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Knox County lands a round up in the KNS wheelhouse?
Submitted by R. Neal on Tue, 2008/11/11 - 7:54am.
The Brian's Blog Truth Squad reports that the KNS is about to get hit with a $1 million past due tax bill, and it may be even more. The Truth Squad says it's because the KNS has reneged on the terms of their PILOT.
Submitted by Bill Lyons on Tue, 2008/11/11 - 8:58am.
The PILOT agreement was made in 2002 for ten years. The stated purpose of the PILOT was to have the NS construct a newspaper printing and publishing facility in the center city of Knoxville. Listed benefits included job retention / creation and having the NS serve as the anchor of the redevelopment area in Mechanicsvile (Food City, Cherokee Health have since moved there). There was no contractual requirement for any specific job number.
Submitted by Ragsdale2010 (not verified) on Tue, 2008/11/11 - 9:15am.
To the city and to the county, given their desire to be a player in the community, let's make sure they are paying up their fair share of the tax bill on their city and county business licenses and the city and county real property taxes.
Submitted by Alan Summers on Tue, 2008/11/11 - 9:51am.
Shouldn't the above poster's name actually be Ragsdale2010gone!
If the link works, this is the city's tax record for the land. The land is listed as owned by the City IDB, not the KNS. It has been tax exempt since it's beginning. But this year it actually shows a $168,589 due. It is appraised at over $16 million dollars now. If the link doesn't work the property id number is 094JD009, you can do a tax serch on the city's website.
Submitted by Alan Summers on Tue, 2008/11/11 - 10:48am.
I just heard on the Voice 1040am, City Councilman Steve Hall thinks they are in violation of the PILOT. But, he said that the legal opinion is wishy washy as to if they have to uphold the job requirements, etc. Hall didn't mention if he intends to pursue this or not.
If you will remember a few month's ago, Lambert mentioned that he didn't want to make the only paper in town mad.
Well, I say if they owe us, it should not matter to a commissioner or councilman if they make them mad.
Submitted by R. Neal on Tue, 2008/11/11 - 12:06pm.
I guess I'm not clear on why you to want to discuss here some rumored information from a long defunct website that you claim was shutdown because of legal threats? Hello? Anybody home?
The rest of your speculation is whatever. Just keep in mind that you own it.
Submitted by Anonymously Nine (not verified) on Tue, 2008/11/11 - 12:35pm.
Like many I am curious what happened. There is a big difference between 1.5 million and 11 million. How much taxpayer money are we talking about?
A long time ago I read the PILOT agreement. I may still have a copy somewhere. It seemed odd such a large PILOT was given for 375 jobs. The more that comes out the odder the story gets.
Submitted by Alan Summers on Tue, 2008/11/11 - 1:42pm.
I was trying to remember what Steve Hall said on the radio this morning in reference to what the city's legal council had told them, wishy washy probably wasn't the best wording. He had mentioned that the legal wording is open for interpretation, and not very clear cut.
I knew Knox County has a bad habit of writing bad agreements, but I hoped the city had it together not to do that too. Especially since Ragsdoll wasn't involved in this.
It would be nice to have a link on the city's website to the pilot agreement.
"He had mentioned that the legal wording is open for interpretation, and not very clear cut."
Ugh. I hate it when people idealize what lawyers do. Lawyers do not make things clear cut. It's their job to make documents that reflect the interests of their clients. There is no rule that says "Lawyer, be clear." Every contract, motion, filing, memorandum, etc is just a starting point from which interpretations can be made. Even the strictest wordings of matters at hand still have people saying "Did you mean "the" or "a" here when you left out the article in this sentence in this paragraph?"
True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler
Submitted by Alan Summers on Tue, 2008/11/11 - 2:49pm.
Knox County seems to be on a lawsuit mentality path to the way they govern our county.
Oh the day that we don't have corrupt mayors, commissioners, sheriffs, politicians, community organizers, etc.
I'm afraid I will not live to see that day. Maybe my 4 year old will!
Actually it was a post on KnoxViews may have raised some eyebrows;
Link...
Anyone have a copy of that PILOT agreement? It would be interesting to see what the conditions were. Weren't there employment requirements?
The PILOT agreement was made in 2002 for ten years. The stated purpose of the PILOT was to have the NS construct a newspaper printing and publishing facility in the center city of Knoxville. Listed benefits included job retention / creation and having the NS serve as the anchor of the redevelopment area in Mechanicsvile (Food City, Cherokee Health have since moved there). There was no contractual requirement for any specific job number.
The stated purpose of the PILOT was to have the NS construct a newspaper printing and publishing facility in the center city of Knoxville.
Roughly, how much tax money are we talking about? I have heard figures from 1.5 million to 11 million.
To the city and to the county, given their desire to be a player in the community, let's make sure they are paying up their fair share of the tax bill on their city and county business licenses and the city and county real property taxes.
Shouldn't the above poster's name actually be Ragsdale2010gone!
If the link works, this is the city's tax record for the land. The land is listed as owned by the City IDB, not the KNS. It has been tax exempt since it's beginning. But this year it actually shows a $168,589 due. It is appraised at over $16 million dollars now. If the link doesn't work the property id number is 094JD009, you can do a tax serch on the city's website.
Link...
I just heard on the Voice 1040am, City Councilman Steve Hall thinks they are in violation of the PILOT. But, he said that the legal opinion is wishy washy as to if they have to uphold the job requirements, etc. Hall didn't mention if he intends to pursue this or not.
If you will remember a few month's ago, Lambert mentioned that he didn't want to make the only paper in town mad.
Well, I say if they owe us, it should not matter to a commissioner or councilman if they make them mad.
Pay up KNS!
I take there will be no talk of the forbidden website that is no more?
I guess I'm not clear on why you to want to discuss here some rumored information from a long defunct website that you claim was shutdown because of legal threats? Hello? Anybody home?
The rest of your speculation is whatever. Just keep in mind that you own it.
Like many I am curious what happened. There is a big difference between 1.5 million and 11 million. How much taxpayer money are we talking about?
A long time ago I read the PILOT agreement. I may still have a copy somewhere. It seemed odd such a large PILOT was given for 375 jobs. The more that comes out the odder the story gets.
Where is this rumored PILOT? Why is it being described as "wishy washy"? Seems an agreement for that large a sum of money should be clearly written.
Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.
I was trying to remember what Steve Hall said on the radio this morning in reference to what the city's legal council had told them, wishy washy probably wasn't the best wording. He had mentioned that the legal wording is open for interpretation, and not very clear cut.
I knew Knox County has a bad habit of writing bad agreements, but I hoped the city had it together not to do that too. Especially since Ragsdoll wasn't involved in this.
It would be nice to have a link on the city's website to the pilot agreement.
"He had mentioned that the legal wording is open for interpretation, and not very clear cut."
Ugh. I hate it when people idealize what lawyers do. Lawyers do not make things clear cut. It's their job to make documents that reflect the interests of their clients. There is no rule that says "Lawyer, be clear." Every contract, motion, filing, memorandum, etc is just a starting point from which interpretations can be made. Even the strictest wordings of matters at hand still have people saying "Did you mean "the" or "a" here when you left out the article in this sentence in this paragraph?"
True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler
Thanks, I could not remember Steve Hall's exact wording about that.
And here in Knox County "open for interpretation" usually means lawsuits and court dates!
Lawyers need to eat too.
True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler
Lawyers need to eat too.
That doesn't mean the taxpayers have to feed them.
Knox County seems to be on a lawsuit mentality path to the way they govern our county.
Oh the day that we don't have corrupt mayors, commissioners, sheriffs, politicians, community organizers, etc.
I'm afraid I will not live to see that day. Maybe my 4 year old will!
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