be treated by noon," Big Sexy says.
BS also recently started a newsletter for county employees. No, it doesn't cost anything other than Grider's time and we know that ain't worth a whole lot. Heh. Kidding.
Here's the most recent newsletter right smack here.
OK, I've got some more stuff, but I better get back to doing some real work.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Hey, Happy New Year and many more
Hmmm. Apparently, I'm in one piece after last night. Heh. Good show, they V-Roys were. Good show.
I tried to con Michael "Big Sexy" Grider into going, but he chickened out as his wife laid down the law and said they weren't going anywhere. Bawk, bawk, bawk, chicken.
Instead, I settled for Benedict Mayoral-Shark over on the city's side of the Deathstar. Heh. Actually, we just ran into each other.
But enough about me. How was your night?
Good.
Anyhoo, I didn't think 2011 was that bad of a year, all things considered. But, I hope 2012 - barring the morons who actually think the world will end - will be better.
Anyway, Happy New Year, people!
I tried to con Michael "Big Sexy" Grider into going, but he chickened out as his wife laid down the law and said they weren't going anywhere. Bawk, bawk, bawk, chicken.
Instead, I settled for Benedict Mayoral-Shark over on the city's side of the Deathstar. Heh. Actually, we just ran into each other.
But enough about me. How was your night?
Good.
Anyhoo, I didn't think 2011 was that bad of a year, all things considered. But, I hope 2012 - barring the morons who actually think the world will end - will be better.
Anyway, Happy New Year, people!
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