Marijuana use petitioner hopes he's raised awareness about issue

Steve Cooper

Knoxville man who tried to get two marijuana measures on the November ballot for Knox County voters says he hopes he's at least raised awareness about the merits of the issue.

"I may not have succeeded at getting on the ballot, but I believe I have brought attention to an issue that is important not only to me but at least 17,000 residents and voters of Knox County. And hopefully the idea of Tennessee having medical marijuana is not so farfetched anymore," Steve Cooper wrote in an open letter Wednesday afternoon to Knox County.

Wednesday afternoon was Cooper's deadline to turn in signatures in support of the petitions - one to legalize medical marijuana use and another to legalize recreational use for adults.

Cooper said in a letter to members of the media he sent out Wednesday afternoon that he fell about 3,000 signatures short of his goal of 20,000 for each.

"He got close," Cliff Rodgers, Knox County elections administrator, told 10News. "He just didn't get where he needed to be to have us count them to see if he can get on the ballot."

Cooper, an accountant,  said he'd collected 17,128 signatures in support of the medical marijuana petition and 16,875 on the recreational marijuana petition.

"While the total number of signatures is greater than the amount needed for the ballot, I have not reached the goal of 20,000 and I do not believe I have sufficiently covered the margin of error to warrant the (election commission) counting the petitions," his letter states.

Rest of story RIGHT HERE.

Mayor Burchett launches collection program to ensure proper flag disposal

In recognition of Flag Day, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett announced today that all Knox County senior centers will serve as collection locations for to-be-retired American flags.

Flags that have reached the end of their useable life can be dropped off at any of the centers and Knox County staff will ensure they are disposed of properly and in partnershipwith several community organizations.

 

“The red, white and blue flag of the United States of America is not only a symbol of pride for our nation’s citizens, but it is a beacon of freedom and opportunity for the rest of the world,” said Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett. “Our soldiers go to battle under our flag, and those taken by war come home in caskets draped in the stars and stripes. It is only proper that we do everything we can to ensure the flag is retired properly.”

 

Once collected, the flags will be handed over to various community organizations, including American Legion Post 2, Woodmen of the World, Boy Scouts, the Order of Elks and others for proper disposal during the organizations’ respective flag retirement ceremonies. Community organizations interested in becoming a program partner should contact Knox County Veterans and Senior Services Director Robert “Buzz” Buswell at 865-604-4443.

 

Knox County Senior Center hours vary. More information about the centers can be found online

at http://www.knoxcounty.org/seniors.

 

Flags can be dropped off at any of the following locations:

• Carter Senior Center
• Corryton Senior Center
• Frank R. Strang Senior Center
• Halls Senior Center
• Karns Senior Center
• South Knox Senior Center

Karns senior center to host art reception Thursday evening

The Karns Senior Center will host an art reception on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at 8042 Oak Ridge Highway.

The public is invited and refreshments will be served.

 

Art pieces featured at the reception were completed by art class students at the Karns and Frank R.

Strang senior centers. Types of work include watercolor, pen/ink and charcoal/pencil sketch.

 

Knox County senior centers provide programming specifically geared toward seniors. These programs

offer recreation opportunities, health and wellness resources, computer and technology lessons, and

other activities for those aged 50 and older.

 

More information about Knox County Senior Services can be found online at

http://www.knoxcounty.org/seniors.

State Supreme Court development takes another step as city accepts bids

The city has kicked off the bidding process to develop create major mixed-use development at the former downtown site of the State Supreme Court.

“This is a prime piece of the downtown landscape,” said Dawn Michelle Foster, the city’s Director of Redevelopment. “This presents a tremendous opportunity. It’s crucial that this block be brought back into reuse the right way, with a mixed-use redevelopment that contributes significantly to the vibrancy and energy across our downtown.”

The 1.7-acre site is bounded by Henley Street, Cumberland Avenue, Locust Street and Church Avenue.

The State Supreme Court relocated to the Post Office Building on Main Street in 2003, and the city purchased the mostly vacant surplus property fronting Henley Street from the State of Tennessee last year for $2.47 million.

The city's long-term plan is to direct the scope of the development and then return the property to private ownership as quickly as possible.

For details about the site and guidelines for its redevelopment, read the Request for Proposals at www.knoxvilletn.gov/bids.

Proposals are due Oct. 10.

Another Ed & Bob 'Night Out'

Time for another Ed and Bob Night Out in Knox County.

The two at-large Knox County Commissioners plan to eat ice cream with the public in Rocky Hills at Bruster's Real Ice Cream on South Northshore Drive June 22 from 5-7 p.m.

According to the duo, the two feel that "going out to the people eases the strain on those who, because of work, commitments, financial situation or the distance to the City-County Building, cannot attend regular commission meetings."

The event is open to the public.

Also, Brusters provides free baby cones to children under 40" and free 'doggie sundaes' to your furry friend, so bring the entire family then Ed and Bob can "kiss some babies and shake some paws!"

Heh.

Site domains for Burchett, Congress, Senate and governor scooped up

Ha ha, so yesterday the ol' Porch noted that blogger Brian Hornback scooped up a number of recently expired internet domain registrations tied to Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett.

Well, last night someone else grabbed burchettforcongress.com, burchettforsenate.com and burchettforgovernor.com.

Heh.

The sites at this point are parked and the registration is private, so there's no way of knowing for sure who got them. I have confirmed that it wasn't Brian, who has said previously that he's made his point.

There's long been rumors that Burchett will run for Congress or governor. In addition, the Tea Party in 2014 tried to get him to run against U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander in the Republican Primary but he declined.

On a side note, a local WBIR 10News viewer grabbed brianhornback.org.

Click on it. Heh.

Knox Board of Equalization meeting

Knox County property owners who don’t think their land is worth its current assessed value, can appeal to the local Board of Equalization, which meets each June.

Those wishing to challenge the value can schedule a meeting by calling 865-215-2006.

Last year some 808 folks appealed.

"We think all the training that we'd provided the appraisers now and the technology have allowed us to be more fair,” said Knox County Property Assessor Phil Ballard. There has been a leveling off and the real estate market and everything."

The Board of Equalization usually sees a spike in appeals every four years when the county does property appraisals.

The next round of re-appraisals takes place in 2017.

Hornback grabs 'Burchett' websites

Brian Hornback

UPDATE: Comments from Burchett and Hornback at bottom

They don't call him "the rogue" for nothing.

It appears that local blogger Brian Hornback has fired another shot (sort of) at Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, this time scooping up a number of internet domain name registrations including timburchett.com, timburchett.info and timburchett.org.

In addition, he also snagged electburchett.com, which expired and is the site the mayor typically uses when running for office. And if you click on it, guess where it will take you? Yep, to the rogue's home. Heh.

Anyhoo, this could get interesting because - as the hippie over at knoxviews noted - "if Tim Burchett decides to run for another office, it appears Brian Hornback holds the keys to his online presence."

Tim Burchett

Burchett, who is term-limited - is serving his second four-year term as mayor. He has a little more than two years left in the term.

The mayor on Wednesday did not appear happy about the move:

"It's been reported that Brian apparently has registered my campaign domain and redirected it to his blog," he said in a written statement. "Ultimately, we're talking about someone who doesn't like me personally, and who drags my beautiful wife and sweet daughter into his blog posts. At the end of the day, all I can do is pray for someone like that, and that's what I do for Brian."  

Brian fired back after hearing the mayor's remarks:

"Mayor Burchett has repeatedly stated that he is term limited and now a proud father. He has made no public indications of seeking higher office. Clearly in my opinion this is the strongest indication to date that Mayor Burchett plans on not pursuing any future political aspirations."

"If the Mayor doesn't have the ability or wherewithal to manage a website domain. It really begs the question, can he manage anything of substance?"

"The acquisitions of the domains was a strategic business move in an effort to potentially enlarge the base of political commentary in the Southeastern region of the United States. I thank the Mayor for this business opportunity as he has continually stressed his commitment to small businesses."

Last push to get weed vote on ballot

So, a couple months ago, the Knox County Election Commission agreed to give residents a chance to vote on whether to legalize recreational and medical marijuana.

The vote, though, would be symbolic only since marijuana is still illegal in Tennessee.

That meant Steve Cooper, who is spearheading the initiative, has until June 15 to get about 16,100 signatures from registered Knox County voters to put the two questions on the November ballot.

One question will ask whether recreational use of marijuana by people older than 21 should be allowed in Knox County.

(He's actually shooting for 20,000 signatures on each petition to be on the safe side, cause some folks who sign might not actually be registered. Or whatever.)

So, here's an update from Cooper:

As I enter my last full week I am at 14,650 on the medical petition and 14,400 on the legal petition.

We were having a great weekend until the rain hit Saturday.

I will be pushing very hard this next and will see this through all the way up to the June 15th deadline.

We are doing signature drives at Back Door Tavern on Kingston Pike Tuesday June 7th and Friday June 10th from 3 to 7

We will be a Vapor Trails on Chapman Highway Wednesday June 8th from 3 to 7.

And our final setup will be at Off The Wall on Kingston Pike Saturday June 11th from 12 to 5.

Come on out and sign the petitions!!! Time is running out for us to make history together!

You can still print, sign and drop off you petitions at our signatures drives or mail them to the address on the petition page.

Your signature counts so get out and sign before it is too late!

For the record, I have not signed it. Heh.

Former PBA CEO Dale Smith to join Marble Alley development team

Smith

Former Public Building Authority head honcho Dale Smith has joined the private sector.

Smith, who retired earlier this year, has joined the Marble Alley team as a partner, working with company president Buzz Goss.

Smith and Goss will partner on new projects such as the second phase of Marble Alley, the Caledonia Flats at Marble Alley, and several others which are in the early planning stages.

The two intend to focus on urban mixed-use and multi-family projects, primarily in Knoxville. They also will consult with land owners and investors on a fee-development basis.

“Having known Dale for 15 years, I have grown to appreciate his professionalism and integrity; his skill sets and experience are a perfect fit," Goss said.

“I’m honored that Buzz invited me to be his partner. He set a new standard of excellence in downtown residential development with the Marble Alley Lofts project, and I look forward to working with him on similar projects,” said Smith.

Goss, is an acclaimed architect known for his restoration of historic buildings throughout the southeast. A graduate of The University of Tennessee School of Architecture, He has been a design architect and a project manager architect on such diverse projects as the historic Burwell Building in Knoxville, TN (home of the historic and world renowned Tennessee Theater), The Exchange Lofts on Church Street in downtown Nashville, TN and the Jackson Ateliers in Downtown Knoxville, TN.

Smith served as CEO of PBA from March 1, 2000 until January 1, 2016, completing over $500 million in construction projects for the City of Knoxville and Knox County. Projects included the Knoxville Convention Center & World’s Fair Park redevelopment, Regal Riviera 8 Cinema, East Tennessee Historical Center Addition, Hardin Valley High School, Juvenile Justice Center, and the Knoxville Transit Center. In addition, PBA managed over 3 million square feet of government buildings as well as World’s Fair Park and Volunteer Landing.

Prior to joining PBA, Smith managed, developed and ultimately divested a 60,000-acre real estate portfolio in South Florida owned by the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation from 1993 to 1999. He served as Executive Director of the Palm Beach County (FL) Economic Council from 1988 to 1993 and as Manager, Public Relations & Advertising at Pratt & Whitney’s Government and Space Propulsion Division from 1985 to 1988. Smith served eleven years on active duty and eleven years on reserve duty in the U. S. Navy, retiring in 1996 as a Captain (O-6). He graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, which he attended on a Navy ROTC scholarship.

Questions raised about Knox County Property Assessor Office raises

Outgoing Knox County Property Assessor Phil Ballard recently handed out a combined $25,430 in raises to three employees and now his soon-to-be successor has some questions about the move.

“I just wonder why – was it to hurt me? You know, it actually hurts the taxpayers, not me because I will review all the salaries when I go in,” said John Whitehead, who will take over the office on Sept. 1.

The raises were signed off by Jim Weaver, according to the paperwork.

Weaver – who is Ballard’s chief deputy – ran against Whitehead in the March Republican Primary and lost by only 73 votes.

Two of the employees who worked on Weaver’s campaign – Perry Sanders and Rodney Lane – received pay increases. However, Ballard said he gave Weaver permission to give the raises and that it was not political payback.

He said the employees deserved them because they’ve taken on more duties.

The money, Ballard said, will come from salary savings.

Director of Assessments Dean Lewis, who earned almost $90,000 annually, retired last year and Ballard never filled his position.

"This is straight forward,” Ballard added. “The guy that did it, 40-something years of experience, he left. We took the money out of that position, it's within this year's budget. Really, no budget was lost, it was just re-divided."

MPC asked to modernize zoning laws

Mayor Madeline Rogero proposed that the Metropolitan Planning Commission conduct a complete review and update of the City’s zoning ordinance since it hasn't undergone a thorough review in roughly 50 years and many of the current provisions are so obsolete that they hinder quality sustainable development, according to her office.

As it stands, the City Council has approved a measure to fund the cost - some $300,000 - that will allow the MPC to hire and direct a consultant to start the review.

“Our zoning ordinance was written decades ago, for land-use patterns of a very different era – the post-World War II suburban model,” Rogero said. “The ordinance may have made sense then. But as we’ve grown, and lifestyle choices have changed, the ordinance no longer fits our needs in 2016.

“In many cases, the outdated, rigid ordinance actually prevents some neighborhoods from achieving their full potential. We need an up-to-date ordinance that protects the things we all value in our neighborhoods and commercial areas while allowing the kinds of smart, sustainable growth that will move Knoxville forward.”

Rogero said public input is encouraged – and needed.

“This will not be a top-down review,” she said. “We need to hear what works best from residents, business owners and developers. I look forward to everybody’s help in making this new zoning ordinance insightful and comprehensive.”

The list of issues to be discussed is lengthy in overhauling and modernizing such an old zoning ordinance. MPC will be smoothing out a variety of inconsistencies and gaps in the existing ordinance. For example, the ordinance update will establish clear and objective standards that can be used to help guide consistent use-on-review decisions.

Among the issues to be addressed: 

• Is more flexibility needed in allowing mixed-use development in commercial districts?
   
• The existing ordinance lacks uniform, consistent landscaping requirements, and flood-zone development standards are unclear.
   
• Standards for lighting do not take advantage of current technology to reduce the light impact of new development and redevelopment.
   
• Regulations of setbacks in current non-residential districts make it difficult or impossible to redevelop many of the properties located in the older sections of the City initially developed prior to World War II.
   
• Standards for preserving the community character of the City's residential neighborhoods can be clarified and strengthened.

The MPC review will look at best practices and hear from Knoxville community and business leaders about what requirements they would like.