Daily Times pushing for the Extension of the Pellissippi Parkway?

Sun

Feb 3 2008

09:26:pm

By: local_yokel shortURL

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?

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I am shocked. Shocked, I

Submitted by yellowdog on Sun, 02/03/2008 - 23:31.

I am shocked. Shocked, I say! The Daily Times (at least Dean Stone) has been for it forever and so is the Chamber. The Chamber has been urging members to send in proPPE letters to TDOT for many years, Neither the Times nor the Chamber ever has offered any data in support of their contention that the PPE will be good for Blount County but then again if you think that what is good for developers, Pavers, and realtors is good for Blount County, then you do not need actual data.

The Real Shocker....

Submitted by commissionerwalker on Tue, 02/05/2008 - 11:38.

The real shocker is that 163 people responded to this particular poll question, let's see, someone who is better at math do the calculation. What percentage of the total population (115,000) is this? (I realize there are more interested in both sides of this issue)

Or better yet, what percentage of the registered vehicles in Blount (approx. 77,000) is this?(Of course this is assuming that the ones who were polled drive)

What I find interesting is that individuals are asked to provide data to support their reasoning for being for or against PPE and also how it is good for Blount County.

What I also find interesting is that, if an alternative is found and chosen, the question has to be asked will it satisfy everyone? Probably not.... Even if nothing is done it's not going to satisfy everyone....

Sorry just had to ponder out loud..

Mike

A doctor will always tell you to get a second opinion

Submitted by Dumping Ground on Tue, 02/05/2008 - 11:59.

What percentage of the total population (115,000) is this?

.14%

No doubt, apathy reigns in Blount County.

That looks like the point of this post. If the only local media outlet is (and has been) so solidly behind this, how could we expect the population to have an informed opinion?

I'm sure most folks don't know the reason it was blocked in the first place was because Sundquist did an end around on the environmental impact study. By not following procedure, he gave opposition grounds for a suit. Why was that study not done when it was supposed to be - and what does it say now?

Further skewing the sample population

Submitted by local_yokel on Tue, 02/05/2008 - 14:30.

Remember that only the readers of the Daily Times would have completed that poll. So you are looking at percentage of their readers vs. a percentage of the population at large.

The Environmental Impact

Submitted by yellowdog on Tue, 02/05/2008 - 14:55.

The Environmental Impact Statement that was not done when it was supposed to be done is now being done and the public meetings are part of the process of doing the EIS. So it does not at this point exist or say anything.

As to why the Sundquist crowd did not do an EIS initially, I would nominate arrogance and the belief that none of the good residents of BC would have enough sense to notice or resources to do anything about it. After all, no one ever had succeeded in stopping a TDOT project before. It is useful for there to be judges who are not beholden to the dominant "powers that be." Like Mike Meares.

Forgive my ignorance....

Submitted by commissionerwalker on Tue, 02/05/2008 - 16:39.

But didn't Judge Meares also serve as a officer of a political party?

Sorry, just gotta stir...

Is he currently? Link...

Submitted by Dumping Ground on Tue, 02/05/2008 - 17:01.

Is he currently? (link...)

Wait, my bad the "assistant", "vice" or "deputy" mayor isn't an elected position - just anointed.

Question for Mike Walker

Submitted by local_yokel on Tue, 02/05/2008 - 17:17.

Mike, can you tell us how the position that David Duggan now fills was created? How did there come to be an opening? I know it was in 2004 and that Bob Kidd nominated Duggan to fill it. Is the particular court he now serves as judge always appointed versus elected by the people?

Question for Mike....

Submitted by commissionerwalker on Tue, 02/05/2008 - 22:07.

The judge position that David Duggan was appointed to was a new judge ship that was approved by Legislature in, I believe, Feb. 2004. In this case being mid term, the county commission made the appointment. The answer to the second portion is, No, there are not full time appointed judge position in Blount County.

approved by

Submitted by Fairview Angel on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 15:38.

approved by Legislature

Would that be local, state or federal? If state or federal, did they mandate an immediate filling of the position or was this a decision of the CC?

What was the reason given for creating a new position in the middle of a term, instead of waiting till election time?

approved by....

Submitted by commissionerwalker on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 16:44.

State...the position was approved in (Feb) then it was included in the State budget, after the State budget was approved it was included in the County budget to be approved in July and then acted on by the commission. (I think this timeline is right, my memory isn't what it used be)

It was Oct 2004 effective Jan 1, 2005

Submitted by mello on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 16:33.

Actually, it was a very interesting appointment. Instead of the nomination coming from the IG committee it came from the floor via Kidd. Looks like a SUPRISE! This is who we want! nomination rather than one which considered a group of possible candidates, eh?

Inter Gov Committee minutes, Oct 11, 2004

IN RE: ELECTION OF FOURTH GENERAL SESSIONS JUDGE.
Keith Brock made a motion that the item be placed on the agenda of the County Commission and that a General Sessions Judge appear before the Commission. Kenneth Melton seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken with Chairman Evans declaring the motion to have passed.

From the Nov 2004 Full CC package- minutes of the Oct 21, 2004 CC meeting.

IN RE: APPOINTMENT OF JUDGE OF THE GENERAL SESSIONS COURT OF BLOUNT COUNTY, SECTION NO.4, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2005.
Commissioner Kidd nominated David Duggan. Commissioner Neubert seconded the nomination.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion:
Farmer – aye Kirkland – aye Tallent - aye
Brock – aye Graham – aye McCall – aye Townsend – aye
Cardin – aye Gray – aye Melton – aye Walker – aye
Dowdy – aye Hargis – aye Neubert – aye
Evans – aye Keeble – aye Ramsey – aye
Everett – aye Kidd – aye Slater – absent
There were 19 voting aye, and 1 absent. Chairman Ramsey declared the motion to have passed.

"If the Party could thrust its hand into the past and say this or that even, it never happened—that, surely, was more terrifying than mere torture and death."
- George Orwell, 1984

appointment process.....

Submitted by commissionerwalker on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 16:49.

The appointment process for a vacancy of office is handled differently than a empty position on a board or committee. A vacant office allows nominations from the floor (audience) where it relates to a vacancy of office. I believe that when the new position was created it dictated how that vacant position was to be filled. IF I remember correctly that was why the IG committee simply moved to put it on the full commission agenda to be filled. Then nominations were taken on the floor of the full commission to accomodate the requirement above.

Sounds like a sweet deal

Submitted by local_yokel on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 16:56.

If Duggan wins against Meares, he gets Meares' job - plus the Commission gets to elevate another Republic to a judgeship. Getting 2 birds with 1 Republican stone.

If Duggan doesn't win, he gets to keep his commission-appointed job. So there's no risk to him.

nomination

Submitted by mello on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 16:59.

One single nomination, not the nomination of several people for consideration. That means that before that Commission meeting someone had to talk to Duggan about whether or not he even wanted the job then someone had to disburse that info to the commission. Interesting.

Sounds eerily like...

Submitted by local_yokel on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 17:03.

...some Knoxville appointments, doesn't it?

Interest....

Submitted by commissionerwalker on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 17:33.

Mello,

When you are interested in something, what do you do?

Do you call or contact someone who would/may be in the position to know?

Do you assume that someone will just show up and give you a answer without asking?

Do you talk to your family, friends and/or co workers about your interest?

The bottom line is every practicing attorney in Blount County knew about the new position, when it was created. Each had the same opportunity to contact the commissioners, the newspaper, their family, friends and co-workers and say....you know, I'd would be interested in that position. But for whatever reason, evidentally didn't.

Just a couple of side notes....

Was I called when this position was created by any commissioner, no.
Did I call any commissioner, no.
Did I ask attorney's who I knew would make a good judge, yes.

If I had a magic wand I

Submitted by mello on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 19:05.

If I had a magic wand I would put all this talk of Judicial appointments on a new thread but I don't so I will just say sorry for the derailment and continue on.

A vacant office allows nominations from the floor (audience) where it relates to a vacancy of office. I believe that when the new position was created it dictated how that vacant position was to be filled.

By asking family and friends to lobby for you? ACK. Come on Mike, show us some rules. We love to read rules. The whole thing now sounds like Duggan and only Duggan even 'applied' for such a job and the job application appears to have zero public vetting process. Of course, again, you could make this clear if you would kindly show us those thar rules.

Them thar' rulz..(grandmatically kowrecked)

Submitted by commissionerwalker on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 19:29.

As for the new thread, I be happy to change to a new one and link back if you would like.

Search TCA on filling of a vacancy...
Also 2005 leglislative record for creation of judges position for Blount County...

TCA will house the rules...Legislative record will have the TCA that applies to that specific legislative action.

As for the comment "By asking family and friends to lobby for you?"...If they wouldn't lobby for me, I sure wouldn't seek it.

Mike

haha

Submitted by mello on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 20:29.

Ok then. TCA says it is 15-16-210 which simply refers one to 5-1-104 County Officers-Filling vacancies.

Well...

Submitted by local_yokel on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 20:31.

...didn't they just invent the job, or was there a vacancy in an existing court?

new court created

Submitted by mello on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 22:41.

new court created

Yes he did but my point is

Submitted by yellowdog on Tue, 02/05/2008 - 17:21.

Yes he did but my point is that it is contrary to any kind of balance of powers (or functioning democracy or even to the likelihood of real justice) for all the judges and the executive branch and the legislative branch to be dominated by the same political party/machine. The judge who stopped the PPE was not beholden to the Party of Sundquist/Bush, as he is an appointee of The Other Party.

The Heritage High School Meeting

Submitted by BeyondLeft on Sun, 02/03/2008 - 23:47.

When and where is this PPE meeting? I think it was Heritage High School, but I forgot the Date & Time.

viva Evo Morales

Meeting

Submitted by commissionerwalker on Mon, 02/04/2008 - 10:30.

Tuesday, February 19,2008
5:00 to 7:00 pm
Heritage High School

When and where is this PPE

Submitted by bizgrrl on Mon, 02/04/2008 - 07:06.

When and where is this PPE meeting? I think it was Heritage High School, but I forgot the Date & Time.

Check out the Events here, upper right. The PPE meeting is listed.

Darn. Missed the poll. I, too, cannot believe there are that many people for the PP extension.

I Voted

Submitted by johnnyo on Mon, 02/04/2008 - 09:25.

Do not be shocked that there are folks like me out there who do want to see the Pellissippi Parkway completed.

So johnnyo, what exactly do

Submitted by yellowdog on Tue, 02/05/2008 - 00:21.

So johnnyo, what exactly do you think the PPE is going to do that is good for Blount County?

See Yellowdog, this isn't a

Submitted by johnnyo on Tue, 02/05/2008 - 09:20.

See Yellowdog, this isn't a pick on johnnyo session just because i'm strongly in favor of the completion of PP. I am not alone there are many others in favor just the same as I am. Many on here, just perhaps won't admit it in fear of being picked on.

Johnnyo I am not picking on

Submitted by yellowdog on Tue, 02/05/2008 - 11:21.

Johnnyo I am not picking on you. I asked a non-loaded straightforward question: what exactly do you think the PPE will do that is good for Blount County?

Many of us for seven years have been asking PPE proponents for actual data in support of nonspecific "we need it" or "it will help traffic" kinds of statements. Nobody ever offers any kind of specific evidence or data. I do not see how asking for supporting data is "picking on" you.

PPC

Submitted by johnnyo on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 16:56.

One thing the Completed PP will do is save us some travel time. Heck who knows maybe even open up a bank or two along the way for the farmers to cash those tdot checks. From what I've observed around town is that most of the economic development is on or around 411 South. Not on PP. Look how long PP has been open thus far. Not much development. I really don't see it happening in the handful of miles it's going to take to complete it either. It may be a mere inconvenience to have to move the chicken coops though.

people for the PP extension

Submitted by BeyondLeft on Tue, 02/05/2008 - 02:02.

"I, too, cannot believe there are that many people for the PP extension."

These are the same people that go shopping for Cars, look at something Fuel Efficient, turn their noses up, and claim to want something safer?!?!?!? The same people who just know, in the backs of their minds, that Gasoline will get really cheap again, so they'll be able to cruise the highways, no care in the world, wind blowing thru their hair. The same people that believe more roads will make existing ones safer. Believe that Industries and Commerce will come in droves to the new road--employing their offspring; yet seem shocked when there's only Exxon-Mobil stations popping up, offering minimum wage jobs, feeding their profits to the Houston Cartel.

It is mindless to think that people will drive more, as fuel prices rise, and need more roads. Mindless, thoughtless, and delusional. These deals were planned long ago, and the powers that be, when faced with logical progression, would rather Fight than Switch.

viva Evo Morales

Inter Gov Committee minutes,

Submitted by Fairview Angel on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 19:00.

Inter Gov Committee minutes, Oct 11, 2004

IN RE: ELECTION OF FOURTH GENERAL SESSIONS JUDGE.
Keith Brock made a motion that the item be placed on the agenda of the County Commission and that a General Sessions Judge appear before the Commission. Kenneth Melton seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken with Chairman Evans declaring the motion to have passed.

It seems Brock and Melton had a judge in mind at least by the first part of October. Was there just not enough time to get him on the November ballot?

Copy and Paste

Submitted by BeyondLeft on Thu, 02/07/2008 - 10:22.

http://www.house.gov/duncan/

Dear Representative Duncan:

The Tennessee Department of Transportation is meeting at Heritage High School from 5:00-7:00pm on Tuesday, February 19th; in order to defend their decision on "extending the Pellissippi Parkway." Can you attend? As you know, when the Exxon War is finally over (in the former Nation of Iraq), the price of Gasoline will sky-rocket. People will be forced to drive less. Instead of spending on more Asphalt, why don't we spend on some Light Rail Transit for the County? The existing Railroad parallel Alcoa Hwy could be shared with CSX, and would allow Public Transportation for folks who won't be able to afford to get to work. Locomotives can be powered by many domestic forms of energy. Adding more asphalt will only add to our already sickened local environment as well. Knoxville is Number 4 on the list of worst U.S. cities for asthma sufferers to live, number 9 of the Metropolitan Areas with the Worst Ozone Air Pollution, and number 12 of the Metropolitan Areas Most Polluted by Year-Round Particle Pollution.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,
http://www.blountviews.com/

viva Evo Morales