Property appeals can start Wednesday

Phil Ballard

The Knox County Property Assessor' Office at 8 a.m. tomorrow is expected to post online the results from the latest reappraisal.

In addition, the department will begin looking into informal appeals, which property owners can also begin filing in the morning.

County Property Assessor Phil Ballard said the new values will be available on his department's website, right smack here.

He said those who question the values can appeal online or call (865) 215-2006. He said folks also can appeal in person at offices in either New Harvest Park, downtown or the Cedar Bluff library. More instructions will be on the printed notices, which will go out within a day or two.

The informal appeals process runs through May 3. The county's Board of Equalization will then hear appeals throughout June.

State law requires the assessor’s office to estimate a value for each of the 193,437 real parcels in Knox County.

Property is then taxed on the basis of its assessed value, which — for residential property — is equal to 25 percent of the appraised value. In Knox County, the current property tax rate is $2.36 per $100 of assessed value.

However, the reappraisal, which takes place very four years, must be revenue-neutral.

Ballard said overall values for all assessed property, including residential, commercial and agricultural – not counting new construction – rose 2.86 percent. That means, the Knox County Commission will more than likely roll back the value to $2.29, or it must conduct public hearings before adopting a higher tax rate.

Four years ago, reappraisal sparked an outcry from property owners after residential appraisals rose by an average of 15.8 percent from 2005 to 2009. Many felt the appraisals were too high given the ongoing national recession, which was driven, in part by falling property values.

First ever SouthFest kicks off today

So, today's the day Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett kicks off his biggest cash mob yet: Southfest, a two-day event along Chapman Highway, just south of the Henley Street Bridge.

Check out the cool map that the county put together. Right smack here. They'll also be available at the event.

(Personally, I hope this because an annual thing and grows each year to the point of backed-up traffic, heavy partying and general craziness.)

Free public parking will be available at the Tennova garage on Blount Avnue, across from the former Baptist Hospital. There is a shuttle stop there, so people can park and ride, according to county communications Manager Big “Michael Grider” Sexy.

You can find out more about times and events right smack here.

School robocall causes minor flap

So, here's the deal: The principal at Bonny Kate Elementary School sent out a robocall to parents whose children attend the school, asking them to call Knox County Commissioner Mike Brown if they want the school to be able to pay for the School Technology Challenge thing-a-ma-jig or whatever. (Brown's southern district includes the school.)

In the call (right smack here), she noted that her school was chosen to participate in the deal and said the funding is built into the proposed school budget for next year, which the board of education and the county commission must approve. (The BOE already did.)

She “strongly encouraged” parents to contact Brown “if this is an opportunity that you would like your children to be a part of,” according to the message. She also provided the commissioner's county email address and a phone number to reach him.

Well, some folks aren't happy, and one person even sent an email to county officials, school officials, all officials.

You can find it right smack here. Essentially the writer is somewhat apologetic but suggests that the phone system was used for political purposes and questions whether anyone would be allowed to use it. The writer talk about hypothetical cuts that could be made in the upcoming budget.

Then the writer starts yapping about Obamacare, and, well, quite frankly, well. Unoriginal.

Anyhoo, I talked to a couple of commissioners, and they weren't pleased, but they weren't going to make an FBI case out of it, either.

More importantly, though, Mike Brown didn't seem to mind. He joked that no one called him, other than the robocall.

Brown, who attended the school man, many centuries ago, said he has a good relationship with the principal, and wasn't concerned.

KNS reporter Lydai X. McCoy talked to School Board member Pam Trainor, whose district also includes Bonny Kate, and Trainor said that she didn't have a problem with the call, adding that she felt it was a “civic lesson” about the budget process and one of many ways a principal can reach out to parents. (Man, that was a long sentence.)

“This is not a political thing. She was just trying to help,” Trainor said. “Our go-to would be Mike Brown. He's one of the 11(commissioners) who will make the decision.”

Trainor said the principal was excited that her school was one of 11 that had been chosen to participate in a technology initiative that would put instructional technology at her school.

“This is an opportunity that a lot of Knoxville never gets. Three of my schools are in this mix and it's a huge boost to the South Knoxville schools,” she said.

A look at commission attendance

Awhile back I wrote a story about Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett's meeting-phobia.

Figured I should now probably look into whether the commissioners bothered to attend their meetings, particularly after the recent chatter about one commish who's been seen off and on.

Soooooo . . . . click right smack here for beer board, work session and voting meeting coverage, from January 2012 through February of this year.

Or the CliffNotes:

• Beer Board: Does anyone really care? Heh. Well, I guess Mike Hammond and R. Larry Smith do. They didn't miss a beat. Mike Brown, Sam McKenzie, Jeff Ownby and Dave Wright each missed once. Brad Anders and Ed Shouse missed twice. Richard Briggs and Tony Norman missed thrice, and Amy Broyles missed five.

• Work sessions: It looks like Brad Anders, R. Larry Smith and Jeff Ownby get an A plus for attendance here. Mike Hammond, Dave Wright, Tony Norman and Mike Brown each missed a meeting. (Note that that neither Norman nor Hammond were serving as chair of the board when absent.) Richard “Doctor and warrior” Briggs missed twice, Ed Shouse four times and Amy Broyles was MIA for five of 'em, including June, July and August.

• Voting meetings: Five members had perfect attendance: R. Larry Smith, Ed Shouse, Mike Hammond, Dave Wright and Mike Brown. Sam McKenzie, Richard Briggs and Jeff Ownby missed one each, and Brad Anders, Tony Norman (including once when he served as chairman) and Amy Broyles each missed two.

I'm not sure if this really means anything as I'm not going to bother looking up what was on the agenda or what as in the news during the time each person skipped out. (And you're complaints about it aren't registering with me.) Personally, I think you should have a pretty good excuse to miss a voting meeting. I mean at least show up for those.

And I know that some officials get pretty upset when commissioners miss work sessions, if only because they're the ones who end up asking a million questions during the regular meeting.

Anyhoo, there you are.

Music, car show added to SouthFest

County spin guy Michael “Big Sexy” Grider continues to tout that SouthFest thing. Today, the Knox County administration announced that the event will also include a number of musical acts that will perform inside DiscExchange during the two-day event, which takes place this Friday and Saturday. (Wow, didn't realize it was this week already. Cool.)

Tim Lee 3 is set for 4 p.m. Friday, and Hot Shot Freight Train will play at 7 p.m.

Then at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Greg Horne takes the stage, and at 2 p.m. Robinella and at 3 p.m. Con Hunley.

Also, the event will feature a car show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Satuday at 4221 Chapman Highway. The show will include members of the Corvair Club, Knox Volks Motor Club and others.

Volunteers to help House Mnt trails

Michael “Big Sexy” Grider's assistant (when the heck did he get one of those????) just sent out a spin release, noting that the Mast General Store has organized a group of volunteers to conduct trail maintenance and restoration on House Mountain this Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon.

To get involved, sign up in person at the S. Gay Street store or call Nick Waller at 546-1336. Those who actually show up and do some work will be entered in a drawing to win a Deuter Speedlite 20 day pack.

They'll have some tools and instruction available, but you should probably bring a pair of work gloves, water, snacks, etc.

SouthFest bike routes announced

More SouthFest info as the county said today that the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club will lead two routes, both which will depart at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 13 from the Disc Exchange on Chapman Highway.

The adult route will head riders to Ijams Nature Center and back and a kids' shorter ride will head to historic Fort Dickerson. Participants will need their own bikes and helmets for what officials are dubbing “Tour de South." Heh. Whatever.

You can find the routes, right smack here.

County mayor pays some taxes late

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett was late paying his taxes on some property he owns in West Knox County.

He said earlier this year, he called the county Trustee's Office to make sure he was up-to-date on his taxes and was told that he was. On Wednesday, though, he checked again, and realized that he still owned money on two pieces of property near the Amherst Road and Bradley Lake Lane split.

The mayor said that “within five minutes of finding out” he cut a check for $1,966.27, which included a late fee of $57.27.

“I had gotten a call from the bank that they had sold my note to another financing entity and there seemed to be some confusion, so I checked it out (with the trustee's office),” he said. “I made a mistake. The bottom line is at I shouldn't have (initially) taken someone's word for it. I should have gotten a print out like I usually do and verified it. It's totally my fault.”

County property taxes were due Feb. 1.

The mayor noted that the address where his tax bills were sent was at his old house on Airtree Lane that he shared with his former wife. The couple separated last March and at that time, Burchett moved out and said he didn't recall getting a tax bill forwarded to him.

'Lunch with Mayor' set for Friday

Chow down tomorrow with Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett as he continues his “Lunch with the Mayor” series, this time at El Charro in Farragut from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

It's Dutch treat. That means he ain't paying. You are. Heh.

The address is 10420 Kingston Pike. Click right smack here for the website.

Kaousias to join election commish

State Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, has nominated Tammy Kaousias, to replace Dennis Francis on the Knox County Election Commission. She's expected to get the gig.

In addition, official are set to reappoint the other members: Democrat Cassandra Stuart and Republicans Chris Heagerty, Bob Bowman, Rob McNutt.

Francis had long said he didn't plan to seek reappointment.

I don't know a whole lot about Kaousias, other than a couple folks I talked to spoke highly of her. She's apparently a yoga enthusiast and a long-time attorney, who used to handle legal affairs for Ruby Tuesday and now operates a solo practice.

She graduated from the University of Tennessee.

“I've known Tammy for over 15 years,” Bowman said. “She's very bright and a hardworking attorney, and I look forward to working with her on the commission.”

The commission hasn't set a date to meet yet, but will get together before April 19. At that point, they'll pick officers and select a county elections administrator. (Hint: It's going to be Cliff Rodgers.)

Knox Parks and Rec survey now online

The Knox County Parks and Recreation Department is seeking public feedback about county parks, greenways, sports programs and special events. Click right smack here for this year's 20-question survey.

The info collected determines what parks are the most popular and how satisfied participants are with county sports programs. It also helps determine what new amenities folks want, and other ways the department can better serve the area.

Country music to headline SouthFest

More SouthFest news as Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett this morning announced a couple of headliners for the event, both which will perform outside of Emery's 5 & 10 on Chapman Highway.

First up is Homer Hart, set for 6:15 p.m. Friday, April 12.

On Saturday, April 13, at 3:15 p.m., Phoenix Stone will perform.

For more Southfest info, click right smack here.