Knox County Trustee John Duncan III finally lawyered up.
On Friday Jeff "Hollywood" Hagood confirmed to me that JD3 hired him to represent him in the latest mess associated with those who think it's a great idea to serve as county trustee. (Remember there's already an investigation going on into the Mike Lowe administration from some years back.)
Anyhoo, Hagood is well-known for repping some high-profile University of Tennessee athletes as well as former UT football coach Phillip Fulmer. He's also done work for the Duncan family in the past.
Duncan has declined to comment.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Commish, BOE retreat agenda released
Remember that whole retreat thing that the County Commission and the School Board wanted to do, so they could all hold hands and sing and stuff?
(Click right smack here for the story.)
Well, it's still on – next weekend in Maryville. Here's a draft version of the agenda – right smack here.
If you can find anywhere on the draft where it says the two governing bodies will talk about the county and school system's financial straits, then let me know. It must be buried on all the legal talk.
(Click right smack here for the story.)
Well, it's still on – next weekend in Maryville. Here's a draft version of the agenda – right smack here.
If you can find anywhere on the draft where it says the two governing bodies will talk about the county and school system's financial straits, then let me know. It must be buried on all the legal talk.
More on TBI, Trustee's Office and tests
For more on the continuing meltdown in the Knox County Trustee's Office click right smack here.
And no, I am not enjoying this despite what anyone thinks. It does not please me to have to write stories that the county's tax collector (the person who is supposed to deposit a billion in coin each year so we actually have a county) is now under investigation by the TBI.
Huh? What's that you say? The TBI?
Yeah, read between the lines in today's story – again, click right smack here.
The law director's office can't do it (since it's criminal in nature), the sheriff's office won't do it (because they don't want people screaming “conflict of interest”) and the district attorney general won't do it (because they're tired of Trustee John Duncan III and his office attorney Chad Tindell coming to their office nine times a day begging them to drop it).
So, where does that leave us? Yup. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
It's funny, how early yesterday, they hadn't been contacted by the local peeps. Yet later in the day – when I got it on background and able to use for the Screams from da Porch blog – I start hearing that they've been contacted, it's then that the spokesperson freezes up and says “no comment.”
I don't think I need to tell you what “no comment” means.
OK, with that said, a buddy of mine was lamenting for Zach Brezina today. Brezina is the guy who works in the Trustee's Office and is accused of taking tests for some of the employees.
My question for him is whether he's been taking tests for the trustee all his life? Did he take his SAT test for him, too? Heh.
Anyhoo, my buddy is like: "I feel bad for that guy."
And I'm thinking: "Why? He's the freakin' hero of this story?"
My buddy: "Huh?"
Me: "Yeah, he's obviously the only one smart enough to pass a test in that office."
With that said, Brezina this morning stroked a check to the county for $6,000, reimbursing tax payers for his interest free loan – I mean bonus – the Trustee's Office gave him.
And speaking of that. Funny how all of a sudden everyone is cutting checks so quickly. I'm guessing that the money is coming from the trustee's campaign money. It more than likely would not be illegal.
But it would show the absurdity of how politicians use campaign coin.
At this point, though, I think we've moved beyond absurdity.
And no, I am not enjoying this despite what anyone thinks. It does not please me to have to write stories that the county's tax collector (the person who is supposed to deposit a billion in coin each year so we actually have a county) is now under investigation by the TBI.
Huh? What's that you say? The TBI?
Yeah, read between the lines in today's story – again, click right smack here.
The law director's office can't do it (since it's criminal in nature), the sheriff's office won't do it (because they don't want people screaming “conflict of interest”) and the district attorney general won't do it (because they're tired of Trustee John Duncan III and his office attorney Chad Tindell coming to their office nine times a day begging them to drop it).
So, where does that leave us? Yup. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
It's funny, how early yesterday, they hadn't been contacted by the local peeps. Yet later in the day – when I got it on background and able to use for the Screams from da Porch blog – I start hearing that they've been contacted, it's then that the spokesperson freezes up and says “no comment.”
I don't think I need to tell you what “no comment” means.
OK, with that said, a buddy of mine was lamenting for Zach Brezina today. Brezina is the guy who works in the Trustee's Office and is accused of taking tests for some of the employees.
My question for him is whether he's been taking tests for the trustee all his life? Did he take his SAT test for him, too? Heh.
Anyhoo, my buddy is like: "I feel bad for that guy."
And I'm thinking: "Why? He's the freakin' hero of this story?"
My buddy: "Huh?"
Me: "Yeah, he's obviously the only one smart enough to pass a test in that office."
With that said, Brezina this morning stroked a check to the county for $6,000, reimbursing tax payers for his interest free loan – I mean bonus – the Trustee's Office gave him.
And speaking of that. Funny how all of a sudden everyone is cutting checks so quickly. I'm guessing that the money is coming from the trustee's campaign money. It more than likely would not be illegal.
But it would show the absurdity of how politicians use campaign coin.
At this point, though, I think we've moved beyond absurdity.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Commish Smith and the Duncans. Heh.
Commissioner Arrghhhhh Larry Smith must have heard about my blog post regarding our brief discussion about whether the good Congressman called him, regarding the good Trustee.
(I know Channel 6 did. They turned it into an entire story the other night. Heh.)
Here's the initial post right smack here. In it, I make note that it appeared that Rrrrr. Larry was ducking me. He called me a few hours after I posted the blog and he told me what U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr. said to him. I wrote it down, then forgot to blog it cause all heck broke loose in the Trustee's Office.
Sooooo, here's what we talked about late Wednesday morning:
Smith: “They called me to his office and he told me to stay away from his son and that he had done nothing wrong?”
Me: “Who told you?”
Smith: “The Congressman, Jimmy Duncan.”
Me: “Why?”
Smith: “I don't know, but I was in there for about 15 minutes and he said it three different times: Stay away from my son. So, I'm thinking in the back of my mind: Does that mean I don't have to pay taxes anymore?”
Me: “Hahahahahahahaha. Good one. Good one.”
Smith: “He also said I'm the one who leaked it (the story about Trustee John Duncan III offering to pay back bonuses he and his staff collected tied to coursework they didn't complete). I didn't leak it to the press. You called me.”
Me: “Yeah, that's true, they've been throwing out names to who leaked what, trying to figure out what sticks. Not sure what difference it makes. They must not support the whistle blower law or something.”
Smith: “Well, I'm wondering why they're mad at me. I'm trying to help his son. He (the good Congressman) couldn't relate to that. It wouldn't sink in.”
On Thursday (that's today), the good Commissioner called me to add one more thing: “(The good Congressman) told me three different times that I should stay away. Another time he phrased it by saying it would be a personal favor (if he stayed away).”
Now, from what I understand, the Congressman has called all of this hogwash.
I'm sure there's a little truth on both sides.
Heh.
(I know Channel 6 did. They turned it into an entire story the other night. Heh.)
Here's the initial post right smack here. In it, I make note that it appeared that Rrrrr. Larry was ducking me. He called me a few hours after I posted the blog and he told me what U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr. said to him. I wrote it down, then forgot to blog it cause all heck broke loose in the Trustee's Office.
Sooooo, here's what we talked about late Wednesday morning:
Smith: “They called me to his office and he told me to stay away from his son and that he had done nothing wrong?”
Me: “Who told you?”
Smith: “The Congressman, Jimmy Duncan.”
Me: “Why?”
Smith: “I don't know, but I was in there for about 15 minutes and he said it three different times: Stay away from my son. So, I'm thinking in the back of my mind: Does that mean I don't have to pay taxes anymore?”
Me: “Hahahahahahahaha. Good one. Good one.”
Smith: “He also said I'm the one who leaked it (the story about Trustee John Duncan III offering to pay back bonuses he and his staff collected tied to coursework they didn't complete). I didn't leak it to the press. You called me.”
Me: “Yeah, that's true, they've been throwing out names to who leaked what, trying to figure out what sticks. Not sure what difference it makes. They must not support the whistle blower law or something.”
Smith: “Well, I'm wondering why they're mad at me. I'm trying to help his son. He (the good Congressman) couldn't relate to that. It wouldn't sink in.”
On Thursday (that's today), the good Commissioner called me to add one more thing: “(The good Congressman) told me three different times that I should stay away. Another time he phrased it by saying it would be a personal favor (if he stayed away).”
Now, from what I understand, the Congressman has called all of this hogwash.
I'm sure there's a little truth on both sides.
Heh.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Officials to cut local state legislative office
Awhile back Knox County Mayor Tim “Cheapskate” Burchett cut a number of jobs, including one he really didn't have authority over. That was the $50,000 spot in the Legislative Office held by Patsy Miller. (She has since retired. And Burchett did actually broach the idea with members of the local Legislative delegation. But I digress.)
Anyhoo, state Rep. Ryan, Haynes, R-Knoxville, and state Sen. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville, are sponsoring legislation that wipes out the entire department. Not that there was really anything left to wipe out, but it now means another governing body or official later on can't just fill the job.
Click right smack here for the state House version of the bill.
I'm not positive about what the office actually did, but from what I understand it was more an answering service for the local state senators and representatives.
Anyhoo, state Rep. Ryan, Haynes, R-Knoxville, and state Sen. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville, are sponsoring legislation that wipes out the entire department. Not that there was really anything left to wipe out, but it now means another governing body or official later on can't just fill the job.
Click right smack here for the state House version of the bill.
I'm not positive about what the office actually did, but from what I understand it was more an answering service for the local state senators and representatives.
Hillside amendment to be revisited?
Now did anyone really believe the hillside issue would go away once the county commission approved the plan? Yeah, didn't think so.
During Monday's meeting, Commissioner Tony Norman noted that he's “trying to get a reconsideration of that amendment,” referring to a change initiated by Commissioner Richard Briggs and signed off by the board in November.
Briggs on Monday said “there's been a lot of misunderstanding about the intentions of the amendment" and again noted that he asked for it so that developers and the public would be guaranteed an appeals process.
Some, however, say the wording is superfluous.
I don't know. I quit caring in November when they supposedly passed this thing for the last time.
It's like a bad movie villain.
And it returns next Monday.
During Monday's meeting, Commissioner Tony Norman noted that he's “trying to get a reconsideration of that amendment,” referring to a change initiated by Commissioner Richard Briggs and signed off by the board in November.
Briggs on Monday said “there's been a lot of misunderstanding about the intentions of the amendment" and again noted that he asked for it so that developers and the public would be guaranteed an appeals process.
Some, however, say the wording is superfluous.
I don't know. I quit caring in November when they supposedly passed this thing for the last time.
It's like a bad movie villain.
And it returns next Monday.
Trustee's workers to pay back half - not all
UPDATE: Please note that the following entry is based off the recommendations of the finance department. After it was posted, The good Trustee John Duncan III sent me a message, noting as such. He said the office has yet to discuss it with him. "I am writing a check for $6,000. Everyone is expected to return both payments," Duncan said.
Although pay day for county employees is this Friday, the folks over in the Trustee's Office won't begin paying back their interest free loans (I mean, bonuses they received two years in a row for not completing a government-related course) until early February.
In the meantime, there is one dude who got “only” $3,000 in coin in 2010 (and who also didn't complete the class)who is no longer working in the office so he won’t be paying back jack. I mean John. Blood from a turnip and all that.
As for the rest who are still employed? All but one of them cashed $6,000 in “incentive” checks (that's two checks each). So, according to the good Trustee, they’ll pay all that back. Right?
No. They won’t. Not really.
Most will pay back half, or $3,000 in which the county’s payroll department will take a little from each check.
Then, the employees will complete the course work this spring and forgo their next $3,000 payment that they are allowed to get next fiscal year. (Please note that this free money is not mandated.)
This proposal – pay back half and not get a bonus next year – sort of makes sense and it doesn’t, I suppose. Because, let’s face it – once they complete the coursework – they’re going to keep getting those checks forever.
So, there’s no point in making the workers pay back $6,000, just to hand them back another $3,000.
Of course it would have made a whole heck of a lot more sense to have the employees graduate from the program first and then pay them. But, the Trustee’s Office feels that state guidelines only “recommend” that the employees finish first before getting paid.
“A misconception that has arisen since this issue was brought to the public's attention is the scope of the State statute, which is nothing more than a recommendation,” Trustee John Duncan III wrote to the News Sentinel.
(Please note also that the Knox County Trustee’s Office appears to be the only governmental entity in the entire state that actually believes this.)
I suppose the next time I get clocked doing 90 miles per hour in a school zone, I’m going to tell the cop that the speed limit is nothing more than a recommendation.
Commissioner Smith vs. Trustee's Office
In other related Trustee Office news, the whole interest free loan/bonus/incentive issue was moot on Monday during the County Commission’s work session.
Commissioner Rrrrrr. Larry Smith (inside joke – thanks Scott McNutt) asked the commission to hold off discussion until next Monday.
In a move often imitated by the county’s Trustee, Smith gave conflicting reasons for the delay. On the dais, he told fellow commissioners that he wanted the finance department or human resources (I don’t remember which one at this point) to provide him with a list of everyone who received a check and for how much.
We actually reported that a few days before Christmas: Click right smack here.
After the meeting, Smith told Channel 10 reporter Hillary I don’t remember her last name that he held off because next Monday the good folks from CTAS will talk to commissioners about the education program. (CTAS administers the program that officials are supposed to complete in order to get that good money.)
And that’s about the time I said: “Hey Larry, got a question.”
Smith: “Yeah, buddy?”
Me: “Can you talk about the conversation you had with Congressman Duncan. I heard John Duncan’s (as in Trustee John Duncan III) dad called you and a few commissioners. He didn’t put the fear of God in you, now did he?
Smith: (Big smile)
He then looks at Hillary and says: “Do you play softball?”
I’m not kidding.
Strange.
Thanks to Dan Andrews for reminding me that this even happened.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Charter review, commish, term limits
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.”
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 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.
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