Blount Co. Commission will be voting on the new budget in June. Commissioner Walker recently asked for input at his blog regarding the top five areas where you'd like to see increased spending and the top five areas you'd like to see decreased or eliminated.

Everybody likes to gripe about taxes, and lots of folks, especially in Blount County, want lower taxes and less government. When you actually look at the budget, though, it's easy to see lots of areas where it would be nice to spend more and hard to find areas to cut.

It's even harder looking at it from 50,000 feet without knowing the details on some of these programs. It's a tough job to figure all this out every year (maybe a two-year budget cycle would be good?), regardless of your politics. I don't envy our elected officials and department heads.

Anyway, off the top of my head here are my priorities, better late than never...

Except for two Commissioners (Walker and Pitts-Reeves), I can't find nary a contact email address for any public officials on the Blount Co. website.

Alcoa and Maryville both have email addresses for several public officials, and Maryville has a general contact form you can submit. Both also have email contacts for public information officers, who can route your requests/questions to the appropriate department.

Seems like Blount Co. should have at least one general email address. Ideally, all departments and elected officials would have one for contacting their respective offices.

UPDATE: A reader advises that there is a County Commission contact form here. Thanks!

The Maryville Daily Times files reports on the budget committee meeting. It's a no new taxes budget, but will use $3 million from reserves for schools.

The issue of expanding the jail to bring in more revenue for housing federal prisoners was discussed, and it was noted that the county would need a long-term commitment from the federal government to send federal prisoners. The revenue would help pay for expansion to relieve crowding at the jail.

I'm sure this has been explained, but how does bringing in more prisoners help relieve overcrowding? If the jail didn't house federal prisoners, would there be an overcrowding problem? How many federal prisoners are in the jail? Maybe the numbers work out, I just don't recall seeing them.

At any rate, I personally don't think Blount Co. ought to be getting into the prison business. Go take a drive around Morgan Co. some time.

In related news, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports on the county commission workshop last night. Property tax revenues are expected to be up 4% due to new development and commercial rezoning. There was also talk of disbanding the Ethics Committee, because the new state law requiring a policy doesn't require a committee to oversee enforcement. Instead of a committee, complaints would be taken up by the full commission.

KNS: McCord admits violating state law

State Rep. Joe McCord acknowledged today that he and others have been smoking in his legislative office suite, violating a state law that he supported.

Read the whole thing for some other interesting finds.

The Blount County Purchasing and Budget Committee meets today. Items on the agenda include:

• Growth Management funding options

• Resolution authorizing application for FY 08-09 Litter Grant

• FY 08-09 Budget Message

• FY 08-09 Recommended Budget-Estimated Revenues

• FY 08-09 Recommended Expenditures

• Where are we now?

• Summary of Budget-Beginning & Ending Fund Balance Analysis

• Additional Operating and Capital Requests for FY 08-09 budget

• Proposed Tax Rate Resolution

• Appropriation Resolution for FY 08-09 budget

The information package has extensive details on the budget, tax rates, appropriations, and more.

There is a County Commission workshop tomorrow, 6:30 PM at the courthouse. Some of the agenda items:

• Budget Committee items.

• Budget – Impact on tax rate, employee insurance, and debt service.

• Status on Children’s Home.

• Status on Road access to the Sheriff’s Firing Range and Training Area.

• Blount County Ethics Policy.

• Amending Commission Rules and Procedures.

• Petition Concerning Chilhowee Shooting Range.

• Discussion Regarding Blount County Noise Ordinances.

• Denial of Commercial Rezoning Request Concerning Highway 321.

• Zoning request re. properties on Lail Lane

From the information package:

• A petition signed by more than 80 residents was submitted regarding noise and potential water safety hazards at the Chilhowee Shooting Range. They are asking County Commission to "look into the matter" of these issues that they would "like to get stopped or under control."

• The matter of Highway 321 rezoning involves property at Lamar Alexander Parkway, Gateway Rd., and Tuckaleechee Trail. The owners had requested commercial zoning, which was denied by County Commission. They advised Mayor Cunningham that there was no valid reason to deny the zoning. In a May 2 memo to County Commission, Mayor Cunningham said "Upon the receipt of Ms. Whaley's letter, I asked for Rob's comment because at the last commission meeting I became very concerned about Blount County being sued over the vote denying the request. I think the manner in which the vote went down may have been based on a possible misconception relative to what is the law on this kind of matter. Certainly, I feel that it would be extremely difficult to defend such a lawsuit and not only would Blount County incur unnecessary legal expenses, but we could incur a rather large judgment. I would hope that the Commission would see fit to discuss the matter further."

• Regarding the Children's Home, Mayor Cunningham's attorney advises on May 2 that "I have met with Larry Giordano, the attorney for the Children's Home on April 24, 2008. We discussed all the outstanding issues. As you are aware, you and I then discussed property issues. I have conveyed to Mr. Giordano what I believe you and I can recommend to the County Commission. Mr. Giordano was to meet with the Children's Home Board this week and then make a a written proposal to me to settle all issues."

• Regarding the Lail Lane property rezoning, a citizen submitted a letter to Environmental Health stating that "At the present time we object to any rezoning that might now or in the future under present circumstances create greater problems in water control than we are presently experiencing." The citizen details the drainage problems, and also cites concerns about taxes, infrastructure, and traffic control. The letter concludes "No acceptance of a zoning change on Lail Lane should be approved before a thorough impact study is completed on the items listed."

Come join us for good BBQ and music.

Saturday - Noon until 10 PM.

Springbrook Corporate Center, Alcoa, TN (Directions)

Daily Times

The Blount County Planning Commission wants to keep a scaled-down variant of the controversial Southern Loop proposal on the drawing board.

During a special called meeting on Tuesday, planning commissioners indicated that they wanted to keep the proposal for a two-lane bypass around the cities of Alcoa and Maryville in the text of the county Policies Plan.

Planners let it slip in a recent TDOT public hearing on the Pellissippi Parkway Extension that local traffic congestion improvements would only be realized if the southern loop is completed.

Citizens Against the Pellissippi Parkway Extension explain the problem:

According to TDOT’s traffic studies, the PPE will produce marginal and short-lived improvements to traffic conditions on a few roads, and within 20 years even these limited improvements will have disappeared.

Becky White, whose firm did the traffic analysis for TDOT, said that this projection assumes the Southern Loop and other proposed new roads will be built.

[..]

Tell TDOT that they need to do credible traffic studies of the impact of the PPE on our existing road system – the road system that will be in place when the PPE is in use. Until this is done there is no objective data supporting the assertion that the PPE will alleviate traffic congestion anywhere in the cities or the county.

In other words, if the southern loop (for which other more desirable alternatives have been identified) is phased out of regional transportation plans, the PPE cannot be justified on the basis of relieving traffic congestion.

This is some real Mayberry shit over here, except Goober and Gomer are in charge and Earnest T. Bass is off leash and off his meds.

I've been doing this blogging thing for six years and I've never seen anything like it. The harassment of me and others at this site, threatening emails, invasion of my privacy, people showing up on my front porch, reporters and others trying to get me to "out" people -- it's a regular three-ring circus and you can't tell which clowns to trust.

So here's the thing. I'm not providing a playground for the local yahoos to abuse me or other participants at this site, nor am I providing a place for conspiracy knitting circles to play out their vendettas, nor am I providing an outlet for anonymous rumors and other crap that wouldn't pass muster for a tabloid gossip page.

But mainly I am not going to be set up as the point man to take fire for people with an ax to grind who won't sign their name.

We wanted to promote an open forum for mature discussions about issues of local concern. We wanted to promote a constructive dialogue on building a better community. We have some serious issues in local government. Frustrations run high, and we should be talking about polices, not personalities. But that hasn't happened, so the experiment in its current form is shelved for now.

I will continue to post about issues of interest to me and hopefully the community. If you find them interesting, fine. If not, that's fine, too. If anyone has anything they want to say, notices they want to post, complaints they want to air, or tips they want to share, they can send them to rneal@rviews.com for consideration.

Meanwhile, I will be thinking about more productive ways to contribute to a better Blount County, starting with trying to elect better local government.

And no, I don't know where the damn 25 cars are.

WATE:

The first phase of the project will require the demolition of three apartment buildings that sit adjacent to the east end of the school, across Cedar Street.

...There's also a long term plan that would take an entire block of homes on South Cedar Street, including Jeff Weaver's, but the city still doesn't have enough money to buy them.

Residents express concerns about uncertainties, getting a fair value for their properties, and more.

What is an "elite click?"

UPDATE: A reader writes "Isn't it a shame that a journalist can't spell or understand the word clique? Maybe next time someone should give him a copy of the speech so that he can spell the words right. The burden also falls on the editor. They are supposed to edit the paper to make sure it is right. This paper had four days from the time of the event to the press time. And we wonder why our businesses are saying the schools are not doing a good enough job."

The new Montessori Middle School in Louisville is hosting their 1st Annual Farm Festival on Saturday, May 10, 2008 from 11AM to 4PM at the school, which is located at 3725 Louisville Rd (map).

This event is open to the public and there is no charge for admission. Tickets for activities and refreshments will be sold at the festival. Click read more for a press release with more details...

Blount County needs a home rule charter, mainly for the purpose of establishing term limits for Mayor, Sheriff, and County Commission, and probably some other offices (some of which ought to be appointed instead of elected anyway).

I used to be against term limits, thinking the voters are supposed to take care of that. The trouble is they don't, even if they bother to show up and vote. And before long you get entrenched political power machines (whether Democrat or Republican) and progress grinds to a halt unless you are a member of a preferred special interest group.

KNS: Knox Ethics Committee wants more power to investigate complaints

Some members of the Knox County Ethics Committee want more power to investigate complaints against county employees and elected officials.

[..]

"A citizen doesn't have power to conduct an investigation and neither do we," committee member Mike Duncan said. "We need an ethics committee with some teeth."

Blount isn't the only county struggling to figure out how this is supposed to work. The state should probably step up and make some minor repairs to the newly enacted ethics laws.

Link...

Political background seen as detriment

Dear Editor:

As a result of Judge David Duggan’s request to check out his web site in the April 17th Daily Times, I did. To my surprise I found out that the Judge is most proud of a Republican judiciary. I always thought that justice was blind and did not include political affiliations.

I also noticed that Judge Duggan belongs to the Federalist Society. This, I do know, is an elitist, radical group of judicial activists who are determined to revolutionize American law, as we know it.

As an informed voter, I decided to research Judge Duggan’s career, both politically and professionally. He states that he is a Republican based upon “limited government” although his present job is a direct result of growth in Blount County government. I found that as a result of being an active member of the Blount County Republican Party, Judge Duggan has been appointed to several profitable positions, those of which include the City Attorney for Alcoa and Townsend, Alcoa and Blount County School Board Attorney and his present position as judge. It is clear that Judge Duggan has made most of his living off of the taxpayers of Blount County. I do not think that his vast Republican Party involvement has any bearing on his qualifications to be elected judge.

My point is this: do we as Blount County Voters want to see someone who has made it through the system based upon appointments, and not electability? Do we want someone who, I assume, feels he is entitled to this new position based upon what he has done for the Republican Party? Again, I always thought that justice was blind. And lastly, do we want someone who is going to take that type of ideology into his courtroom? I do not.
Sincerely,

Lee Ramsey
607 Front St.
Maryville, TN 37804

Commissioner Wendy Pitts Reeves has updated her blog and I am sure you will find the new entry very interesting. On my pc I have to ignore the blog roll link over to the right of this post and go directly to her blog spot at Link...

Yes Ms Reeves- we wonder why indeed.

Keep up the great work pal!

In today's DT, Judge Young claims to set the record straight about Judge Meares' record as a judge, in response to Carol Gallagher's letter to the editor. Link...

He makes this statement:

This letter is not intended, in any way, to constitute or be construed as a public or private endorsement of either Judge Meares or Judge Duggan. Likewise, this letter is not intended, in any way, to constitute or be construed as public or private opposition to either Judge Meares or Judge Duggan.

However, his motives "to correct some terribly misleading statements" in Mrs. Gallagher's letter become completely clear - and somewhat sinister - when you realize that he has contributed AT LEAST $1,000 of his own money to Judge Duggan's campaign to unseat Judge Meares. Link... Funny that a letter full of disclaimers, and claiming to set the record straight, would omit such a crucial detail that should have been part of full disclosure. He is by definition a supporter of Duggan against Meares, and with his pocketbook has endorsed him to the maximum permitted by law.

Judge Young had no right to invoke any member of Mike Meares' family in a letter intended strictly to tarnish Mike's well-earned GOOD reputation. Particularly quoting Mike Meares' wife, an attorney, on a pleasantry she uttered to Young's staff in the course of business - her livelihood - to say that there is no delay in hearing cases in his courtroom. I have NEVER heard of anything tackier in a campaign in my life. I'm surprised that a man of Duggan's oft-reported integrity would approve such a message.

And this, I believe, is what we used to call a big bald-faced one in the olden days:

It is totally false that Judge Meares is now offering to assist in the civil area.

He isn't? Really, now, Judge Young.

More than a hundred Blount Co. Democrats gathered at the Airport Hilton last night for the second annual Roosevelt Day Dinner, presented by the Blount County Democratic Women's Club and the Blount County Democratic Party.

Thanks to Events Chair Gerrae Messer for putting on a great program, and to Party Vice-Chair Tony Webb, our gracious host and master of ceremonies.

Read all about it after the jump...

The TennViews progressive blog roundup is here.

Seems that the pages and news space aren't the only things disappearing from The Daily Times. Heard this morning that they let a number of their employees go yesterday (although unlike the Newel Rubbermaid layoff, it didn't make the front page). Among them, Business Editor Rick Laney, some people in their ad department, people that run their presses and others.

With the smaller pages, less news, very little advertising, idiotic editorial decisions (think retractions of articles that didn't need retracting and putting in ads from realtors that disputed previously reported facts to kiss up to those who would shoot the messenger), it shouldn't be long before we have The News Sentinel Blount or Blount Today Daily.

I'll bet the GOB are buying each other drinks all over town in celebration of the loss of the closest thing to an investigative reporter this community had in Rick Laney.

Wonder if we'll read about this in the DT, or will they bury it like they do everything that looks remotely negative toward The Machine?

Don't forget, the Blount Democratic Party Roosevelt Dinner is tonight.

(Note: We are told that Bob Tuke and Mike Padgett will not be able to attend after all due to a conflicting DSCC fundraising event scheduled in Nashville. There will be other speakers, though, and it will be a great program and a great opportunity to meet fellow Blount County Democrats.)

Link...

The Tennessee Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers recognized Blount County Commissioner Wendy Pitts Reeves with its "Public Official of the Year Award" for 2008. The award was announced to the 700 attendees at the National Association of Social Workers legislative conference at the Nashville Convention Center.

I have to agree with the National Association of Social Workers. Mrs. Reeves is a very unusual specimen in politics, maintaining an openness and approachability through her blog that we had never seen in Blount County prior to her election.

"Commissioner Reeves brings all the skills and core values of professional social work to her public service," Taylor said. "She is a wonderful role model for others, especially women.

"Politics can be a challenging arena for anyone, but especially so for someone who seeks to uphold the dignity and worth of each citizen and to advocate for those who may not be able to advocate for themselves."

McCain opposes equal pay bill in Senate: Link...

Republican Sen. John McCain, campaigning through poverty-stricken cities and towns, said Wednesday he opposes a Senate bill that seeks equal pay for women because it would lead to more lawsuits.

Hello? I thought this was the year 2008.

From the Knoxville News Sentinel, Mayor Cunningham names County Commissioners Wendy Pitts Reeves, David Graham, and Monika Murrell.

According to the aricle, Mayor Cunningham says they accompanied a "citizen activist" to Nashville yesterday for a meeting with the State Comptroller's office to discuss "perceived irregularities" regarding county finances.

UPDATE: Edited to correctly identify David Graham and "citizen acitivist." Follow the link to the article by Robert Wilson for full details.

UPDATE: WBIR has more:

"They completely side-stepped the legislative process," Cunningham said. "It's a vigilante witch-hunt process. I'm angered by it."

When asked what he thought would come of all of this, Graham responded "Nothing, because it wasn't a meeting."

UPDATE: The Maryville Daily Times files this report, with more details and comments from several individuals involved in the controversy. The article also quotes state law on meetings coverted by the open meetings act. The article fails to mention this part:

Nothing in this section shall be construed as to require a chance meeting of two (2) or more members of a public body to be considered a public meeting. No such chance meetings, informal assemblages, or electronic communication shall be used to decide or deliberate public business in circumvention of the spirit or requirements of this part.

As was debated ad absurdum in the Knox County case, the key part is "deliberate."

A very nice gift from the Steve West family along with the extended West/Ramsey family; Link...

Each community has things it "wants" and things it "needs". Taxes, money from everyone in a community, should only be used for needs. Things we want should come from the private sector - or as a result of a referendum.

I think the "wants" for the average taxpayers are going to be something we hear less and less of as cost rise and jobs are cut.

Thanks again to the West family for contributing to something many in our community want, but because of other needs, can't afford.

The Maryville Farmers' Market starts up again the first Saturday in May.

May 3, 2008
Opens at 9 AM and closes when the produce is gone, usually around noon or 1 PM.

Location: Church Street near CBBC Bank.

There is plenty of parking.

Get ready! Check it out!

Fresh produce is on its way.

Here we go again...

The attorney for Citizens for Blount County’s Future (CBCF) sent legal documents on Monday to, among others, the Board of South Blount County Utility District, Mayor Jerry Cunningham, Micky Roberts, and to the Blount County clerks of court (to insure public court notice), and to the District Manager of SBCUD, Henry Durant.

Link...

Seems as if the county government hasn't sent anyone a press release on this one.

Anyway, the letter and its numerous attachments give "Actual and Constructive Notice" to the SBCUD and local county government. It appears that 1.) the demand by Mayor Cunningham (through his written requirement that the paid SBCUD board members vote to add fluoride--hydrofluorosilic acid--to the water supply) and 2.) the board's subsequent capitulation to the Mayor's demand to do so creates legal liability for the Board.

Apparently, neither SBCUD nor the Blount County Health Department have given a legally adequate statement or a notification to the customers of the district regarding the problems with introduction of hydrofluorosilicic acid to their drinking water.

The letter also addresses the subject of whether SBCUD comes under any ethics policy itself. And if failure to give adequate notice to the community of a new additive that creates specific complications for certain age groups, those taking certain medications (like fluoride supplements) and those with specific health problems is not an ethical concern, I don't know what is.

The Notice itself is entitled "Potential of Non-compliance, Misrepresentation and Liability" by SBCUD as to the proposed fluoridation of the water supply of the district. It looks like this might be the first step to another lawsuit against the county.

Remember back when the news of this first broke out, a water district spokeswoman said:

"District Manager Henry Durant has been getting a lot of phone calls from people that are upset,” said utility spokeswoman Stacie Keller. “We don’t usually get phone calls (about issues). When I talked with the secretary (Tuesday), they had gotten 10 to 20 calls from customers who were upset and said, ‘You should have done a survey and asked our input.’

and

“As we have stated in the past, the benefits of fluoridation in public water is a very inconclusive issue, with valid research and arguments to support both sides. SBCUD wants to remain focused on moving forward and does not want to allow the issue of fluoridation to diminish our district’s progress nor hinder us from achieving our future goals.”

Link...

So, what will the Mayor and the Health department and the utility district do when the district has gone on record as saying that “the benefits of fluoridation in public water is a very inconclusive issue” and they are faced with a legal notice stating that they need to legally prove that hydrofluorosilicic acid meets all state and federal safety mandates?

That could be funny to watch.

Keep up the good work Citizens!

Fran Ansley, recently retired from UT law school, will be speaking at Maryville College on Monday, April 28 at 7pm in Lawson Auditorium in Fayerweather Hall. This program is sponsored by the Blount County League of Women Voters.

Fran is a tireless advocate for human rights and her talk (“Labor Rights Meet Global Wrongs: The Search for a Fair and Humane Immigration Policy") promises to be both engaging and instructive.

Dear friend of quality growth,

As an attendee of last year's Plain Talk on Quality Growth conference, I want to make you aware of an important event that is coming to East Tennessee next week. The Tennessee Department of Tourism has put together a first rate conference on sustainable tourism that will be held next Monday and Tuesday, April 28th and 29th, at the Knoxville Convention Center.

Rick Laney has an article about blogging in today's Maryville Daily Times.