Sun
Feb 17 2008
11:24:am
Faith in county government shaken?
By: Andy  shortURL

If I had any faith in county government, it would definitely have been shaken by this article:

A life left in ashes: Woman loses home, faith in government after fire

The county burned this woman's house and business down (an approximately $230K value)and will only reimburse her $100K. How is this protective of her constitutional right to seek full remedy? Can the government really come in, burn you out, and then reimburse you only a small percentage of your loss?

In January, Ridings was notified that due to the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act, which caps property damage claims at $100,000, she would only receive $100,000 from the county for her home.

Nevermind that she had received two earlier offers of more than $100K. But:

Stallions (who heads up the county Risk Management Dept.) also said he was advised by attorneys not to discuss the two prior offers made to Ridings that exceeded the $100,000 cap.

Alrighty, then. Just so long as we don't talk about it.

Until recently, Ridings did not have an attorney, but she has now retained Costner & Greene of Maryville.

You go, girl. A brief Google session revealed that a number of other states have ruled that these caps are unconstitutional.

Topics:

I wonder how much liability

Submitted by R. Neal on Sun, 02/17/2008 - 12:12.

I wonder how much liability insurance the county carries? If there isn't a cap of $100K per claim it would seem like we are either wasting money or Ms. Ridings has a case.

(The article says state law sets the cap unless the county waives it in their insurance contract which Blount Co. has not done.)

Is she related to Lowell Ridings who ran as a D for County Commission in the 2nd district?

The other lesson is you should probably have insurance on your property even if it's all paid off.

Lincoln's Gettysburg

Submitted by Fairview Angel on Sun, 02/17/2008 - 20:01.

...and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

I'm tired of being embarrassed by the things our government does in our name. While our ideals haven't perished, it's time to take them off life support.

The new dump site

Submitted by mello on Sun, 02/17/2008 - 20:56.

(link...) page 42 has a rather hastily concocted county resolution naming a new dump site for county brush. Very interesting indeed.

New dump site

Submitted by Andy on Sun, 02/17/2008 - 22:35.

Looks to be either the same property that Bob's Gas is on or right next to it, up there in or near Walland. Wonder if that's a zoning matter?

"I think it would be a good idea."
-Mahatma Gandhi, when asked what he thought of Western civilization

Dump of convenience?

Submitted by BC fan on Mon, 02/18/2008 - 11:58.

Is there any reason the Highway Department can't take their refuse to the same place we all do? We're really going to create another dump (disposal site) just for their convenience?

For those of us who try to dispose of things the right way, it sometimes means we have to wait for the one of four times a year, then 45 minutes in line, just to throw away a can of paint.

I would really like to hear the justification for this. The way it uses well defined terms like "from time to time" and "and the like" in reference to frequency and types of refuse, makes you think the mayor wrote it. But, it's not on county letterhead, so who knows? Is there a version with names on it?

Fundraiser for Mrs. Ridings

Submitted by Andy on Wed, 03/12/2008 - 10:21.

Very nice to hear such positive news from the community, and from a candidate: (link...)

"I think it would be a good idea."
-Mahatma Gandhi, when asked what he thought of Western civilization

Better to flood out than burn away....

Submitted by mello on Thu, 04/17/2008 - 21:19.

Bonus finding... 'tis better to be flooded out by the city of Maryville than to be burned to the ground by Blount County! DT Flashback 2006

(link...)

The city of Maryville is buying a house damaged by flooding from a culvert in the Cross Creek subdivision.

The Maryville City Council approved Tuesday a settlement and purchase of the house for $350,000.

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