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.

'Modest Proposal' for hillside debate

The county commission and city council are supposed to hold the final meeting tonight to talk about the nefarious Hillside and Ridgetop Protection Plan. But let's not kid ourselves - they'll probably hold at least one more.

Workshop topics include costs, commercial development and overlay issues.

Additionally, Councilman Nick Della Volpe this morning sent officials his "modest proposal."

You can click right smack here for it.

It's not on the agenda and I'm not going to rehash it. The whole topic is about as interesting as watching paint dry. (Yeah, yeah, I know, it's important stuff. Whatever.)

But, you should check it out if you are interested. Nick spends much of his focus on the steeper slopes, saying it's too hard to regulate the 65 percent of the less steep stuff, so we should focus on the other 35 percent.

I just hope they make a decision soon.

County's spin on mayor's first year

Michael Low-Grider, the county administration's spin doc, sent out the following news release, championing his boss's good deeds: Click right smack here if you want to read.

A couple things jumped out.

The county says it will reduce the debt by $20 million, but as I recall some of that is set to fall off.

There was no mention of the fee office mess. And, hey, they did reach a compromise.

The administration is still trying to fool everyone into thinking that there's no such thing as a p-card because it changed the name.

Burchett completes first year as mayor

As of today, Tim Burchett has officially put up with my crap - in his role as county mayor - for one year.

I'll have a story this Sunday that looks back on his first year in office. I'm sure his supporters will say it's too negative; and his critics will say it's too soft. Whatever.

Also, on Sunday, I'll update the blog with interview comments I didn't get to use.

In the meantime, here's a picture (above) that school spokeswoman Melissa Copelan sent me. I was interviewing Superintendent Jim McIntyre for the story and he mentioned that Burchett has been touring the school with him. He said they got a nice picture of the mayor hanging with some students at Powell Elementary School.

Burchett is the one in the middle by the way.

Padgett finally starts spending his coin

Last week the Metro Pulse ran an email from a Knoxville mayoral candidate Mark Padgett supporter. Some funny stuff. (You know, entertainment at the expense of others.)

Apparently the guy (or gal) was pretty peeved about the money-grabbing tactics of the young Democrat who claimed to once be homeless and has now somehow managed to raise somewhere north of like ten billion dollars for a job that pays around $150,000.

But, whatever.

Here's the email right smack here. (Way to sign your name by the way.)

In the meantime, Padgett's spin doctress, Laura Braden, who tells everyone she once worked with the Governator (obviously she's not from around here), sent the media an email, saying the candidate has launched his ad campaign and it stresses job creation.

Woo-hoo.

It's really pretty silly, but I've picked on this guy so much that I'd be remiss if I didn't at least link to it. So, click right smack here if you dare.

And just so you know (and you know who you are), I do not care who wins this race.

So, before you start saying that you know who I support, just know that you are wrong.

City, county to host 9/11 memorial event

City and county officials plan to hold a Sept. 11 Memorial Ceremony at 9 a.m. next Friday on the Deathstar's front lawn.

Here's the official release from the administration:

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, along with other public officials and representatives from area emergency service agencies, will mark 10 years since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks took place. A memorial ceremony is planned for Friday, Sept. 9, 2011 at 9 a.m. on the front lawn of the City County Building.

Following the ceremony, there will be a tree planting in honor of local families who lost loved ones on Sept. 11, 2001.

The public is invited.

County workers pay tribute to Summitt

County Law Director Joe Jarret sent me this picture (to the left, taken by E-Government Services Manager and kick ass photographer Jon Gustin).

He said the folks in the Deathstar "came out in force to show their support for our beloved coach, Pat Summitt."

In case you've been under a rock these past few days, the Hall of Fame Lady Vols coach said she has been diagnosed with early onset of dementia.

Today, people donned orange to show their support for her.

News Sentinel columnist Sam Venable recently wrote a nice piece about her and what she means to the community (and beyond). You can read it right smack here.

In the meantime, the folks who bring you Screams from the Porch (that's me) wish her the best.

Hammond wants top dog spot again

Knox County Commissioner Mike Hammond, left, is up for re-election – for his spot as the board's chairman.

Hammond said he plans to talk with commissioners – yes, they'll be (or have been) sun shined – about staying on as the board's top dog.

His term ends Aug. 31. But, if members want, he's willing to hold onto the spot for one more year.

But, that's it, he promised.

“I'm going to term-limit myself,” he said. “But if I stay (as chairman) another year, then I'm done. I won't seek any more leadership positions.”

When members voted to put him in charge last year, he said at the time that “if I did a good job, I'd consider another year.”

The commission will hold a special meeting at 4 pm. On Sept. 1 to talk about the possible reorganizing. The vice chairman's seat, currently held by Brad Anders, also will be discussed.

'Routine' election meeting set for Friday

The Knox County Election Commission meets at 4 p.m. Friday.

YEEHAW!

Once again cutting into happy hour.

Or maybe not.

Elections Administrator Cliff Rodgers said it's going to be “pretty much your basic routine meeting before we get our elections cranked up.”

Of course that could all change if new board member Dennis Francis decides to raise some heck.

(No word yet on his plans.)

Click right smack here for the agenda.

My favorite item: They have to intentionally misspell the name of Charles Thomas, a write-in Knoxville City Council candidate.

That's in case the voters misspell it. It's all got to be on the legit list in order to count. Or whatever.

Anyhoo, I asked Rodgers about the timing of the meeting.

He said they have to be scheduled later in the day to accommodate board member Rob McNutt because of his job.

“No one objected,” Rodgers said. “I wasn't trying to punish you. I was just trying to accommodate his request. I would do it for anybody.”

OK. That's cool. I just hope McNutt shows up at the right precinct. I mean meeting room.

In the meantime, here's my request: Schedule these suckers earlier.

Heh.

Carter Elementary project not dead. Yet.

Chapter one million in the story that won't quit:

It looks like the Big Dog and the Emperor have been on the horn this morning, trying to wheel and deal his way into a new Carter Elementary School.

This time, the administration plans to use Partners Development, the No. 2 bidder after the Devon Group chickened out last week because big bad Commissioner Amy Broyles scared them off.

Under county Mayor Tim Burchett's proposed time line – and if the county's school board and industrial development authority give the go head – the plan could be back in the commission's hand in late October for the closing decision.

The county would turn to the No. 2 bidder, Partners Development, and the process would take the same route officials took with the Devon Group, the initial developer.

The administration would need the industrial development board to sign off on it, in what they hope would be a special called meeting in early September. County and school officials would start negotiations with the Knoxville-based developer and at the end of the month ask commissioners to approve a resolution in support of funding the elementary school, in part, by selling other county property.

The plan then would go to the county board of education in early October and back to the industrial development board for its blessing. Commissioners would further discuss it during the Oct 17 work session and make a final vote the following week.

If any of the three boards vote down the plan, then it more than likely dies for good, and the school system is expected to only renovate the historic East Knox County school.

My guess is someone is going to say "no," but, you know, this is Knox County politics. So who knows?

Knox County mayor turns 47 today

Screams from the Porch wishes Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, left, a "Happy Birthday." He turns 47 today. And yes, he told me that he plans to go to work this morning.

I thought about making a smart-ass comment about how folks should be nice to him today. Cause, you know, he's had a rough past week or so, with the Devon Group withdrawing from the Carter Elementary School project.

But, i figured I'd be nice.

Anyway, happy birthday, man.

Pension boredom office to relocate?

If you’re not into county pension board/office stuff, you might want to skip this one.

Then again, maybe not.

As the News Sentinel reported (click right smack here) a week or so ago, the city’s pension board or its officials or whatnot are looking into a proposed charter amendment that would require that all votes on board action take a majority of all seven board members to pass.

Who knows if it will pass. Politics are involved. You know how that goes.

Anyhoo, the county’s financial minister, John Troyer, wants the county pension board to look into the same proposal.

But, when he suggested it during the board meeting this past Monday, other members met with some blank stares.

(Yeah. I’m not too sure this one is gonna fly.)

Troyer was upset because board members are talking about moving the office from the Deathstar’s third floor over to Landmark Plaza, which is at the corner of Papermill and Northshore drives.

Last month, the board, in a 4-1 vote, agreed to let pension board Executive Director Kim Bennett look further into the proposal.

The county pension board, though, has 9 members, including four commissioners. It also includes county Mayor Tim Burchett, but let’s face it, he doesn’t like meetings, so Mad Dog John is his official stand-in. ANYWAY, as I was saying, last month, the four commissioners bolted early from the meeting to grab some grub at commission Chairman Mike Hammond’s monthly luncheon. That left JT and four others.

And when Troyer voted against the proposal to move, he thought he had won. (JT figured you needed five “yes” votes to get something approved.)

He didn’t.

Pension board attorney, former county law director and (newly appointed) nemesis to the county’s administration Richard Beeler (because Burchett doesn't want his firm to be the county's bond counsel) said it takes a majority of a quorum to approve a board action – not five.

JT didn’t like that.

The Actual Relocation

One a side note, Bennett said it would cost about $50,000 to move the office and about $32,000 (at least) a year more to maintain operations.

She handed out a worksheet, listing the four “cons” and the 11 “pros,” which made me chuckle.
I agree that her office needs more space. It’s like a matchbox right now. And, it’s not very accessible to the seniors who make up 91 percent of the office’s clientele.

But her other reasons?

“More flexibility in future needs for office.” Really? We hiring more people in that pension office?
“Free up floor space in the (Deathstar) for expansion.” Really? Is The Man with the Badge finally going to get that intake center he always wanted?

“Participants perception of independence.” Come on. Just go to a board meeting. The attorneys like to remind the administration every ten minutes that the board is independent.

“Larger board room available for board meetings.” Huh? There’s like a 100 big rooms in the Deathstar you can use.

OK, I’m rambling.

Count on the board approving this next month.

Count on Burchett, I mean JT, voting against it. (And maybe a few other folks.)