Mon
Apr 28 2008
02:33 pm
Knox County Commission under way
By: Mark Harmon

The meeting is stumbling along at the moment setting up the order of the agenda. First will be resolutions honoring various groups. The future of South Knox High also will be early in the agenda. There always can be a surprise flare up on any number of concerns: honoring Charlton Heston, paying the superintendent (automatic by court decree), progress on old News Sentinel Building, unfunded mandates resolution (I think there's a question of federalism here, and I'll explain in the meeting).

Just as I started typing Commissioner Pinkston went into the item of superintendent. He seems to be suggesting the Supreme Court cannot rule on the interpretation of the state constitution, but perhaps I am misunderstanding the claim.

--Mark Harmon

Topics:
R. Neal's picture

McKenzie: If we're going to

Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2008/04/28 - 3:07pm.

McKenzie: If we're going to honor Charlton Heston, how about Reverend Wright? Neither one has anything to do with Knox County.

Heh.

(Passes, 12-7)

reform4's picture

I counted 13-6

Submitted by reform4 on Mon, 2008/04/28 - 8:05pm.

Ballard and Pinkston changed their vote from "No" to "Yes" when it went to roll call. I had the no's as: McKenzie, M. Harmon, Davis, Daniels, Wright, DeFreese. I think DeFreese didn't realize Pinkston was changing his vote.

It certainly was one of the more interesting and less predictable votes of the evening.

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

Justin's picture

Are you fuc%^&* kidding me?

Submitted by Justin on Mon, 2008/04/28 - 3:25pm.

Are you fuc%^&* kidding me? They passed an amendment to "honor" Charlton Heston?

Carole Borges's picture

Honoring Heston is totally INSANE

Submitted by Carole Borges on Tue, 2008/04/29 - 9:15am.

This is the State of Tennessee not the National Rifle Association headquarters or the Oscar Awards even. Why in the world would our city council spend even one minute considering this? If it is just to avoid that one big Lump in the road, that sucks. Once again K-town will look like a backwards, gun-loving, conservative, violent place--oh, yeah, I forgot, some people really support that image. It's like a joke, but very un-funny.

Pam Strickland's picture

While I'm sure the city

Submitted by Pam Strickland on Tue, 2008/04/29 - 1:07pm.

While I'm sure the city council has done it's share of strange things, this is clearly one thing that only our county commission could do.

Pam Strickland

"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." ~Kurt Vonnegut

R. Neal's picture

Yes, then there was

Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2008/04/28 - 3:27pm.

Yes, then there was discussion about what to do with it, like invite his family here to receive it or what?

They decided to give it to Lumpy, I think.

Average Guy's picture

Good Lord!.., I mean Moses!

Submitted by Average Guy on Mon, 2008/04/28 - 3:35pm.

They decided to give it to Lumpy, I think.

You think the Heston family will be able to pry his warm, BBQ sauce soaked hands from it?

Was anybody able to sneak in any Ten Commandments references?

R. Neal's picture

The fate of South High is

Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2008/04/28 - 3:48pm.

The fate of South High is being discussed...

Rachel's picture

south high

Submitted by Rachel on Mon, 2008/04/28 - 4:33pm.

If Paul Pinkston says one more time that all previous proposals fell through - particularly because of parking - I'm gonna pull an Elvis and shoot the television (of course I'll have to go borrow a gun from Lumpy first). One of those proposals got to Commission. It failed 10-8 because Paul Pinkston wanted to grandstand about "protecting county assets." Selling it for $100 to someone who would put $3M into rehabbing it just didn't sit well with Paul. That's why we're in the mess we're in today.

And yes, I'm ranting again. I told you I will probably always rant about this subject.

Well, selling the building just passed 18-1. Guess Victoria wasn't very persuasive.

R. Neal's picture

Voting to prohibit County

Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2008/04/28 - 4:32pm.

Voting to prohibit County TIF for property development: Failed (option to provide TIF at some point still available). Smith, Moore, DeFreese, Pinkston voted to prohibit TIF.

Voting to auction the property: Passed 18-1 voice vote. Earliler discussion clarified that the County can reject the high bid.

Rachel's picture

Smith, Moore, DeFreese,

Submitted by Rachel on Mon, 2008/04/28 - 4:34pm.

Smith, Moore, DeFreese, Pinkston voted to prohibit TIF.

And Leuthold.

R. Neal's picture

Pinkston penny-pinches

Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2008/04/28 - 4:38pm.

Pinkston penny-pinches super's salary, seeks power to appoint : Local News : Knoxville News Sentinel

Knox County Commissioner Paul Pinkston and other commissioners objected to the Knox County school board's contract with James McIntyre, the new school superintendent.

The contract, approved earlier this month by the school board in a 5-4 vote, gives McIntyre an annual salary of $222,800.

"That is about the equivalent of what the president of the United States gets," Commissioner Victoria DeFreese said. "I just thought that was rather alarming."

President George W. Bush's salary is $400,000.

Commissioner R. Larry Smith calculated that the McIntyre will make more than $5,800 a week. (It's actually about $4,300, based on a 52-week calendar year.)

According to the article, Pinkston also asked the County Law Director to seek a state attorney general opinion on whether County Commission can appoint the school superintendent. Owings told him to write his own letter.

R. Neal's picture

Voting to fire the County

Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2008/04/28 - 5:24pm.

Voting to fire County Medical Examiner Dr. Sandra K. Elkins: Passes unanimously on voice vote.

Background:

(link...)

(link...)

R. Neal's picture

These meetings sure are a

Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2008/04/28 - 5:28pm.

These meetings sure are a lot less embarrassing with Tank Strickland in charge.

R. Neal's picture

The University Twit is

Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2008/04/28 - 5:33pm.

The University Twit is giving a lecture on Federalism, state and local government, and separation and balance of powers, etc., regarding a resolution to ask the State and encourage other county commissions to ask the State allow local governments to opt out of enforcing unfunded mandates, which Mark Harmon opposes.

Pinkston says with state revenue shortfalls the state will force the county to do things the state should be doing and not funding it. He apparently didn't hear a thing Mark Harmon just said about the law.

Passes on voice vote with one "no."

Also just voted to request state legislature to abide by the same laws they impose on county commission (i.e. sunshine laws?). Passed unanimously.

Mark Harmon's picture

The New

Submitted by Mark Harmon on Mon, 2008/04/28 - 7:52pm.

The New Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time Players

We started at 2:00 pm. It is now 7:44 pm. We are on the Knox County One Question Charter Amendments. These are the last items on a long agenda, though there is one person on the public comments section (if he is still here), the topic "Forced Algebra in School." Forced Civics anyone?

Mark Harmon

R. Neal's picture

Forced Civics? Yes!

Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2008/04/28 - 7:53pm.

Forced Civics? Yes!

Propose the question, and get them on the record.

reform4's picture

More live blogging details....

Submitted by reform4 on Mon, 2008/04/28 - 8:02pm.

http://reform4.blogspot.com

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

reform4's picture

ALL BUT ONE FAILED

Submitted by reform4 on Mon, 2008/04/28 - 10:01pm.

Reducing signatures passed, all other charter petition amendments failed.

Votes on reform4.blogspot.com

How the HECK do you vote against anti-nepotism and against conflicts of interests???????????

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

Anonymous's picture

It is easy

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008/04/29 - 5:56am.

Yiu just say NO.

Factchecker's picture

It's all about imagery

Submitted by Factchecker on Tue, 2008/04/29 - 12:50pm.

Reflection of the people.

Bizzy's picture

Just Curious

Submitted by Bizzy on Tue, 2008/04/29 - 1:47pm.

I would like to see a list of past resolutions and recognitions for comparison.

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