As judges waive $1.2M in fines/fees, officials look at other punishments

Knox County’s five sessions court judges have waived a little more than a combined $1.2 million in court costs, fines and fees assigned to local offenders since last September when they started their new terms in office.

And, Knox County’s three criminal court’s judges – who hear fewer cases than their peers in sessions court – have waived a little more than a combined $60,100 during the same time period.

That means a not only are lot of local defendants not paying for their crimes, but the county and state are also losing out on much-needed revenue. Local leaders, however, noted that many of the defendants probably cannot afford the costs.

"We see an awful lot of people who are chronically addicted, homeless, mentally ill," said Sessions Court judge Check Cerny.

The judges are tasked not only with handing down punishments, but also deciding who can and cannot pay court fines and fees.

"We're very, very careful," Cerny said. "we receive testimony in open court and often, we actually require affidavits (which detail a defendant's finances)." We scrutinize the evidence and make a decision based on, not sympathy, but rather whether or not it's financially prudent to continue trying to collect something that would be impossible to collect."

But, there might be something they can do about it.

When the state General Assembly meets again in January, officials are expected to talk about a proposal that would let judges waive the costs, yet subject the defendants to some sort of community service, possibly picking up trash on the side of the road, cleaning up the Tennessee River or volunteering at a non-profit.

Rest of the story RIGHT HERE.

Officials: Knoxville venues need $4.2M, but not all about the money

The city is expected to put up a combined $4.2 million this year so that its three biggest public venues break even.

Broken down that’s $1.4 million for the Civic Auditorium and Coliseum, $951,660 for Chilhowee Park, and almost $1.8 million for the Convention Center.

The city, this year, set aside $9.5 million in its public assembly facilities budget, which covers the three venues. The operations are projected to bring in more than $5 million in combined revenues from the events each hosts.

The money, however, isn’t necessarily a concern for Knoxville leaders. They told WBIR 10News that the city puts more of an emphasis on running an efficient operation and trying to close the gap between how much each of the facilities makes and how much the city has to chip in so that the bottom line is met.

“What we look for in all our venues is to run them as efficiently and as effectively as we can (and) to minimize the amount of general fund support that goes to those venues,” said Knoxville Finance Director Jim York. “No venue in the country of this type typically makes money, so our best case is that we try to break even, but that would be optimistic.”

York said city leaders want the venues to provide entertainment and tourism, which will have spill-over effects that help benefit the entire community.

“We think that is a meaningful usage of public funds,” he said.

For more about the costs and the city's proposal to use an outside firm to manage the three facilities, click RIGHT HERE.

KCS eyes Rule High School as new HQ

The Knox County school system is focusing on the historic Rule High School as a potential location for its new headquarters.

“We continue to explore options for moving KCS Central Office out of the Andrew Johnson Building in consultation with Knox County Government, and the focus is increasingly on a potential solution at the Rule High School campus,” said KCS Superintendent Jim McIntyre to school board members in an email Thursday. “We are also exploring some options around consolidation of Maintenance and Warehousing space.”

Rule, which is almost 90 years old, has long since fallen into disrepair and closed in 1991.
The school system is looking to relocate some 200 employees from the downtown A.J. Building. In late July, five firms submitted proposals to help with the move.

One firm, Dominion Development Group, even suggested rehabilitating Rule High School and setting up shop there.

Other proposals included moving the workers to Physicians Regional Medical Center campus, also known as St. Mary's Medical Center, or relocating to Pellissippi Office Center - a 100,000-square-foot facility that sits on 11.5 acres off Cogdill Road.

The proposals come as the county looks to put the A.J. Building back on the tax rolls.

"In accordance with the recent budget compromise, we continue to work with the Knox County Government to explore potential properties to relocate the Knox County Schools Central Office and district support services,” McIntyre said in a statement to WBIR 10News.  “We are examining a variety of options, including the Rule High School campus, and hope to make an announcement about our progress in the coming weeks.”

Knoxville named 1015 top big city

Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine has named Knoxville its 2015 Top Big City. 

The race was intense over the summer as Knoxville went up against Durham, Atlanta, Chattanooga and Charleston, West Virginia.

The magazine hits newsstands and the web today with stories featuring each of the winners.

In addition to Knoxville, Roanoke (VA) was named Top Mid-Sized and Franklin (NC) was named Top Small Town.

Feature writer for Blue Ridge Outdoors, Jess Daddio, states, "...perhaps even more unique than the city's close proximity to recreational resources is the vibe of present-day Knoxville, a feeling of progression and unity that can most aptly be described with one word: collaboration."

Said Visit Knoxville President Kim Bumpas: "Knoxvillians know how awesome Knoxville is and now the word is getting out,". "Our Urban Wilderness is easily accessible from various parts of town including our vibrant downtown. For these reasons and many others, Knoxville really offers a great deal to visitors, plus the sense of community is amazing."

To read the article, go to Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine.

Mubarak pleads guilty to theft

Former Knox County Trustee's Office ghost employee Ray Mubarak pleaded guilty in state Criminal Court on Thursday for bilking taxpayers out of $200,000.

He was sentenced to serve one year of a 10-year prison sentence and ordered to pay back the money. His prison term will run concurrently with his federal sentencing.

Full story RIGHT HERE.

Judges void 182 'forced' Knoxville annexations dating back years

Knox County judges have voided 182 so-called forced annexation efforts by the City of Knoxville that homeowners challenged in lawsuits, many of them dating back more than a decade ago.

The move was expected and comes after the state Legislature last year approved new law that prevents cities from annexing new areas without residents living in the targeted areas approving them move.

The new law, however, does not affect existing properties that were annexed and went through the legislative process.

“We’re not losing anything that was there, but they will now not become part of the city,” said Knoxville spokesman Jesse Mayshark. “The city won’t be getting future revenues from them that we would have, had they become part of the city.”

The court orders were signed during the past month by the county’s three chancellors, according to officials with Citizens for Home Rule, Inc., which filed the lawsuits on behalf of the residents.

“It is a great day for private property owners’ rights and a great day for liberty in Tennessee,” said John Avery Emison, the organization’s president. “We’ve worked against forced annexation for many years and winning all 182 cases in one fell swoop says a lot about the value of persistence. The Courts have ruled that all those ordinances are ‘invalid and void as a matter of law.’”

Forced annexations were prevalent during the 16 years Victor Ashe served as Knoxville’s mayor. They were less common during under his predecessor Bill Haslam and non-existent under current Mayor Madeline Rogero.

“A few of the cases originated during Mayor Bill Haslam’s term of office,” Emison said. “It feels really great for the courts to agree that we were right all along and mayors Ashe and Haslam were wrong all along,” Emison said. “The City has agreed to pay the court costs and CHR will get all its filing fees back.”

When asked about the potential loss of revenue to the city’s coffers, Mayshark said “no one ever tried to estimate how much money we’re talking about.”

“I think it’s fair to say there was substantial, future revenue there, but I don’t know how much,” he said.

Sanger to get opponent in BOE bid

Well, it looks like 2nd District Board of Education incumbent Tracie Sanger will have some competition in her re-election bid.

Jennifer Owen, a former Dogwood Elementary School music teacher, has picked up the qualifying papers to run for the seat.

She'll still need to secure 25 signatures from those registered to vote in the district.

The deadline to qualify for the March 2016 election is noon Dec. 10.

Sanger last year ran what local political experts say was the most expensive BOE race in Knox County history - raising and spending a whopping $57,200 for a partial term seat.

Sanger’s race was to fill Indya Kinannon’s term.

Kincannon, who ran unopposed for the seat a few years earlier, raised a meager $1,900.

Sanger's opponent Jamie Rowe raised $17,765, although half of her receipts were from a personal loan; and a third candidate, Charlotte Dorsey, loaned herself $5,500 and spent about $3,580.

The total spent for a two-year seat that pays roughly $21,500 a year? Almost $80,000.

Broken down by ballots cast, Sanger essentially spent about $12.34 for each vote in her name. 

Now, I don't know if Sanger will get that much money this time around, but I'm pretty sure this race isn't going to be cheap, and KCS Superintendent Jim McIntyre will again be the focus.

Sanger is considered an advocate for the administration. Owens is not. 

For more on who has picked up and turned in qualifying papers, click RIGHT HERE.

Knoxville Council member seeks more information on proposed Regal move

Well, at least ONE elected official has publicly asked questions about the proposed Regal move that up until a heavily controlled press conference that included ousting protesters has been about as transparent as mud.

Here ya go:

At Tuesday's city council meeting, City Councilman Nick Della Volpe asked for more details about Regal Entertainment Group's move to Knoxville's south waterfront.

His comments came toward the start of the meeting, when council members may present reports. Discussion of the city's proposed deal with Regal was not on the agenda.
Della Volpe, who represents the 4th District, spoke up about 10 minutes into the meeting, saying he has been receiving comments from the public.

"You know, there's two sides to the coin," he said. "One is, of course, it's great to have a good business like Regal in our downtown and the workers here using the facilities and the restaurants and the businesses that are here and helping to support that and the waterfront."

"The other," he continued, "is sort of the economic wisdom of putting out $9 million to make that happen on the city's part. We are obviously the biggest player in that."

Gov. Bill Haslam and state leaders announced on Friday afternoon plans for the relocation of the site of Regal Entertainment Group's headquarters to the South Knoxville waterfront. The company's headquarters are currently located 10 miles away from that, in the Halls community.

Haslam said Regal has the intentions of adding approximately 70 new jobs with its relocation.
Local and state government are set to give a combined $12 million as part of the move. That includes $1.5 million from the state, $1.5 million from Knox County, and $9 million from the city of Knoxville. Regal will pay an estimated $4-5 million in renovations.

Rest of story RIGHT HERE.

Law Director Armstrong kicking off re-election campaign on Thursday

Armstrong

Knox County Law Director Richard "Bud" Armstrong will kick off his re-election campaign at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Crowne Plaza.

I expect there will probably be a pretty big crowd that will feature a number of local leaders, including county Mayor Tim Burchett, Commissioner Bob Thomas and some Board of Education members.

The Knox County Primary is set for March 1. At this point only local lawyer Nathan Rowell has picked up a petition to challenge Armstrong in the Republican primary. As always, send me your campaign information.

The deadline to qualify for the election is noon Dec. 10.

Ex-Trustee Lowe released from jail

Mike Lowe

Former Knox County Trustee Mike Lowe, who pleaded guilty this spring to stealing $200,000 from taxpayers, has been released from jail.

Knox County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to WBIR 10News that Lowe, who was sentenced in April to serve one year of a 10-year sentence, was released Oct. 16 from the Roger D. Wilson Detention Center on Maloneyville Road.

Previous: Court date rescheduled for former Knox County trustee

Lowe was on the a work program, allowed under the terms of sentencing by Judge Steve Sword, that let him perform labor, like cleaning the jail, in exchange for reduced hours.
Lowe’s problems, however, aren’t over.

He has a Nov. 19 hearing to determine how much and when he will pay back the $200,000 in restitution.

More: Former Knox County trustee begins prison sentence

Firm to oversee city's auditorium, coliseum, Chilhowee Park for now

 Chilhowee Park. 

The City of Knoxville has hired international venue management company SMG to temporarily oversee daily operations at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum and Chilhowee Park, and by the end of the year, city officials will issue a Request for Proposals for a company to permanently take over these venues.

During the interim contract, SMG will oversee about 30 city employees and manage event booking and daily operations for the facilities. SMG already manages the Knoxville Convention Center, which averages 240 events per year and has welcomed more than 3 million visitors since it opened in 2002.

“We have been very impressed with SMG’s work at the Convention Center, and they have the level of professional expertise we need to keep our venues operating while we pursue a longer-term solution to our management needs,” said Christi Branscom, Deputy to the Mayor and the City’s Chief Operating Officer. “SMG will ensure a great experience for the audiences, performers, sports teams and event organizers who use our facilities.”

SMG will not charge a management fee under the emergency contract, but the city will pay the company’s reimbursable operating expenses.

The future of the Civic Auditorium and Coliseum has been questioned in recent years. The city hired Urban Land Institute to examine the best uses of it and several other city owned properties. The group suggested that the city should do away with the facility altogether, and turn the area into a "vibrant, desirable, mixed-use community that includes diverse housing types and households."

In addition, the general manager of the Civic Auditorium and Coliseum retired and three other employees were fired earlier this month after an investigation discovered payroll irregularities.

A look at Regal: Funding the move

Regal's HQ will relocate to S. Knoxville

Here’s the city’s release on the Regal relocation – RIGHT SMACK HERE.

Not really sure what to say. You either like it or you don’t. Gov. Bill Haslam called it a “game changer” for South Knoxville.

I’m not sure I’d agree. Some 75 new jobs in exchange for more than $12 million in taxpayer monies is like $160K in folding coin per job.

That doesn’t exactly scream “bargain” to me. (I mean, in theory, those spaces would have been filled whether Regal moved or not. Right? But I digress.)

And whatever.

Maybe it is.

If the overall riverfront project is in danger and this is the only way to save it – and I’m not saying it is in trouble – then the Regal move would be significant. Maybe that’s the cash infusion that’s needed to keep it moving along. Or not.

Still, I don’t know about you, but I don’t want a pile of rubble sitting on the riverfront for the next 20 years. So this could be one of those instances where ya just hold your nose and vote for it. Or not.

MORE: Regal headquarters moving to South Knoxville waterfront

I think in five, six or so years – provided the entire development is complete – no one will give much thought to the move or how much was spent.

Now, here’s where they’ll get the money to fund it:

The county’s $1.5 million will come from end-of-the-year surplus.

The state’s $1.5 million will come from “I’m not sure where.” (No, seriously, I don’t know. Heh. I suspect there’s some type of economic development account or something.)

The city’s $9 million will come from: existing funds ($1.1 million); bonus/unexpected Hall tax revenues ($3.6 million); end-of-the-year surplus ($600,000); and reserves ($3.7 million).

The city actually has a pretty healthy reserve tank by the way.

And that's good.

The last time the city needed to come up with $10 million (ahem, pensions) it raised taxes. Now, that’s not going to happen for this project. It’s a one-time deal.

But, if taxes are raised maybe in a year or two? Oh man.