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!

(Link...)

“The beneficiary of this redevelopment is the community,” Coplean said. “We see it as a compliment to the new Pellissippi Research and Development Center.”

Sounds like Southern Loop reared its ugly head again last night. Here's the proposed route, for any newcomers on the scene: (Link...)

It seems to me that they've run a similar poll before: (Link...)

Make sure to take the time to log your vote.

I'm also hearing that the Chamber passed out some sort of questionnaire regarding the extension to their membership this week. Anyone have any details on that?

Boy, Commissioner/Planning Commissioner Scott Helton doesn't miss a trick when it comes to helping out the Mayor's biggest contributors: (Link...)

This is like a big ole Christmas present to people who already received ill-advised RAC status. Note the key words "AND existing commercial development." (Emphasis mine.) There's a big difference between clustering commercial only at key intersections on 411S and at existing ad-hoc industrial parks/metal dumps all along the "scenic" highway.

The Planning Commission seemed to reach a consensus on language suggested by the Hunter Interests Growth Study to recommend clustering of commercial sites on U.S. 411 by zoning at key intersections and existing areas of commercial development.

County Commissioner Scott Helton didn’t want the language to just include key intersections.

“I just didn’t want us to be handcuffed down there,” Helton said.

The proposal had generated discussion about what direction was wanted for the development of U.S. 411 South.

“We have a desire not to have a strip mall all the way down the road to the county line,” Planning Commissioner Rick Brownlie said.

Yes, Heaven forbid we should limit ourselves to the recommendations we paid so much for.

No truer words were ever spoken, than by Bob Kidd re: the win of Jerry Cunningham in the primary for Mayor: (Link...)

"Tonight was a vote for pro-growth," said Kidd, who did not seek re-election. "Put that in your paper."

This article really hit me the wrong way (Link...).

No matter what your position on the fluoridation of water is, I doubt you will agree that such an important decision should be made based purely on decree of the Mayor and professional fatigue:

“After the careful consideration of a request from the Blount County Mayor’s Office to reconsider fluoridating the county’s water system, SBCUD felt it was no longer in our best interest to exhaust the time and efforts of our executive staff in another public fight over such a divisive issue.

“We understand that our decision will be disappointing to many of our customers and for that we are very sorry. We regret that we are not able to meet the individual desires of each of customers on both sides of the issue.”

Lemme guess: the Mayor is the one who appoints members of the Utility Board and he made it clear he could replace folks who didn't go his way. Is there a copy of the "request from the Blount County Mayor's office"?

While undeniably controversial, the South Blount Utility Board's decision NOT to fluoridate was entirely defensible. There is plenty of evidence to the potential dangers. Not to mention that years of committee/community work had gone into making and evaluating the decision. Then all efforts were undone by a single megalomaniac who can't leave anything up to the people responsible for it?

Perhaps the Mayor never saw this video, from a state legislator who has such items as these on his curriculum vitae:

Fellow, American Academy of Family Physicians
Tennessee Academy of Family Physicians
American Medical Association
Tennessee Medical Association
Lewis County Medical Examiner
Lewis County Health Council

While the Mayor is out and about making decrees, perhaps he will also decree that all families in the South Blount Utility District receive the warning that baby formula should NOT be prepared with the new fluoridated water and that these families must now invest in bottled water or ready-to-eat formula? This is according to the American Dental Association: (Link...). Oh, and while they still promote fluoride in the water the CDC agrees with this assertion that infants are receiving too much and goes on to say that 33% of children in the U.S. have very mild to mild fluorosis and that they've recently discovered this effect is on the permanent teeth as well: (Link...)

It now appears that the amount of the fluoride contained in the water used for mixing infant formula may influence a child’s risk for developing enamel fluorosis, particularly if the child’s sole source of nutrition is from reconstituted infant formula.

Maybe I'm oversimplifying, but it seems to me it is far easier to provide annual fluoride treatments (and virtually all toothpastes on the market are fluoridated) to the underprivileged than it is to provide bottled water or ready-mix formula to the underprivileged.

When I was a kid, a hundred years ago, they actually gave out fluoride treatments to kids who qualified at school. Don't they still do that?

Our favorite bank hits the news again!

(Link...)

Better read it quickly before they retract it.

Change the name of the lawsuit in this story, and this could be just about any story to come out of this particular courtroom in recent time: (Link...)

Is there any way to determine what the average length of a court case is in this division of Blount County Courts compared to a similar division in a county of the same size? Anecdotally, it just seems like a quagmire in there.

It’s been a tough battle for Satterfield — with dismissals, appeals and reversals — that has dragged on in the legal system for more than four years.

I guess noone ever said Lady Justice was swift.

Sadly, in this case, the plaintiff actually died (in 2005) before the matter could be decided, and the judge dismissed the case after her death (not because she died, apparently). Fortunately for her father, carrying on the lawsuit in her name, there's an Appeals Court:

Blount County Circuit Court Judge W. Dale Young dismissed the suit in March 2006, but Satterfield’s attorneys immediately filed an appeal. In April 2007, the Tennessee Court of Appeals reversed Young’s decision, reinstated the lawsuit and charged ALCOA with the cost of the appeal.

Link...

In all the bruhaha about Harmony Properties, we Blount Countians have largely overlooked a threat at least as great to our signature Chilhowee Mountain view: Look Rock Estates.

Here's a real estate article (I noted it was paid for by the developers, Tom White and Joe Mathis) in the Knoxville News Sentinel from November 7th: (Link...)

What they are selling are "crest view" lots. Meaning, in a Wear's Valley-esque manner, they clear off the very top of the ridge of the mountain so the homeowner can have a full view looking off each direction. And we get a full view of the homeowner throughout the rest of the valley, and most likely, all the way to town. (Link...)

And what are they using to put some urgency in their marketing?

“There are no other residential developments in this area with lots this big that have views from both sides of the mountain,” says White. “We’ve been seeing a trend toward regulations limiting mountaintop development, so with private mountain land drying up, this could be the last chance to build on something like this.”

You think?

In other words, hurry up folks, and help us ruin the mountain before Blount County comes to its senses!

Photos of the place: (Link...)
Another sales article about the place - very reassuring that all lots can be additionally subdivided: (Link...)

Planning Commissioner Rick Brownlie, a really terrific guy and one of the bright spots on our planning commission, has initiated a very neat search utilizing the Daily Times: Link...

They want to base their study on one conducted recently from Sevier County (shudder): Link...

“To begin protecting these important resources, one must first identify specific publicly accessible places from which the views of these hillside and ridges are enjoyed. Such places normally include scenic highways, walking trails, scenic lookouts, parks, historic sites and buildings, and canoe and kayak routes.”

So, what views are important to you? Take a few moments and e-mail your thoughts to editor@thedailytimes.com or mail them to Scenic Views, The Daily Times, P.O. Box 9740, Maryville, TN 37803. The suggestions will be provided to the Planning Commission for informational purposes. A top 10 list of most suggested views will be also be published in The Daily Times.

I guess they include these instructions to save "Overlook at Montvale" the ole Ruby Tuesday treatment:

If you have strong feelings about any individual developments in Blount County, feel free to write a letter to the editor.

Just reading the words "Sevier County" in the context of "conservation" makes my blood pressure shoot up:

A guiding principle of the Sevier County study, which can be found online at Link..., was that hillside development should not be completely prohibited. One of the most important recommendations is the principle that all development should be secondary to the surroundings.

I support what they are trying to accomplish. Let's have our own "contest" in parallel. Who wants to start?

Mayor Cunningham is on a roll with the letters!

Look what just popped up at the Daily Times website, re: the Sister City program - (Link...)

Cunningham, who also sent the letter to two county commissioners, said, “I have little love lost of the Russian government in particular” because Russia supplied armaments and advisors to the Vietcong and North Vietnamese Army during the Vietnam war, which killed several of his buddies.

*Update: Lawsy day, the DT has now posted the full text of the letter! (Link...)

**Second Update: WVLT Reporter Steve McLamb reported on the Mayor's letter on the 5:30 p.m. news tonight. (Link...) They've also posted a photocopy of a "copy" of the original letter on county letterhead on their website at (Link...). Strangely, Cunningham told McLamb it was a private letter. Hmmmm. Private letter on county letterhead?

Lemongrass (across 321 from Target) is a real gem. It's a nice little white tablecloth place, so it is good for a date, but not too fancy a place to go with children if that's more the stage you're at. They serve "good" Thai food (it may not be the most authentic on the planet, but it IS good) and I enjoy their sushi. They don't have much turnover with their wait staff, so they remember each member of the family, inquire about the ones who are missing, and already know what you're going to order when you walk in there. The staff are very friendly and put everyone at ease.

I don't know if they will ever do it again, because they had an unbelievable crowd, but tonight was Wednesday $2 Sushi night at Lemongrass. They had 3 sushi chefs, so they ticked through the orders in an amazingly efficient fashion. Apparently, it is available for take-out as well.

If anything, I would love to see this restaurant double in size, with about quadruple the parking spaces available.

Now that I'm done grimacing over Mayor Cunningham's choice of words in describing bloggers, I thought I'd take a moment to acknowledge the Daily Times' amazingly extensive coverage of the attack on their journalistic ethics and on the cultural bias of their star reporter/business editor, Mr. Laney (is he Latino?), at the Support Rally for Judge Young. (Link...)

I've been reading the DT off and on for a very long time and would never have believed you if you told me yesterday they would cover that, considering the content was as much about them as it was the good Judge. Noone can claim that the DT did a half-ass job on reporting that little party. One wonders if Mayor Cunningham anticipated that they would tape his whole spiel and post it on the web? Humorously, this included the Mayor's description of the furniture burned for heat by one of the parties in the "ongoing litigation," which he said they never would do. So, noone can claim the reporter got anything wrong, left anything out, or spun it due to his cultural biases this time. I am sure the Mayor, Mr. Overbey, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Finney, and Sheriff Berrong are thrilled with the excellence in reporting.

Kudos to Mark Boxley.

P.S. I came across this blogger's remarks in support of the DT also. It seems he has some history in Blount County: (Link...) If you find more, or just feel like throwing some love over toward the DT today, feel free to post on this thread.

This came across my email this morning: The Blount County Planning Commission will hold a called meeting on November 27, 2007 at 5:30 P.M. in the Blount County Courthouse Room 430. The purpose of the meeting is: continue revision of the Policies Plan and other plans for the County.

Copies of the Policies Plan and other plans and various analyses may be viewed at Link... under the Plans section.

Note: If you wanted to provide input, Chairman Scully said last time that if they allowed it, they'd be there all night. So, they didn't allow public input. Unless they do tonight's meeting differently, you'll have to think up a different way of giving your thoughts toward this important planning process.

Tomorrow's 5:30 meeting of the Planning Commission includes in its agenda a section on Long Range Planning. Three really important items stand out:

Here are the links to the supporting documents, the first being the agenda:

a - agenda for November 20, 2007
b - memo on amendments to subdivision regulations public h…
c - memo on rezoning public hearing for 11-20-07
d - memo on plat reviews for 11-20-07 _minus attachments_
e - memo on long range agenda items for 11-20-07 _minus en…

Might be a good meeting to attend, if you are interested in better understanding the process of how regulations are created. (And if your turkey is thawed.)

The commission seating is in a semi-circle. The commission chair's section (where he sits with Roy Crawford) is in the middle and at a height head and shoulders above the rest. Presumably to allow him to see all the commissioners when they vote, although there is a handy-dandy computer system that shows when someone hits their little game-showesque button instead of raising their hand. I guess this chairman's structure obstructs a few of the commissioners to the immediate left and right of him from seeing each other. I'm sure this is inconvenient and it evidently use to encourage misbehavior from a few of the more juvenile commissioners that were on the audience's lefthand side during the last term.

However, I'm not sure it is worth it to me, Joe Q. Citizen, to pay $5,950 to cure the inconvenience caused by the original design. It was part of a courthouse redesign spearheaded by then-Chairman Steve Samples not all that long ago.

The county commission will vote on a measure to adopt design and lighting standards within the Zoning Regulations at their meeting tomorrow night at 7 p.m. You can find the proposed changes on the agenda here, starting on page 77: Link... I'll also paste them below.

What do you think of them? I'd especially like to hear the opinions of those of you who keep up with the Dark Skies Initiative and those of you who drive Hwy 411S. Are these regulations sufficient? Are they too much? Are they just right?

So often, development plays a negative part in our lives, in our news, and in our discussions. I would like to start a discussion of what good and desirable development can look like. I love a good "green" development, but there are many ways of judging that: green space preservation, placement within the community with respect to infrastructure, green or recycled material use, and well, you should feel free to name what you think of as "green." There probably isn't any one development that will be consistently green in every regard.

So, what do you like to see in a development?

Please name a development you particularly appreciate and tell us why.

I'll start. How about "Little Mountain"? A total of 100 acres was saved, mostly in one lump, as a natural common area. No bulldozing the whole forest down here. The lots tend to be a little smaller to accommodate the preserve. The original farmhouse was saved as a guesthouse for the community. The negative is the steepness of the slopes in some places and they get pretty close to the top of the ridge with the houses, which is overall not a great thing. But I love the catchy "100 acre woods" phrase; makes me think Winnie-the-Pooh everytime. I can't think of the developer's name, but he deserves some kudos.

Your turn.

The Daily Times reports Link... that 6 schools are now on the list of those that are "Intolerably Overcrowded." They began making this annual report several years back after a conversation with the Planning Commission about how planning for residential development should be coordinated with available infrastructure. At the time, the Planning Commission was willing to limit residential development in those school districts to minor subdivisions (those having under 5 houses per subdivision).

Of course, that went by the wayside shortly after last year's report came out and the Planning Commission disagreed with the school board's direction in solving the overcrowding problems. Link...

How do YOU think the Planning Commission should use the information from the schools? Should they just ignore it? Should they reinstitute the 4-lot limit in those districts until the school building program can catch up? If not that, then what should planning around school availability look like?

Couldn't make the reception Friday night to support Wendy Pitts Reeves? Here's another chance. The next Ethics Committee Meeting is tonight. Here's the full agenda, printed below and a link to make things easier to forward: Link... See "New Business" to find reference to Reeves, Proffitt, and Lewis.

AGENDA
Ethics Committee
Monday, October 29, 2007, 6:00 p.m.
Room 315, Blount County Courthouse
Members: Betsy Cunningham; Brenda Flowers; Ron French; Joe McCulley; and Wendy Pitts Reeves - Chair.

1. Call To Order.
2. Roll Call.
3. Approval of Minutes of October 2, 2007.
4. Public input on items on the agenda.
5. Old business:
a) Discussion/Possible Action Regarding the Ethics Policies and Procedures and the Committee.
i.) Report from Betsy Cunningham on theMake Up of the Committee.
ii.) Review of Changes in the Ethics Policy and Procedures.
iii.) Report from Betsy Cunningham regarding Open Records and Confidentiality.
b) Discussion and update Regarding Conflict of Interest Statement Form.
c) Discussion/Possible Action Regarding Procedures for Filing Complaints.
i.) Review of form letters for complainants and defendants.
ii.) Review of changes on the Ethics Violation Complaint Form.
d.) Discussion/Possible Action Regarding Employee Communication and Training Concerning Ethics
Policy.
6. New Business:
a) Discussion/Possible Action Regarding CTAS Opinion Concerning Health Care Providers
Concerning Commissioner Proffitt and Commissioner Wendy Pitts Reeves.
b) Discussion/Possible Action Regarding Attorney General Opinion Concerning Commissioner Mike
Lewis.
c) Other.
7. Next Meeting.
8. Public input on items not on the agenda.
9. Adjournment.

I'm forwarding this on; I know you all love coffee and a good cause!

The next 24 hours is crucial to the local initiative "World's Biggest Blog Party.": Connecting the Globe for Good. Over the previous weeks we've compiled a long list of charities, sponsors, and bloggers who are going to raise awareness and raise money for some great causes. Some of these are local, like in the instance of Feed Your Faith and the Blount Habitat for Humanity. A good many others are national and international.

It kicked off tonight (Friday night) with some belly dancing, entertainment, food, and interviews at Capital Coffee.

BlogTalkRadio.com is graciously hosting our shows, which will be archived at blogtalkradio.com/wbbp. We are in the process of compiling an interview schedule that highlights our charities and the wonderful people behind them.

We'd like to invite everyone to come on by the Captital Coffee House in downtown Maryville tomorrow.

How you can help:

COME ON BY!!! Hang out with us, blog with us, bring your laptop, camp out, keep us company, bring munchies, etc.

Donate to a charity.

Blog about it!

Like I said, this is 24 HOURS. You can sign up for a time slot on wbbp.spruz.com ...click on "calendar". Or, just come on and hang out (laptop preferred...or else someone will loan you access...whatever..just come!). Drop by, don't feel like you have to stay long.

We visted Hana some time ago and I'm just getting around to posting it. We were very pleased at our "find".

The sushi was terrific, as were the other dishes we ordered. They were attractive and generous portions. Very cleverly put together. Nice drink selections, too.

It is among the 3 or 4 smaller restaurant buildings across the street from the library. I don't know anything about the management, but thought they must have gotten a professional decorator. It is done in minimalist, modern, Asian style that matched the building perfectly. I would never have dreamed that a restaurant there could be so nice.

Very nice "date restaurant." You'll enjoy it even if you don't like sushi.

I really really hate what they are doing to SCENIC Highway 411S. Look at all these requests slated to be heard tomorrow night (and is a new trick being tried in subdividing to get more commercial property? See request #2). I'm telling ya, a trip to the Planning Commission is like winning the real estate lottery if you get your way:

A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE ZONING MAP OF BLOUNT COUNTY,
TENNESSEE, from Suburbanizing to Rural Arterial Commercial at 4004 Hwy
411 South, tax map 90 part of parcel 87.01. The request is for the first 250
feet of the property starting from the Highway right of way.

A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE ZONING MAP OF BLOUNT COUNTY,
TENNESSEE, from Rural District 1 to Rural Arterial Commercial for
property located at 5005 Hwy 411 South, tax map 100 part of parcel 22.01.
The request is for a 1.56 acre lot divided from the original 9.6 acre tract.

A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE ZONING MAP OF BLOUNT COUNTY,
TENNESSEE, from Rural District 1 to Rural Arterial Commercial at 106
Pearle Drive, tax map 89L- group A- parcel 24.

A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE ZONING MAP OF BLOUNT COUNTY,
TENNESSEE, from Rural District 1 to Rural Arterial Commercial at 6102
Hwy 411 South, tax map 110 parcel 1.

A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE ZONING MAP OF BLOUNT COUNTY,
TENNESSEE, from Rural District 1 to Rural Arterial Commercial at 5037
Hwy 411 South, tax map 100 parcel 22.

*UPDATE*: All of the above rezonings, including the one apparently built out-of-zone under pretense of being a house, were granted approval by our County Commission on 10/18/07. No concern about setting a precedent (unless that's what they intended to do) or establishing a greater plan; or even implementing the plan we already bought and paid for: The Hunter Strategy for Growth in Blount County.

Here's the link: (Link...)

If I were John Loope, I would find the report of the Louisville City Atty/Ethics officer very unsatisfactory. Here's the full text:(Link...) Page 8 of the pdf (numbered page 6 in the document) says basically that all the allegations were dismissed as untrue in the report just because the accuser didn't provide all the evidence. Could it be possible that accuser expected the person tasked with investigating the complaint to uncover and examine the evidence? I mean, when I think of an "investigator," I envision someone in a trenchcoat who can get to the bottom of a matter. Not some attorney who says he took it upon himself to write a report and then declares the conclusion at the beginning. The attorney further says something like: "That [meaning that the accuser didn't provide all the evidence], in and of itself, should end the investigation and result in a finding of no ethical violations. However, since the investigation has the further function of allowing the accused persons to have their say and exonerate their names if there are no facts, I am continuing with the investigation."

So he says right at the beginning of the report that the only purpose of the report is to give the accused their say and that the conclusion has already been made based on lack of evidence PROVIDED BY THE ACCUSER. Not that I'm saying the lack of evidence provided automatically means the accused are guilty, either. But if I were going to be exonnerated in something, I'd hope it was a more ringing endorsement than this.

I'm glad the police investigators don't operate that way.

AGENDA-BLOUNT COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

September 13, 2007 meeting, 6pm at the Blount County
Courthouse in room 433.
Roll Call and Approval of Minutes:
Appeals:
1. None.
Special Exception:
1. Charlene Teffeteller’s special exception request for a multifamily development on Wildwood Road across from Mackenzie Place. Tax map 37, parcel 46.01
Variance:
1. David Creasman’s request for a 10 feet front setback variance for his property at 6519 Old Walland HWY. Tax map 83, parcel 30.08.

According to the Hunter Growth Strategy, Blount County's Zoning Regulations are "neither fish nor fowl, but a recipe for Urban Sprawl."

Hunter (whom we paid a boat load of money to come up with a "smart growth" plan for Blount County) recommended AGAINST commercializing along our highway corridors, yet you see more and more Rezoning Public Hearings for rezoning to Rural Arterial Commercial Zoning (RAC). Mind you, the RAC is greatly improved from its original form, but still: do we want Scenic Highway 411S to be commercialized beyond the Urban Growth Boundary with the city and straight to the county line? I have seen numerous quotes all over the place where officials state that it is a foregone conclusion.

Is this the welcome we wish to extend the tourists we sincerely hope we draw into our community? Did we learn nothing from the development of "Al- killya Highway"? Currently, the plan is to by-pass Alcoa Highway. Are we planning ahead to by-pass 411S by extending crappy metal building commercial down both sides of it??

And lo and behold, on next Tuesday's Intergovernmental Agenda, I see discussion and possible action to set up another hearing to AGAIN consider rezoning that place with the metal building that the owner built on the apparent pretense of using it as a private dwelling (4004 Hwy 411S, corner of Hitson and 411S). The fact that it had no windows was a major tip-off, of course. Even the TN Property Assessor's Databas calls it a "warehouse." The DT picked it up in this article back in May: (Link...) and here was the outcome; apparently the Planning Commission didn't care that it was an end-run around the law and they voted in favor of it: (Link...)

It was defeated 10-7 at the Commission Meeting (Link...), although the following Commissioners voted for it: Commissioners Farmer, Hargis, Harrison, Hasty, Helton, Lail, McCulley, Melton, Ramsey and Samples.

Roger Fields was quoted in that article as saying the property could not come up for another vote for 2 more years. Yet, here it is again. What's up with that? It is obvious that some in this administration never saw a commercialization on 411S that they didn't like.

Each September a new Chairman is picked. Or re-picked. Dr. Ramsey has been the chair for the last 5 years, if memory serves. Before that, Steve Samples was the Commission Chair for a really long time.

Given that there seems to be some consensus on this site that things aren't going quite as we would like them to in Blount County gov't, how important do you think this position is? Should we keep our fingers crossed that Bob Ramsey gets the job again, or are there others who could somehow influence some positive change?

Who would you ask YOUR commissioners to vote for for Commission Chair?

To refresh you on the options, here is a link to the commission: (Link...).

Note: This vote will take place at the September 20th meeting.

Checking out the committee agendas usually gives you a pretty good idea of the sorts of things that are going to be coming up in the main monthly commission meeting. Here are the links to both of those:

* Intergovernmental Committee Agenda for September 11, 07 (Link...)
* Public Services Committee Agenda for September 11, 07 (Link...)

The Commissioners tend to discuss things more openly in this setting as these meetings are not as formal. If you are looking to become more proactively involved in our local political process, a good way to start is to plan to attend these 2 evenings of meetings with the commission and then the planning commission meeting each month.

The agenda for the main commission meeting (third Thursday of the month) is usually not available until the Thursday or Friday prior to the meeting, but is always worth looking over. Hey, the commission's business is your business.

We have heard a lot about ties between Commissioner Lewis, the Sheriff, and American Fidelity/Green Bank. In fact, if you follow local news and issues, American Fidelity comes up quite a lot (remember the Sports Complex?). So I got a chuckle when the spouse brought me a little fold-over envelope from the County Clerk's office after buying tags for a car. It seems to be what the receipt comes in, because it is only 4x2. One side of the envelope has the Realty III Logo, phone number, address, and website (I think this is owned by Darrell Tipton, occasional candidate for various offices and recently added to the Public Building Authority by County Mayor Jerry Cunningham). The other side says "Compliments of American Fidelity Bank" and has the logo and phone number. On the inside, it says "Roy Crawford Jr., Blount County Clerk, yada yada yada."

Given all the money that the county keeps in American Fidelity Bank, I'm hoping these little gems were free to the county! Pretty good advertising; but how much is too much when it comes to the county gov't advancing the interests of business? Would other banks and realty companies have liked for every vehicle owner in the county to have been exposed to *their* names and logos? (Or maybe this is a cyclical thing and companies take turns?)

What are your thoughts?

According to an article in the Daily Times (Link...) by Rick Laney on Wednesday, 8/29, our local housing market was in a "free fall". But by Friday, there was some sort of weird cross between an advertisement and editorial right there on page 3 painting quite a different picture. It wasn't marked as an ad, but didn't look like the usual news article either. Very confusing. Did anyone else notice it?

With plunging real estate prices and sales being the top of the news nationally, you would expect Blount County's market to follow the trend at least somewhat.

So which is it? And what's up with the DT?? Can't make up their minds? Or maybe too much pressure from the local powerbase: realtors and developers. I guess realtors DO place a lot of ads in the course of business. I'd like to think the paper would print the facts, though, and that those facts wouldn't change with the winds of outside pressure.