An Open Letter to the Knox County Commission

2010 December 02

Dear Knox County Commissioners,

I respectfully request that you vote to send the East County Sector Plan back to the Metropolitan Planning Commission with instructions to retain the existing sector plan designation on the northwest quadrant of Midway Road, thereby rejecting the concept of a business park at that intersection.

The reasons for this request are:

1. There are better ways for The Development Corporation, The Chamber of Commerce and Knox County to utilize its development funds.
2. Businesses targeted by the sector plan won’t locate at Midway Road.
3. Focus on what’s working – Downtown Redevelopment
4. Missing justification to support further investment in Midway Road Business Park.
5. No controls are proposed to limit future build-out costs
6. Location exacerbates sprawl and pollution
7. Preservation of rural character contributes to the attractiveness of Knox County.

... cleans out war chest.

Does this mean he's going to go home and stay there?

I apologize for partially funding this maniac a few years ago when I plunked quarters into some of the crappiest* rented video games I've ever seen at Manhattan's and Back Room BBQ. I wonder if he paid taxes on all those quarters. I probably wouldn't.

*Although the Golden Tee machine would crap out and go to the menu screen mid-game, it would crap out and go to the menu screen and allow us to set it to free play, screwing Stacey X out of most of the campaign cash he would have gotten from us. Mwahahahahahaa!

The Foothills Fall Festival kicks off in Maryville tomorrow and runs through Sunday with arts and crafts, family fun, and lots of concerts. Most activities are free except for concerts. General admission concert tickets are apparently sold out but some reserved seating and other packages are still available.

Here's the festival lineup:

Friday, October 8, 2010
Adventure Land & ArtWay 12 PM - 7:00 PM
Theater in the Park Gates 6:00 PM
6:30 Kevin Abernathy Band
7:30 Starship featuring Mickey Thomas
9:00 .38 Special

Saturday, October 9, 2010
Adventure Land & ArtWay 10 AM - 7:00 PM
Theater in the Park Gates 12:00
1:30 John Titlow Band
2:30 Sgt. Jamie Buckley
4:00 Chuck Wicks
5:30 Gloriana
7:00 Tracy Lawrence
8:30 Lynyrd Skynyrd

Sunday, October 10, 2010
Adventure Land & ArtWay 12 PM - 6:00 PM
Theater in the Park Gates 2:00
2:30 The Grassabillies
3:30 Edens Edge
4:30 Jack Greene
5:30 Colt Ford
7:00 Jake Owen
8:30 Blake Shelton

We went over to the new Pellissippi State Community College Blount Campus this afternoon for an open house. We missed the dignitaries and speechifying, but got a grand tour of the new facility. It is beautiful and impressive.

While today's top headline of the KNS trumpeted up to 250 of new, low wage, low skill jobs for the area, how many high skill, high wage jobs (relatively to the different economies) did most similar sized cities in China add today (and without fanfare)?

Did anyone happen to notice that the KNS recently published (Sunday before last, I think) a top list of local private employers of software engineers which cumulatively totaled about 50 workers? (Presumably the public sector in these parts (TVA, UT, and Oak Ridge contract) do MUCH better--in this politically deep red region that hates government and gov't jobs.)

What more proof is there that we're on a rapid race to the bottom, and that we're winning? (And IMO every time somebody shops at Sprawl-Mart, America's decline is accelerated.)

There needs to be a real tea party-like (but serious) movement in this country based on the proposal put forth by Andy Grove, which was published on Bloomberg. Seriously, I think his suggestion is a good first start, no matter how politically DOA it may be. The Democratic Party should embrace it as a major theme, and not be afraid to defend its consequences.

From the National Weather Service, for basically all of East Tennessee:

Hooray!

Congrats to Scott M. (and to Scott B., who I assume had something to do with this decision).

Governor's office:

Governor Bredesen announced today the federal government has authorized a major disaster declaration for 11 additional Tennessee counties, bring the total number of counties declared to 21. This action makes federal assistance available to individuals in Carroll, Crockett, Decatur, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Haywood, Henderson, Houston, Madison and Obion counties.

VOTE!

That is all.

From the National Weather Service:

Severe weather and major flooding struck Middle Tennessee resulting in at least eight fatalities according to the latest reports. A state of emergency has been declared in Davidson Co. and the National Guard has been activated in Franklin Co. The Tennessean has a special section on their front page. Mike Byrd has photos and video.

National Weather Service:

Gov. Bredesen announced appointments to several state boards and commissions today.

From around East TN:

• Michael D. "Mike" Dockery, New Market, Tennessee Community Services Agency Board of Directors

• Margie Littell Ulrich, Dayton, Tennessee Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

• Dallas Cress "Chip" Woods, Maryville, State Board of Education

• Michael Ryan McGrath, Knoxville, State Rehabilitation Council

Press release...

From the National Weather Service:

Low to mid-thirties tonight...

There are some levels of Hell that even Old Scratch won't tolerate (the peach level).

For Friday fun. Enjoy!

(link...)

Today we are down to 2 strong Democratic candidates in the Governor's race. I am a proud volunteer supporter of Kim McMillan who has served in both the legislative and executive branches of the state government, holds a law degree, supports public education and is teaching the minds of tomorrow at Austin Peay State University.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for 9PM tonight through 4PM Saturday. This morning's cold, miserable rain (which is freezing rain or wintery mix in some areas) will change to snow this evening around 9PM and continue through Saturday afternoon. Accumulations from two to five inches are possible, more in higher elevations.

UPDATE: New forecast from NWS: "Tonight: Rain before 5am, then rain and snow. Low around 36. Calm wind becoming southwest between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible."

I just watched Tennessee this Week on WATE with Gene Patterson and 8th District County Commissioner Bud Armstrong.

Mr. Armstrong stated he thought citizens should have to work as equally hard to recall an elected official, as the elected official had to work to get elected. Best idea I have heard.

New recall provision should state 25 signatures are needed to put the elected official on the ballot for recall. After all it only took 25 signatures on a nominating petition to run for office in the first place. Now please define "work as equally hard".

(link...)

The Knox County Election Commission announced Wednseday that nominating petitions are available for the May 4th primary election to fill the unexpired term for the Eighth School Board District. Like other county offices elected in 2010, the qualifying deadline for the Eighth School Board District will be February 18th at noon.

School Board races are non-partisan. The two candidates receiving the most votes in the May 4th primary election will be on the August 5th county general election ballot. Should a candidate receive a majority of votes cast during the May 4th primary, that candidates name will appear alone on the August 5th ballot.

LPayton Manning is a great quarterback. He may even be a great husband, father, and all-around human being, for all I know. But I loathe the guy.