December 12, 2016 www.knoxfocus.com Now offering onlinePAGE A1 auction services Fountain City Auction for all of your auction needs (865)604-3468 fountaincityauction.com FREE Take One! December 12, 2016 Knox Whiskey Works hits a brick wall on request for larger sign By Mike Steely resistance due to the city’s sign would help attract Old Vice Mayor Duane Grieve whiskey barrels next to the MPC can come back with [email protected] new sign ordinances. City clients. said the larger painting smaller sign would be per- research on developing an Downtown businesses Easter, owner of Robin “The goal is to make it “almost borders on a bill- mitted and was told that it “Entertainment District” have historically used large Easter Design, has her feel more like a design board” and noted the two would not be permitted. which could take a year or painted signs on the sides business on Jackson rather than an advertise- years of preparation of the Councilman Nick Pavlis so. She opted for an up or of the buildings to adver- Avenue and came before ment,” she said. new sign ordinance and said that as the planning down vote and said that tise their buildings. In the the City Council Tuesday The BZA has approved a didn’t want to make an commission staff looks when and if such a district past few weeks The Focus evening on an appeal of a smaller wall sign but Coun- exception. When Easter into the creation of enter- is created the larger sign has been featuring some Board of Zoning Appeals cilman Marshall Stair noted mentioned the existing wall tainment districts within could be painted. of those signs, some faded denial. She told the city that the Downtown Review paintings in Old City and the city it should also look The council voted to deny and some restored. Knox council that the proposed Board recommended the Jackson Avenue, Grieve at sign ordinance excep- the appeal and Easter left Whiskey Works on Jackson 204-square foot sign was a large sign. The Review said those were “grandfa- tions with such areas. with permission to paint Avenue and Robin Easter “better fit” among the his- Board is apparently look- thered in” under the new After a discussion of the the smaller sign on the wanted to emulate those toric wall signs there and ing at making recommen- ordinance. request Easter was given side of the building facing large wall paintings but that being just up Jackson dations to the city on sig- Councilman Nick Della an option of having the Broadway. ran head-on into a wall of Avenue from Broadway the nage. Volpe asked if adding request tabled until the Cont. on page 2 School leaders brief Board of Education displeased with community at rezoning forum teacher evaluation system By Pete Gawda Policy changes and teacher evalua- tions dominated Wednesday’s regular meeting of the Knox County Board of Education. Board member Jennifer Owen contin- ued in her quest to restore authority to the board that she claimed has been taken by the former superintendent. She advocated three board policies that she claimed would restore to the board authority that it had in 2008 One of Owen’s proposed policies would allow other board members to sit in on executive committee meetings but not take part in the meetings. “It allows us to observe what the executive committee is doing.” Owen said. Gloria Deathridge feared the policy change might cause problems because of gray areas. “I think this is just a transparen- cy issue,” was the opinion of board member Tony Norman. After some discussion the first read- ing of this policy change passed 7 to 1 PHOTO BY LISA STARBUCK. with Deathridge voting “no.” Knox County Schools Interim Superintendent Buzz Thomas and Chief Operating Officer Russ Oaks held a public meeting last Tues- The board then took up Owen’s day at Gibbs Elementary School to get feedback on potential zoning changes. second proposed policy change which would require board members By Ken Lay to approve any changes in the lines a plan and present it to the community of authority made by the superinten- Knox County Schools hosted a rezoning before the board makes a final decision,” dent. meeting Tuesday night at Gibbs Elemen- Knox County Schools controller Russ Oaks “We’re happy Board member Terry Hill questioned if tary School to discuss the impact of two said. the superintendent needed the board’s new middle schools. People in the Gibbs Community are that a middle permission to make changes in lines of Gibbs Middle School and Hardin Valley ready to welcome the new middle school. authority. She seemed to feel that all Middle are scheduled to open in 2018 and “We’re happy that a middle school is school is that was necessary was for the super- last week’s meeting was held to get com- coming to Gibbs,” said James Spears, a intendent to keep the board informed munity input on possible zoning changes. 1991 Gibbs High School graduate. “I was coming to of his actions. It was the second of six scheduled meet- one of those who came here when Gibbs James Spears “Does the employer manage the ings. had a middle school wing. After I gradu- Gibbs.” superintendent or does the superin- “We do not have a plan in place yet,” ated, they took the middle school wing tendent manage the employer?” was said Knox County Schools interim super- away and I feel like we are trying to heal Owen’s reply. intendent Buzz Thomas. “We’re trying to wounds that are 25 years old. My wife needs. And we will give our best effort to Interim Superintendent Buzz Thomas build the best school system in the south and I and I have six kids. I will have kids in keep our communities together.” spoke against the proposed policy and we can’t be the best school system school until 2031 and I am glad they will “I appreciate you coming here tonight to change. He noted that there are 8,000 in the south if we don’t manage growth be able to go to middle school in their own participate in this discussion with civility. employees in Knox County Schools. “To effectively.” Community.” We all love our kids and I think we sent the notify the board and get approval would “We will draft a proposal in February Other concerns expressed at the meet- right message to our kids tonight.” be difficult, if not impossible.” after all of the community meetings and ing included maintaining and enhancing all Future meetings will be held at South- After some discussion the board we want to have something to take to community schools as well as easing diffi- Doyle Middle on January 10, Hardin Valley voted 6 to 2 to delay action for 30 days the board of education in May.” Thomas culties of students with special needs. Elementary January 17, Holston Middle on in order to clarify language in the pro- said. “What I hear loudly and clearly is that January 24 and the final meeting will be posed policy changes. Board members A second round of rezoning meetings you want to have community schools and at Vine Middle School on January 31. All Owen and Norman voted against the will be held in the spring after the board that you want to make things easier for stu- meetings will begin at 6 p.m. The public delay. reviews the preliminary plan and before it dents with special needs,” Thomas said. is encouraged to attend and the school The next policy change proposed votes on any changes. “We will have a transition plan in place for board has also set up an e-mail address “We’ll come back in the spring with those who have to transfer with special to take public input. Continued on page 3 PAGE A2 The Knoxville Focus December 12, 2016 Should I let the police search my vehicle? You’ve seen Or should you vehicle, even if you don’t no when they ask if they the dog to arrive. to our original question, the dramatic car say no? You’ve have anything in your car. can search my vehicle, will I will warn you, the cops should you let the cops searches on the done nothing It does not benefit you to they still search my vehicle may not care about the search your vehicle? No, TV shows, and wrong and they allow them to look inside anyway?” rules and decide that they there is absolutely no ben- you might be have no reason your ride. And you do not Generally, if you say no, are going to hold you for efit to be had by agreeing wondering what to search you. have to be rude in declining they are not able to con- an unreasonable amount to allow cops to search your you would do if Well, even if to let them search your car, duct their search, however, of time, have a dog come vehicle. Politely decline you were asked to you have nothing simply tell them that you there are exceptions to that and “hit” on drugs, and their request, even if you allow the police to By Jedidiah to hide, I would decline to let them search rule. Tennessee state law then arrest you, and forget have nothing to hide. search your vehi- McKeehan strongly encour- your vehicle. requires that if you say no, having to have the dog there attorneyknoxville@ cle without prob- gmail.com age you to say Then the officer may ask they can still search your within a certain number of Jedidiah McKeehan is able cause.