Mon
Jan 28 2008
05:24 pm

The first of three or four controversial zonings is in progress. I'll keep this site posted as best I can.
1st item, NW side Gleason Drive, postponed 30 days.
2nd item, Victor Jernigan in S. Knox, amends to 1-5 units/acre instead of 12.
Other developers not present, items postponed to next meeting.
--Mark Harmon

Topics:
Mark Harmon's picture

Commission meeting starts close to 5pm

Still a lot of items, perhaps not as many controversial ones as last month. One never knows, however, when a "flare-up" may occur.

Mark Harmon

Paul Witt's picture

What's this NW side of

What's this NW side of Gleason Drive one? Do they have a specific address or lot number?

reform4's picture

Location

Near where Gleason meets Ebenezer, no addr available

-----------------------------------------
Fighting for Reform and Representation, Fourth District
Steve Drevik, Commission Seat 4-B
(link...)

Mark Harmon's picture

The property is 12 acres in

The property is 12 acres in a slope protection area also northeast of Ebenezer. Butler Homes and Construction is the applicant. The item numbers are 12-E-07SP and 12-P-07-RZ. Map #132. Tax ID # 132 061.

Mark Harmon

jbr's picture

Is the South Knox one the

Is the South Knox one the area around Winkle Road?

Mark Harmon's picture

South Knox item is...

It is South side of W. Gov. John Sevier, west of Dick Ford Lane.

Mark Harmon

D Mac's picture

Blighted Wal-Mart gets TIF!

So they are going to give a TIF to a Wal-Mart because the developer is going to upgrade the roads?

Rachel's picture

These guys are handing out

These guys are handing out TIFs like candy, and unfortunately the end result is probably going to be that taxpayers will hate TIFs - ALL TIFs.

The City has strict guidelines on TIFs. The County apparently has none. But few folks will realize the difference.

R. Neal's picture

It is South side of W. Gov.

It is South side of W. Gov. John Sevier, west of Dick Ford Lane.

That was the one that got shouted down by area residents because of the density right? So now he's back with lower density, right?

Mark Harmon's picture

South Knox item is...

Looking at the maps, it appears to be a different location from the one shot down last meeting. The three area residents here initially to oppose supported the lower-density item.

Mark Harmon

R. Neal's picture

Aha. Thanks.

Aha. Thanks.

Bbeanster's picture

Scoobie's questioning

Scoobie's questioning attorney Bruce Anderson's credentials. Ragsdale proposes that the county hire him as a hearing office in dirty bookstore cases.

Anderson, btw, is a highly respected guy. Scoobie's really going after this one.

"Are we paying him for time he'd start researching it...?"
Scoob wants a dirty bookstore specialist.

Oh, yeah -- Scoobie wants him to work for nothing.

Nelle's picture

Lucky with Lumpy

I enjoyed Lumpy's remark that 2 of the county's 3 dirty book stores are in his district, and the other one's right on the border.

What a lucky district!

R. Neal's picture

WTF is a "dirty bookstore"?

WTF is a "dirty bookstore"?

Is there some kind of janitorial deficiency at Borders?

A Barnes and Noble facade in need of a pressure cleaning and a fresh coat of paint?

Some other bookstore with a sanitation problem of some sort?

Oh, wait...

D Mac's picture

Scoobie is reborn

Sure seems that since early voting has started and he wants the more luctrative position, Scoobie has cleaned up his act and no longer sneers. He is making waves like he wants a tougher ethics policy. Why do I have a problem with believing him?

reform4's picture

They've All Found Religion

At least until September 2008, when they see what the new commission looks like and what factions are in place.

-----------------------------------------
Fighting for Reform and Representation, Fourth District
Steve Drevik, Commission Seat 4-B
(link...)

lotta's picture

Scoobie's stumpin'

Good grief - I had no idea Scoobie was so passionate about meals!
He is really wearing out the Scoobie Snack speech.

D Mac's picture

Slinging human biosolids at commission meeting

Wow, who knew that the stinky "biosolids" recycling facility would become so interesting. Who is this Mr. Mays that is throwing accusations at Ragsdale? He is wearing concealed microphones into the mayor's office?

rikki's picture

tapes and wires

The funny part of this is that Commission could have passed Mark Harmon's substitute resolution and avoided this whole exchange.

lotta's picture

But notice Pinkston's role

Pinky knew this stink bomb was coming and softly brought it along. Scoobie is positively beaming......

rikki's picture

parks and polls

Was Lumpy trying to shut down the Halls Rec Center early voting site?

D Mac's picture

Parks and libraries

Yes, Lumpy wants Greg McKay to either change all the early voting sites from libraries and parks (also the New Harvest Park near Target) because they cannot put up campaign signs at those locations. OR, they will have to get these sites to agree to allow the signs, according to Lumpy. At least they were smart enough to postpone that discussion.

This meeting may also go to midnight like the last one.

rikki's picture

all the early voting sites

all the early voting sites from libraries and parks

Did something change, or has this been an issue for a long time?

PS. I am embarrassed for Paul Pinkston. He just can not keep up with the facts.

rikki's picture

I'm still curious about

I'm still curious about this. Lumpy is trying to have all the county voting sites at parks or libraries moved or pass a resolution allowing signage and campaigning at those sites. Why is this an issue? Did something change, or is this a long-standing concern I have somehow missed?

Bbeanster's picture

Lumpy and Scoobie are mad

Lumpy and Scoobie are mad because the guys who run the Halls community park decided that having a whole raft of signs all over the place this summer will be too disruptive to their sports programs. They voted to confine the signs to one area only, and Scoobie and Lumpy have gone pig-biting mad (possibly because Scoobie's former best friend for life Todd Cook is on the board).

Lumpy is throwing his weight around everywhere from the election commission to the attorney general's office.

Factchecker's picture

TIF to a f*cking Wal-Mart?! WTF?

That's a disgrace. Giving taxpayer money away as a free handout to the biggest retailer in the world is more obscene than a dirty bookstore.

Another session with Scumby, another few notches lower for Commish. And to think many of the major commission candidates represent lots more of the same. They must be just betting no one notices.

rikki's picture

simmer

They must be just betting no one notices.

Now and then I get the feeling they are betting they can keep the lid on until after Feb 5.

On the other hand, Scoobie and Pinky are trapped in dead ends and just keeping bashing into the wall.

rikki's picture

Great, Lumpy is standing up

Great, Lumpy is standing up for civil rights by listing a bunch more rights they could violate.

In any case, he is on the right side of this issue. Banning school teachers from running for commission is a Constitutional affront.

reform4's picture

To Mark Harmon

After Lumpy's speech, I felt the urge to swat you for putting this back on the agenda after Hammond moved to withdraw. :)

Factchecker's picture

Lumpy Logic

...Lumpy's remark that 2 of the county's 3 dirty book stores are in his district, and the other one's right on the border.

Then obviously, dirty bookstore districts 2-to-1 chose Lumpy Lambert!

And corporate execs in Bentonville, Arkansas are laughing their asses off right now.

rikki's picture

Cas is in the building!

Cas is in the building!

D Mac's picture

What was it Lumpy called Mark Harmon?

Was it an "academic twit"? Was he really implying that the people of Knox County do not want someone from academia to be on county commission?

lotta's picture

Lumpy resents intellect

for obvious reasons. Since he can't match wits, he tries to take Mark down by making him appear elitist next to his earthy, voter lovin' self.

Also, Lumpy loves the sound of his own voice and loves, loves, loves having his Perry Mason moment. I think he really wants to be a judge.....or head of the Spanish Inquisition.

FtnCity HAPPY's picture

HOLY SHI7

That was an attack if I've ever seen one. I have never seen anything like that on any gvt meeting or for that matter any board. Lumpy must go!!!

And for Scott to just sit and watch.

KC's picture

Was he really implying that

Was he really implying that the people of Knox County do not want someone from academia to be on county commission?

No, he was really disguising a personal insult behind a claim of a stand on principle. And he got caught and called on it.

D Mac's picture

PhD envy?

It was great to see Hammond trying to get Scoobie to be the chair and stop the personal attack and Tony Norman to try to get an apology out of the Lump.

lotta's picture

Poor Larry

His big speech was eclipsed by the fray......

Rachel's picture

I missed most of the meeting

I missed most of the meeting - but got a chance to see the woman just ask Lumpy where he got off telling a black woman what racism was. And then she accused the rest of them for not having "the balls" to tell him he was out of order. At least Scoobie had the sense not to let Lumpy answer.

We may have dysfunctional government, but it sure is damn entertaining.

lotta's picture

The last straw

I can't believe I'm hearing this - Lumpy's grandfather bought a ridge and now we have to compensate his whole family for the loss of investment? I thought he was a business man - doesn't he understand risk? How about let the buyer beware. This man has got to go.

reform4's picture

HOLE E CRAP

I've never seen such behavior. Now Lumpy is trying to debate the woman who objected to his nazi picture fest. Screaming in the hallway.

The press is running out to catch the fun.

Why feed that kind of behavior with press attention?

D Mac's picture

Recuse himself

Lumpy will now have to recuse himself from any vote on ridge top protection.

Sure liked the chewing out he got by Ms Richardson.

FtnCity HAPPY's picture

Kicking

Lumpy is out getting his rear kicked.

rikki's picture

Ann Robinson should be the

Ann Robinson should be the honorary chair of the commission until it is again a full body.

rikki's picture

"I've never seen so many men

"I've never seen so many men with so little to say take so long to say it."

KC's picture

It may be over just in time

It may be over just in time for The Late Show. But then again, after a session like this, who needs The Late Show?

Rachel's picture

I seriously wish I'd taped

I seriously wish I'd taped this thing. When's the rerun?

KC's picture

One never knows, however,

One never knows, however, when a "flare-up" may occur.

Commissioner Harmon-

With this group we should only expect wildfires that can't be contained.

Bbeanster's picture

I took two hours out to

I took two hours out to watch my Lady Vols BEAT DOOK, but I really enjoyed what I saw of the meeting. Pinkston arguing constitutional law with Owings, Lumpy telling about how his grampaw took him out and pointed to the ridge --"Son, all of that will one day be yours to rape, pillage, dam and flatten soon as we get the technology to git'er done, and damn any arrogant little twits sittin' over there in academia that want to stop you."

What a highlight reel!

reform4's picture

Ah but you missed the fight in the hallway..

..there's so much fun here, CTV just can't capture it all. We need more cameras to catch all the action.

And to top it all off, we had a reporter from the NY Times here to document the frivolity. He couldn't have picked a worse night.

Bbeanster's picture

And to top it all off, we

And to top it all off, we had a reporter from the NY Times here to document the frivolity. He couldn't have picked a worse night.

No shit?

That's fabulous!
Hate I missed it. What happened out in the hall?

jbr's picture

I think this is the

I think this is the reporter....

(link...)

reform4's picture

I just heard screaming...

.. I didn't go out, I chose to try to follow the meeting. The KNS people ran out, though. Maybe they'll have a photo and coverage. I hope not, though. There was plenty of insanity to report on without giving Lumpy extra ink.

KC's picture

He couldn't have picked a

He couldn't have picked a worse night.

Never say it can't get any worse.

jbr's picture

Wonder if the Times reporter

Wonder if the Times reporter knows this is just part of the mess. Ragsdale got a pass tonight. Hopefully his time is coming.

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