PAGE APB The Knoxville Focus May 24, 2021 May 24, 2021 www.knoxfocus.com ONLINE AUCTIONPAGE A1 May 28, 2021 The Knoxville See photos at The Knoxville fountaincityauction.com Fountain City Auction (865)474-9931 OCUS FREETake One! www.knoxfocus.com F May 24, 2021 Phone: 865-686-9970 | PO Box 18377, Knoxville, TN 37928 | Located at 4109 Central Avenue Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee 37912 BE SAFE . WASH YOUR HANDS . WEAR A MASK . SOCIALLY DISTANCE COVID-19 2019 Knox County Total Confirmed % COVID-19 Cases/ Total COVID-19 % COVID-19 Deaths/ Weekly Total Population1 COVID-19 Cases2 Total Population Deaths2 Total Population 470,313 43,467 9.2% 638 .14% Focus SOURCES 1. U.S. Census Bureau 2. Knox County Health Department data from 5/21/2021. Planning5/21/2021 470,313 Alliance 43,467 9.2% 638advocates 0.14% coordinated growth By Mike Steely Senior Writer the Knox County Planning with representatives from The Office of Knoxville with neighbors and devel- General Plan, working with [email protected] Alliance, KPCA. The group East Knox County, Keep Neighborhood Empower- opers. citizens , HOA groups, and recently announced a web- Urban Wilderness Peace- ment is working with the Frazier told The Knoxville planning and engineering For many years sev- site and the group is now ful, League of Women group to bring a three- Focus of some of KPCA’s staff constituent services eral local citizens have working with the Knoxville Voters, Hardin Valley Plan- part series of workshops short and long term efforts to address agenda items, appeared before local gov- Office of Neighborhoods. ning Advocates, Scenic to the public later this and priorities. providing community out- ernment agencies to speak Kim Frazier, Kevin Knoxville, Northshore Cor- summer and fall. The ses- “Our current efforts reach to help citizens orga- about zoning issues, land Murphy and Lisa Star- ridor Association, North- sions will include address- include planning resi- nize, and working with the use, and planning. In 2018 buck are the nucleus of east Knox Preservation ing land use, how to orga- dential zoning ordinance Office of Neighborhoods,” some of the advocates the organization and have Association, and Commu- nize around a new develop- reviews, encouraging a full she said. came together and formed combined their efforts nity forum. ment, and tips for engaging review of the Knox County Continued on page 3 City budget passes 8-1 Renovations coming for Includes co-responder funds, affordable housing By Mike Steely social workers and added, Senior Writer By Ken LayClaude Walker Park [email protected] “We’re not hiring more police officers.” The ball fields at Claude It took a while but the “I’m tired of hearing the Walker Park will soon be Knoxville City Council same conversation, the getting a facelift as the approved a $253,558,130 same kind of empty prom- city has received a $1.6 budget for the upcom- ises,” said Parker, adding million philanthropic gift ing fiscal year, an 8.1% she believes the public courtesy of GEM Develop- increase. The second that needs those services ment Group. reading took place Tues- haven’t been heard from. Claude Walker Park, day evening and much Councilwoman Lauren located in East Knoxville discussion centered on Rider said the police offi- adjacent to Austin-East the budgeted $400,000 cers can’t be expected Magnet High School, is to increase the number of to respond to emotional home to the Lady Road- social workers that accom- crisis adding, “That’s not runners softball team, the pany police on calls when what they are trained to Baby Roadrunners youth needed. do.” football program and the Councilwoman Amelia Councilman Tommy Knox Area Youth Alliance. Parker attempted to Smith spoke at length on The gift is earmarked delay the vote in order his support of the budget to improve Claude Walker to hold additional public proposal saying,” It makes Park and contains a pair of input meetings. Parker progress on the most key components. suggested the additional urgent items.” The majority of the funding go to reserve fund Parker also objected to money, $1.1 million, will status and the creation of the Lakeshore Park fund- go toward the installation an “alternative response” ing and the proposed of new state-of the-art turf rather than social workers downtown baseball sta- baseball and football fields. responding with a police dium. The money will also be used PHOTO BY KEN LAY. officer. Her motion failed Vice Mayor Gwen McK- to making lighting and fenc- Willie Anderson addresses the crowd at a ceremony to announce renovations to the ball for the lack of a second. enzie said it would be ing improvements and the fields at Claude Walker Park in East Knoxville last week. Anderson has managed the Councilwoman Janet better if police officers installation of batting and park for three decades and has deep roots in the community and with Austin-East Mag- Testerman said the not be in uniform when Continued on page 2 net High School. $400,000 is only to hire Continue on page 3 Committee dissolved, free parking and stadium study By Mike Steely Senior Writer parking for county employ- shared with us,” Caldwell A spokesman for CGI said [email protected] ees in the City-County replied, adding that the city about 20 employees will be It only took one vote for Building and Dwight Kessel of Knoxville pays half of the there in July and eventually the Knox County Commis- garages beginning on July 1. study cost. about 300 people will work sion to dissolve the Commit- A tentative tax break was “The stadium is not a there. The commission dis- tee on Health and Economic approved for the develop- done deal,” Caldwell said, cussed using the separate Well-Being last week during ment of a project known adding that when the cost building as an “incubator” a work session. Commis- as Farragut Town Center at analysis study comes back it for incoming businesses. sioner Kyle Ward, who had Biddle Farms. Final approv- might prompt an increase in The commission also suggested the alternate al will come back for a vote the annual lease rate. passed along a change in health advisory group origi- when the plans are com- When asked about how the code to permit public nally, moved to disband the pleted. The mixed develop- many firms submitted bids notices to be published in group. ment is being proposed for on the study, Caldwell’s newspapers of general cir- Ward said a couple of the former Kroger complex answer was seven, with culation but Commissioner the committee members and the tax break would be three estimates coming Kyle Ward pointed to the reached out to him to end for $6 million over 20 years. in late. Four firms were Tennessee legislature pos- the board, which never got Additional property there is reviewed before CSL was sibly moving to permit the to a point of advising the being considered bringing selected. county to advertise notic- More than 5,263 American flags were retired recently mayor or commission. The the new development to 45 A temporary lease of part es on a special website in at the American Legion Post 2 on Old Rutledge Pike. mayor and commission dis- acres. of the Summer Place in the future years. Knox County Commissioner Carson Dailey joined solved the Board of Health The commission also dis- TVA Towers was granted Also discussed briefly members of the South-Doyle JROTC at the event and last month and Mayor Glenn cussed briefly a $57,500 to CGI Federal lnc. as that were the regulations con- is shown with Avery Burnham and Mason Straiter. Jacobs took over emergen- payment to Conventions, firm located to Knoxville. cerning allowing churches to cy public health regulations Sports and Leisure Interna- The $5,404 monthly rate locate in shopping centers. ending masking mandates, tional LLC for the economic of the property at 500 West Current county law prohib- Beautiful home site with beautiful social gatherings, etc. impact study of the down- Summit Hill Drive does not its restaurants to serve alco- view. Lots of space for privacy with Dr. Martha Buchanan, town baseball project and including parking space and hol near a church. The ques- all the amenities of a subdivision, yet in a country setting. In cul-de-sac relieved of her emergency adjacent developments. includes a one-year extend- tions is if a beer-serving res- convenient to interstate, Knoxville, powers, continues to meet Commissioner Carson ed option. taurant is located in a center Jefferson and Grainger counties. with the former Board of Dailey questioned results Matt Myers of the Procure- before a church rents space Build your dream home. No large ani- Health members now serv- of the study. ment Department told the there how does it affect the mals. MLS 1150543 $59,500 Chestnut Ridge, Knox County ing in an advisory capacity. “We haven’t seen a commission the company statute? The commission passed study,” he said, asking needs the temporary space The planning commission Cathern King on first reading an amend- Finance Director Chris while it looks for another will be asked to look at the (865) 216-5646 cell ment to the Knox County Caldwell about the results. location. He said the firm regulation and report back (865) 688-3232 offi ce Code to provide free monthly “We can send what they will pay $9 per square foot. to the commission. Each offi ce is independently owned and operated. PAGE A2 The Knoxville Focus May 24, 2021 Belle of the Ball plus of people who have no the White House and the Republican office holders was a Democratic, big gov- elections—to have mil- From a distance idea who he is, was the lib- U.S.