That suspicion is correct as far as I can determine from what the Purchasing Department has said.

I had a conversation with Paul Pinkston today and he told me that he spoke with Mayor Ragsdale on the subject, who called to find out his recommendation so that he Ragsdale could formulate his own recommendation.

Pinkston said he told Ragsdale that he felt like Renaissance had a much better chance of completing their plan, and since the office building/art gallery would be back on the tax rolls, it would end up as a better deal for county taxpayers.

He also referenced the fact that South Knoxville would have another senior center already by next spring to fulfill some of the functions proposed by Return to Torah Ministries' plan.

"It is not the writer's task to answer questions but to question answers." -Edward Abbey