Knoxville in 'Top Towns' finals

After a busy weekend of voting and sharing, Knoxville has beaten Chattanooga to move on to the final round of the Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine's Top Towns contest, according to a release from Visit Knoxville.

The new round of voting starts Monday at noon at www.BlueRidgeOutdoors.com.

"We were ecstatic this morning when we saw all the voting that had taken place over the weekend. While we were sharing on all of our social media platforms, our friends and fans really took this to heart and we appreciate them," says Visit Knoxville President, Kim Bumpas. "We know what a Top Town we have here. Now we have to overcome Charleston, West Virginia. Please keep voting for Knoxville and, hopefully, we will see you in the November issue of Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine."

When you are voting for Knoxville or sharing the message, please tag @visitknoxville on Twitter or Instagram. We are also on Facebook and Pinterest. Keep voting and remember #knoxrocks

The final championship round will run for TWO weeks from noon on Monday the 31st until 9:00 am on Monday, September 14th. Blue Ridge Outdoors will conceal the percentage results in the final championship rounds and publicly reveal and announce the winners in their November issue.

Some 4th District Knox Co. Commish campaign kick-offs announced

Knox County Commissioner Jeff Ownby, who represents the 4th District, will kick off his re-election campaign 5-8 p.m. Sept. 11 at West Hills Pavilion, according to a note he just sent over.

Donations are not required, but are accepted, he said.

Ownby faces at least two opponents at this point - Janet Testerman, the daughter of former Knoxville Mayor Kyle Testerman, and Hugh Nystrom, the director of Childhelp Tennessee.

All three plan to run in the March 1 Republican primary.

According to local political columnist Georgiana Vines, Testerman, a Scripps Networks manager, will host a kickoff 5:30-8 p.m. at Bridgewater Place tomorrow.

Vines noted that Nystrom will begin holding events later in the fall.

As always, send me your political stuff for publication consideration. 

Mayors look in-house for new PBA CEO, board to vote Sept. 15 on pick

Burritt

The search for a new Knoxville-Knox County Public Building Authority executive director may already have come to an end.

Officials appear ready to appoint the authority’s current director of property management – Jayne Burritt – to the post. The move comes about a week after current and longtime CEO Dale Smith announced he is stepping down as of Jan. 1.

“In a meeting yesterday with both mayors and their staff, they suggested that the board consider Jayne Burritt to be named the PBA administrator effective January 1, 2016,” PBA board Chairman Winston Frazier wrote to board members on Friday. “For now the search committee will stand down, and I look forward to seeing you all at the next scheduled board meeting to discuss this request.”

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett and Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero recommend the CEO, but the board makes the final decision.

Burritt joined the PBA in early 2008 and helps oversee security and maintenance for about 1.5 million square feet of facilities, including parking garages, World’s Fair Park and the City County Building. She is over roughly 100 employees and a $12 million budget.

Prior to working for the PBA, she managed corporate real estate for First Tennessee Bank and was a facilities manager with CB Richard Ellis, and has 20 years of experience in property management.

“I’m extremely excited,” she told 10News. "I’m honored that they would want me to take that role. It’s key to work with our clients – the city and county – and I’ve been fortunate to be able to work alongside their efforts.”

Burritt said she wanted to continue aligning the authority’s goals with the two governments to “work along with them and support whatever they want.”

She said right now the city has put an emphasis on downtown street enforcement and the county has picked up more facilities that the PBA is managing, so she will also focus on those efforts.

She added: “Property management is a core we want to build on. My goal is to keep that up and improve it.”

The 11-member board will vote on her appointment at its next meeting Sept. 15.

Smith told 10News on Friday: "I am really pleased that Jayne has been endorsed by both mayors. She is a great leader and manager."

Officials to launch 'Purple Out Day'

Knox County Criminal Court Clerk Mike Hammond will launch the inaugural statewide "Purple Out Day" campaign in Knox County benefiting Alzheimer's Tennessee, a non-profit organization.

Hammond and a number of top local elected county officials will hold a news conference at 10 a.m. Monday at the City County Building to talk more about the initiative and how the community can participate.

Read the news release right HERE.

City Council forum set for Sept. 8

My main man, news anchor John Becker, will moderate the political forum for the upcoming Knoxville City Council races.

It will take place 7 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Clinton Chapel AME Zion Church, 546 College Street. All candidates for City Council have been invited to participate. (early voting begins the next day by the way).

The event is sponsored by WBIR 10News, the Knoxville/Knox County League of Women Voters, the NAACP, the Knoxville Interdenominational Christian Ministerial Alliance, and some newspaper no on reads anymore.

Following the forum, the public is invited to meet the candidates from 8:00 to 8:30 p.m. A Voter's Guide, with questions answered by City Council candidates, will be available. For more information go to www.lwvknoxville.org or vote411.org.

Midway Business Park plan returns

I think we all knew it would come back - the Midway Business Park. This time, it will more than likely pass the Knox County Commission. But, it's going to take awhile. Months. Maybe a year before it gets to a final vote.

Here ya go:

When Grace Brooks looks out from her backyard, she enjoys a commanding view of the Smoky Mountains.

It's a view she says is perfect, just the way it is.

That's why a new proposal worries her – one that could lead to construction behind her rural home, and potentially obstruct her view.

"I'd hate to lose it," said Brooks. "I have no idea what they'd like to build over there."

Years ago, the Development Corporation of Knox County bought about 300 acres in the eastern corner of the county, near Strawberry Plains just off I-40. They planned to build the Midway Business Park there. However, the project didn't have enough support from the county commission and it met fierce resistance from those living in the area.

Now, they're trying again. A concept map has been released.

"It would mean, ultimately, thousands of jobs and a tax base for Knox County that would help everyone that lives here" said Todd Napier, of the Development Corp.

Rest of story RIGHT HERE.

Zachary to be sworn in at church

Zachary

The Knox County Commission on Monday (during its regularly scheduled voting meeting at the City County Building) will appoint Jason Zachary to the 14th District state House seat, since the Republican has no opposition in the general election. He will then be sworn-in at 6:30 p.m.

That will take place at First Baptist Concord on Kingston Pike. Speaker of the House Beth Harwell will do the honors.

Smith stepping down from PBA in Jan.

Dale Smith

Dale Smith, the long-time Knoxville-Knox County Public Building Authority executive director, is stepping down at the beginning of next year.

His last day will be Jan. 1.

Smith told WBIR 10News on Thursday he's stepping down for a number of reasons.

"It's a personal decision because at this point in my life I've been running the building for 15.5 years, and that's a long time," Smith, 61, said. "I also think it's better for the PBA to let my successor choose who runs property development. It's certainly important that the CEO and that person are on the same page."

Jeff Galyon, the authority’s former director of property development, resigned in June under a cloud of controversy.

Smith, who joined the PBA in March 2000, earned $194,000 in salary and oversaw almost 130 employees and a $12 million budget. The budget mostly covered property management, like maintenance and security throughout the local government-owned facilities. The budget is jointly funded by the city and county.

The PBA’s 11-member board of directors is expected to begin a nationwide search to fill the position in the coming months. Smith also is expected to help with the search.

The Porch wishes Dale well on his future endeavors, although I suspect he will be fine.

Rest of story HERE.

Knox County expecting budget surplus, earmarks $2.9 million on big items

Knox County officials have put together a shopping list for how they would like to spend what is expected to be at least $2.9 million in surplus revenues and savings, with much of the money dedicated to employee salary adjustments, the Sheriff’s Office, a partnership with Blount County and the possible relocation of two county clerk satellite offices.

The county’s finance department is expected to officially close the accounting books on FY 2014, which ended June 30, later this month. Officials said they could get roughly $4 million to $4.5 million in unexpected revenues tied to an uptick in sales taxes collections and departmental savings.

Of that amount, the administration has already designated almost $3 million for a number of items that various department heads requested, said county Finance Director Chris Caldwell. Any additional savings will go to the county’s reserve fund.

EARMARKS: Entire list here

The school system, which also receives tax revenues, is not expected to get a surplus this year, officials said. Although sales tax revenues jumped, property tax revenues dropped somewhat. Knox County Schools departments also didn’t yield the same amount of savings, so overall spending broke about even.

Here’s a snapshot of how officials would like to use some of this year’s savings:

• Courts: $185,000 for new Criminal Court Clerk’s Office filing system; $8,500 for computer/scanning equipment for Civil Sessions Court Clerk
• Agencies: $100,000 Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley; $80,000 Helen Ross McNabb Runaway Homeless Services; $20,000 Catholic Charities of East Tennessee Children’s Emergency Shelter;
• County Clerk: $175,000 for renovations tied to potential relocation of the Halls and Farragut offices
• Blount Partnership: $600,000 for Blount County business park one-time capital expenses, like roads and sidewalks that are tied to a Maryville, Alcoa and Knox County initiative established years ago.
• PBS Math line: $100,000 for a program that helps students with math
• Salaries: $500,000 to adjust salaries that were changed after the county recently created a new pay scale.
• Health Department: $100,000 for the Knoxville Volunteer Rescue Squad; $50,000 for Karns Volunteer Fire Department.
• Sheriff’s Office: $200,000 for five marked Dodge Charges, $29,000 for laptops; $52,000 for kitchen equipment at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility; $15,000 for DNA testing.

The Knox County Commission will discuss the designations during Monday's meeting, and decide whether to approve the expenditures.

Report: Former KCS employee used taxpayer dollars for gambling

Roger Underwood

Really appreciate it, man. Seriously, you made good coin ($95,700 annually) and you got to (allegedly) steal, too? Nice.

Whatever.

A former Knox County Schools employee, fired in October for misuse of a school credit card, used public funds for gambling and "inappropriate alcohol purposes", according to a report from the Tennessee Comptroller's Office.

Roger Underwood, 61, who was the accounts payable supervisor, was charged last week with felony theft.

His dismissal helped prompt an internal audit of school system finances including its credit card program. In November, KCS did away with six credit cards it previously had issued to high-ranking officials including Underwood, switching instead to the county's electronic purchase card, or e-card, program and travel card system.

A report issued by the state comptroller's has revealed new details about the extent of Underwood's alleged theft.

The investigation found that Underwood made personal charges totaling at least $10,445 on a Knox County Schools credit card. He admitted that many of these charges were for online gambling, and that he lost $1800 betting in a single day.

He also received duplicate reimbursement of $1,544 for lodging and meal expenses for at least three school system related trips. he charged the expenses to a school credit card, and also requested and received reimbursement from the system for those trips.

Investigators noted that several of the meals Underwood charged to the school credit card appeared excessive.

They also questioned $731 in charges to Underwood's KCS credit card for a retirement reception in Biloxi, Mississippi. The reception charges included hors d'oeuvres, wine and beer, but the party was not for a KCS employee.

Early look at Commish chair vote

Dave Wright

The Knox County Commission will meet Sept. 1 to reorganize its board, appointing committees and naming a chair and vice chair.

At this point it appears that current vice Chairman Dave Wright will be nominated to lead the 11-person board. Current chairman Brad Anders, who has held the gig for two years, said he won’t seek it, nor does he plan to seek the vice chair seat, which he’s also held in the past.

I’ve heard from a couple of commissioners that Bob Thomas might be nominated, although I've also heard that he's not actively/personally seeking the seat (Hey, the guy has a big 2018 mayoral campaign he’s got to launch).

Typically, though, commissioners like to see a choice, so expect someone, if not Thomas, to get a nomination.

I suspect if the vote was taken to day, Dave would get it. Folks on the board do like Bob, but I know some commissioners last year promised Dave their vote this time around so I think the numbers weigh in his favor.

As for vice chairman, the only name I’ve heard at this point is Randy Smith. Last year, Amy Broyles threw her name in. I don't see if happening this time around. She's missed way too many meetings.

Bob Thomas

Dave, who represents East Knox County, is up for re-election next year, so leading the board would look good going into a campaign. That said, I don’t believe Dave will muster a serious challenger. (Thomas, who holds an at-large seat, won office last year.)

All this said, we’re still a little

The 11-member board selects the chair and vice chair seats during its annual reorganizational meeting, which typically takes place in early September each year.

The seats are generally symbolic, although the chairman runs the commission meetings and sets the monthly agenda. He or she also oversees the board's three-member staff, determines how the board's public meetings will be handled, and often serves as the liaison between the public and the board.

The chair by default also serves on a number of boards, including the Great Schools Partnership and usually the pension board.

Commissioners can hold the seat twice during a term.

The vice chair carries out the chair's duties when he or she is not available and helps run board meetings.

Commissioners, public: Some of Clerk's claims just not adding up

Clerk Foster Arnett Jr

Some thoughts on yesterday afternoon’s Knox County Commission meeting with Knox County Clerk Foster Arnett Jr. in regards to the roughly $476,000 in estimated deadbeat hotel-motel tax debt.

First, know that there’s way more than $476K out there. It’s probably closer to $800K (we’re talking a period that dates back to 2009 and the $476K only touches a couple of years.).

Commissioners are not happy. Not overall they’re not. Poll the majority and a lot of them were not pleased with Arnett’s presentation yesterday.

Some felt like the numbers they got were not on the up and up, others felt the clerk’s office has taken a lackadaisical – at best – approach to collections, and others wondered just what is really going on.

A lot of claims, they (and people in attendance) told me after the meeting, just were not adding up.

So . . . here ya go.

During the meeting Arnett blamed – in part – his office’s inability to collect the $476K in folding paper on a short-staffed office.

Huh?

It appears that the majority of the commission isn’t buying this excuse. Seriously, this is an answer someone gives when they’ve had weeks to think about it. This is now an issue? Short staffed office? 

And the office has been short staffed for how long?

Commissioner Sam McKenzie said (I’m paraphrasing here): Spend some money to make money.

Don’t brag that you cut staff and expenses only to find out you’re not bringing in the coin.

Contradictions.

How many people actually owe this money? Arnett said he sent out two letters last week and then six are going out this week to the scofflaws. That’s eight.

When asked how many are more than 30 days behind, he said 12.

In interviews after the meeting, he told the media that it was eight.

The audit report suggests somewhere in the low 20s.

Arnett has claimed there’s nothing he can do about the deadbeats. There is. He can padlock doors. He can sell property.

He says he doesn’t want to do this and put people out of jobs.

WHAT?????

What do you think Knox County Trustee Ed Shouse is gonna say when Joe Blow tells him that he can’t pay his taxes? Is Easy Ed gonna give ol’ Joe a pass?

No, he’s not.

There’s no free passes here. Collect the money and quit making excuses.

Now, Arnett told the commission that he actually went down to padlock a door back in 2009. He said he had “chains in hand.” I wasn’t there, so we’ll just take him at his word. He said the owner came out and he promised that he’d cut him and check. Arnett said he did and that he’s been up to date since.

So, if this worked, then why aren’t we doing this every time?

Why is there $476K in coin out there?

Oddly enough, after the meeting, Arnett told reporters that he actually padlocked the door.

So which is it? Did you or didn’t you padlock a door?

OK, the local paper quotes Arnett as telling the commissioners: “If I’m not doing what needs to be done, there’s an election in three years, and someone else can take this over. We’re going by the law, by the book.”

That got a chuckle out of the back standing room. Talk about a red herring. Someone else is gonna take over his job in three years because Arnett is term-limited. (Of course he might have been talking about that long rumored run at mayor.)

There’s more.

Arnett tried an old political trick to soften the blow. Bait and switch.

He pointed out that his office during the past three years has collected more than $18 million in hotel-motel taxes and bragged about a 94 percent collection rate.

Um, this is called “doing the job.”

You’re supposed to have a 94 percent collection rate. Actually, when it comes to property tax collections, 98 percent is the average, so maybe 94 percent is low.

I don’t know.

I do know that that the manager at Tyson McGhee doesn’t brag that the airplanes over there all land safely.

You know why?

Because they are supposed to!

Now, people are going to think I’m picking on Foster. Heck, Foster is going to think I’m picking on him, and that’s fine. Whatever.

The ol blog is an equal-opportunity picker-on.

Just ask Foster’s last political opponent. We did a whole newscast on some of his claims.

In the meantime, I hope the people who owe the money pay up. I hope Foster doesn’t have to padlock doors, but if he comes to it, then he needs to.

Call up the media, bring out the cameras and chain the business.

That should get the others to listen.

The hotels.

The commissioners.

And the public.