According to the TN County Data Snapshot,

As of 11/12/2022:
495 Blount County residents have died from the coronavirus. That is 10 deaths in 35 days. Nearly 2 deaths a week. A decrease over the previous 28 days where there were 14 deaths in 28 days.

As of November 12, 2022, Blount County, TN, has reported
46,349 cases of the coronavirus. 648 cases in 35 days. A 4.8% decrease in the number of cases per day (18) as compared to the previous report on 10/08/2022 (24).

Vaccinations reported, last updated 11/21/2022:

*** 7-day average Positivity rate is 13.5% as of 11/12/2022. *** (TN County Data Snapshot).
A decrease from the 18.1% rate on 10/08/2022.
Positivity rate preferred to be below 3%.

Blount County, TN, early voting starts today and goes through Thursday, November 3, 2022. Election day is Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

Early voting locations and times:

• Foothills Mall - Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm (Foothills Mall Drive, Maryville 37804)
• Blount County Public Library- Mon-Fri, 11am-7pm (508 N. Cusick St, Maryville 37804)
• Everett Recreation Center- Mon-Fri, 11am-7pm (318 S. Everett High Rd, Maryville 37804)
• Pellissippi Community College- Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm (2731 W. Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Friendsville 37737)
• Providence Baptist Church Annex- Mon-Fri, 11am-7pm (5748 Sevierville Rd, Seymour 37865)

Go to the Blount County, TN, Election Commission web site for details along with a sample ballot.

According to the TN County Data Snapshot,

As of 10/08/2022:
485 Blount County residents have died from the coronavirus. That is 14 deaths in 28 days. Nearly 4 deaths a week. An increase over the previous 28 days where there were 6 deaths in 28 days.

As of October 8, 2022, Blount County, TN, has reported
45,701 cases of the coronavirus. 667 cases in 28 days. A 59% decrease in the number of cases per day (24) as compared to the previous report on 9/10/2022 (59).

Vaccinations reported, last updated 10/14/2022:

*** 7-day average Positivity rate is 18.1% as of 10/08/2022. *** (TN County Data Snapshot).
A decrease from the 25.2% rate on 09/10/2022.
Positivity rate preferred to be below 3%.

According to the TN County Data Snapshot,

As of 9/10/2022:
471 Blount County residents have died from the coronavirus. That is 6 deaths in 28 days. Nearly 2 deaths a week. A decrease over the previous 28 days where there were 11 deaths in 28 days.

As of September 10, 2022, Blount County, TN, has reported
45,034 cases of the coronavirus. 1,653 cases in 28 days. A 14% decrease in the number of cases per day (59) as compared to the previous report on 8/13/2022 (69).

Vaccinations reported, last updated 9/17/2022:

% with 2 doses - 54.0% (up from 53.9% on 8/17/2022, up from 53.7% on 7/24/2022, up from 53.6% on 6/25/2022).

% with at least 1 dose - 58.6% (up from 58.5% on 8/17/2022, up from 58.3% on 7/24/2022, up from 58.0% on 6/25/2022).

% have received the booster dose - 25.8% (up from 25.6% on 8/17/2022, up from 25.3% on 7/24/2022, up from 25.0% on 6/25/2022).

*** 7-day average Positivity rate is 25.2% 38.7% as of 9/10/2022. *** (TN County Data Snapshot).
A decrease from the 38.7% rate on 8/13/2022, which was a slight increase from the 38.4% rate on 7/16/2022.
Positivity rate preferred to be below 3%.

The City of Alcoa continues uncontrolled and costly development with 1,083 new apartments/townhomes in the next 4 years. This is in addition to the 269 apartment complex added behind Lowe's in 2014.

According to the TN County Data Snapshot,

As of 8/13/2022:
465 Blount County residents have died from the coronavirus. That is 11 deaths in 28 days. Nearly 3 deaths a week. An increase over the previous 28 days where there were 7 deaths in 28 days.

As of August 13, 2022, Blount County, TN, has reported
43,381 cases of the coronavirus. 1,925 cases in 28 days. A 57% increase in the number of cases per day (69) reported previously on 7/16/2022 (44). This is the 4th reporting period where there have been a large increase in number of cases per day.

Vaccinations reported, last updated 8/17/2022:

% with 2 doses - 53.9% (up from 53.7% on 7/24/2022, up from 53.6% on 6/25/2022, up from 52.84% on 5/22/2022).

% with at least 1 dose - 58.5% (up from 58.3% on 7/24/2022, up from 58.0% on 6/25/2022, up from 57.82% on 5/22/2022).

% have received the booster dose - 25.6% (up from 25.3% on 7/24/2022, (up from 25.0% on 6/25/2022, up from 23.48% on 5/22/2022).

*** 7-day average Positivity rate is 38.7% as of 8/13/2022. *** (TN County Data Snapshot).
A slight increase from the 38.4% rate on 7/16/2022, which was an increase from the 25.3% rate on 6/18/2022, which was an increase from the 14.7% rate on 5/14/2022, which was an increase over 7.3% rate on 4/23/2022 and the 4.9% rate on 4/2/2022.
Positivity rate preferred to be below 3%.

The City of Alcoa is once again pursuing non-contiguous annexation. This time on the East side on Wildwood Road near where it intersects with Sam Houston School Road.

What are they thinking? It can't be just to "help" the property owners, can it?

From the City of Alcoa Facebook page:

Please be aware:

The City of Alcoa residents may experience discolored water due to a large water main break that occurred around 4:00 p.m. on August 2, 2022. Residents may experience this for the next 24 to 48 hours due to the main break. The City of Alcoa Public Works Department and Water Treatment Plant are working to alleviate this issue. If you are having a discolored water issue, please run cold water for five (5) to ten (10) minutes in a bathtub, a sink, or a hose outside.

For questions, concerns, or to report a water leak, please call (865) 380-4800.

I would have been nice if they had a warning to the citizens other than Facebook. Many, if not most, of their citizens don't use Facebook.

In 2017 glass recycling ended for Blount County residents.

It's back! As of July 15, 2022, Blount County began accepting glass at the recycling center at 331 Levi Street in Maryville. "Other than laminated safety glass, any glass type can be recycled at the center."

According to the TN County Data Snapshot,

As of 7/16/2022:
454 Blount County residents have died from the coronavirus. That is 7 deaths in 28 days. Nearly 2 deaths a week. An increase over the previous 34 days where there were 5 deaths in 34 days.

As of July 16, 2022, Blount County, TN, has reported
41,456 cases of the coronavirus. 1,252 cases in 28 days. Almost double the number of cases per day (44) than reported previously on 6/18/2022 (23). This is the 3rd reporting period the number of cases per day has doubled.

Vaccinations reported, last updated 7/24/2022:

% with 2 doses - 53.7% (up from 53.6% on 6/25/2022, up from 52.84% on 5/22/2022, up from 52.76% on 4/27/2022).

% with at least 1 dose - 58.3% (up from 58.0% on 6/25/2022, up from 57.82% on 5/22/2022, up from 57.69% on 4/27/2022).

% have received the booster dose - 25.3% (up from 25.0% on 6/25/2022, up from 23.48% on 5/22/2022, up from 23.33% on 4/27/2022).

*** 7-day average Positivity rate is 38.4% as of 7/16/2022. *** (TN County Data Snapshot).
An increase from the 25.3% rate on 6/18/2022, which is an increase from the 14.7% rate on 5/14/2022, which was an increase over 7.3% rate on 4/23/2022 and the 4.9% rate on 4/2/2022.
Positivity rate preferred to be below 3%.

August 4, 2022 - Federal & State Primary, County General,
Friendsville & Townsend City Election

Blount County Election Commission

Early Voting : July 15 - 30, 2022

Last Day to Request an Absentee Ballot : July 28, 2022

Election Day : Thursday, August 4, 2022

Sample Ballot for August 4, 2022 Election

Many years ago the City of Alcoa convinced TDOT that TDOT's plan to fix Alcoa Hwy. from Pellissippi Parkway to Hunt Road was not good for area business. Instead the city paid for a separate plan to waste 400 acres of land and 50-100 million dollars for a 2.5 mile "bypass" to ease traffic.

Part of the project has been recently completed. This section gave access to a planned downtown Alcoa, which has been in the works for 15 years or so. Currently there is an apartment complex being built, a new hotel is open, and two existing businesses in Alcoa are moving to the site leaving empty buildings elsewhere.

Not much of a downtown, but hey, money is flowing. More money from the city, and therefore taxpayers, will be needed. Especially since the maintenance of the old Alcoa Highway will be the responsibility of the city.

Yes, the City of Alcoa will have to take over the maintenance of Alcoa Hwy. From Pellissippi to the airport.

"The entire scope of the project, as recommended by the study, would include four lanes, attachment to the greenway system, linear open park space, bike lanes, new traffic light signals, medians with low maintenance landscaping, realigning the roadway, removing three of the six business access points and installing the same lighting as is in Springbrook Farm."

"But it is costly."

"City Manager Mark Johnson said in a briefing on Friday [June 24, 2022] that the extent of remodeling the roadway the city is able to do will be decided by how much grant money it receives."

According to the TN County Data Snapshot,

As of 6/18/2022:
447 Blount County residents have died from the coronavirus. That is 5 deaths in 34 days. Just over one (1) death a week. About the same number of deaths a week as the last report dated 5/14/2022 .

As of June 18, 2022, Blount County, TN, has reported
40,204 cases of the coronavirus. 801 cases in 34 days. More than double the number of cases per day reported in the previous report dated 5/14/2022 (214 cases in 21 days), which was double the number of cases from that previous report dated 4/23/2022 (110 cases in 21 days).

Vaccinations reported, last updated 6/25/2022:

% with 2 doses - 53.6% (up from 52.84% on 5/22/2022, up from 52.76% on 4/27/2022, up from 52.70% on 4/6/2022).

% with at least 1 dose - 58.0% (up from 57.82% on 5/22/2022, up from 57.69% on 4/27/2022, up from 57.61% on 4/6/2022).

% have received the booster dose - 25.0% (up from 23.48% on 5/22/2022, up from 23.33% on 4/27/2022, up from 23.19% on 4/6/2022).

*** 7-day average Positivity rate is 25.3% as of 6/18/2022. *** (TN County Data Snapshot).
An increase from the 14.7% rate on 5/14/2022, which was an increase over 7.3% rate on 4/23/2022 and the 4.9% rate on 4/2/2022.
Positivity rate preferred to be below 3%.

According to the TN County Data Snapshot,

As of 5/14/2022:
442 Blount County residents have died from the coronavirus. That is 4 deaths in 21 days. Just over three (3) deaths a week. Fewer weekly deaths than the last report.

As of May 14, 2022, Blount County, TN, has reported
39,403 cases of the coronavirus. 214 cases in 21 days/3 weeks. More than double the number of cases reported in the previous 3 weeks (110).

Vaccinations reported, last updated 5/22/2022:

% with 2 doses - 52.84% (up from 52.76% on 4/27/2022, up from 52.70% on 4/6/2022, up from 50.17% on 3/19/2022).

% with at least 1 dose - 57.82% (up from 57.69% on 4/27/2022, up from 57.61% on 4/6/2022, up from 54.87% on 3/19/2022).

% have received the booster dose - 23.48% (up from 23.33% on 4/27/2022, up from 23.19% on 4/6/2022, up from 21.98% on 3/19/2022)

*** 7-day average Positivity rate is 14.7% as of 5/14/2022. *** (TN County Data Snapshot).
An increase from the 7.3% rate on 4/23/2022 and the 4.9% rate on 4/2/2022.
Positivity rate preferred to be below 3%.

Since 2008 the City of Alcoa has been pushing and spending to develop a city center.

The city wants to use a 252 acre site that used to be the Alcoa Aluminum Company West Plant. However, it definitely would take some time to develop since the site is "Classified as a brownfield, the site has a limited number of known environmental constraints affecting development placement."

Fourteen years later and who knows how many millions of dollars the entire project is still in the development phase.

As a positive for the city, a Texas Roadhouse is being built on the site to replace a smaller Texas Roadhouse across the street. In addition, a Food City is being built to replace an existing Food City two miles down the road. And, then there is a new apartment complex in development to add to the tax coffers?

TDOT spent millions of dollars to build "better" access to the site, which is located just south of the Alcoa Highway/Hunt Road intersection.

"City Manager Mark Johnson said land preparation will be complete once Alcoa is returned a check for $2 million and approximately 30 acres within Springbrook."

In addition, as has been said over the 14 years, tax generation, tax generation, tax generation.

"Outlined in the original agreement [from 2016], Alcoa estimated investing $8 million that ACDP (Airport Center Development Partners, LLC) would pay back over time as it sold property to developers. However, ACDP has yet to pay the city back for the $6.5 million the city spent." ... "Alcoa paved Tesla Boulevard, installed street lights, provided utility access and fronted other development costs for which ACDP would reimburse the city."

So is that $8.5 million that the City of Alcoa has spent of taxpayer monies over the past 14 years that has not realized any return? I would almost bet that the city has spent more than that.

"ACDP signed over their monetary responsibility to another company — TN Alcoa Primary, LLC.Along with the debt owed to the city, TN Alcoa Primary acquired ACDP’s remaining land assets within Springbrook Farm."

Then there is a lawsuit filed by "Plaintiff NAI Knoxville, Inc" in December, 2021, "against ACDP and other interwoven LLCs for the anticipated agreement change that materialized April 22 in Alcoa’s commission chambers." The lawsuit apparently alleges that the defendants are trying to get out of paying approximately $900,000 in "sale commissions on Springbrook Farm land."

It appears the city claims that "Three apartment complexes, a townhome community and the Mills Street houses will add 1,072 tax-assessed properties to the city." Not all of these residences will be in Springbrook Farm. However, the city has yet to explain how the increase in citizens will be managed for the school system. The Alcoa Schools are already near capacity. Is any increase in taxes going to be offset by an increase in the cost for a bigger schools system?

"The City of Alcoa originated in 1918 as the first planned community in the State of Tennessee. A planned community is any community that was carefully planned from its inception. In the original plans, Alcoa, Inc., included one acre of park space for every 100 city inhabitants."

..."a 2-acre park to be named Centennial Park is planned for the middle of Springbrook Farms. "Johnson said each greenspace project will be completed as the city has room in the budget or receives grants."

That's 2 acres of park space for 1,092 residential units, not even city inhabitants. Whereas, to keep the City of Alcoa as desirable as it is now, there should be at a minimum 11 additional acres of park space.

We can only hope that some day this project will be a success and the City of Alcoa will continue to be an asset.