July 27, 2015 www.knoxfocus.com NeedPAGE A1 Cash? Turn unwanted household items into money! Call Fountain City Auction at (865)604-3468 for all of your auction needs. FREETake One! July 27, 2015 Karns Senior Center opens Finally, a new sign ordinance for Knoxville By Mike Steely [email protected] It only took another three and one-half hours last Tuesday, but the City of Knoxville has a new Sign Ordi- nance — one much more restrictive than the old law. After several motions and maneuvering, city council voted 7-2 for the multi-page document with Vice Mayor Nick Pavlis and Councilwoman Brenda Palmer voting NO. Revising the old sign regulations saw controversy throughout the Sign Task Force’s nearly four-year effort. The opposition was led by Scenic Knoxville who fought against minor changes in the old height and area of PHOTO BY JOHN GUSTIN signs and several other parts of the ordinance. Last Sixth District County Commissioner Brad Anders and Mayor Tim Burchett (center) join other officials to cut the Tuesday the opponents won, for the most part, but ribbon last Friday, officially opening the new Karns Senior Center. The facility becomes the sixth Senior Center in Knox apparently the battle isn’t over despite the vote for an County. “Emergency Ordinance” to make the new rule effec- tive immediately. The discussion about the sign ordinance took each By Mike Steely [email protected] Several county commis- Trostle. The center has a events are planned for section of the ordinance individually with minor chang- sioners and elected offi- large event room that can the center. For instance, es made here and there; most of the heat came during Knox County Mayor Tim cials joined the crowd of be divided into three sec- in August, there will be a the section on sign height and square footage of new Burchett and County Com- Karns senior citizens reg- tions, a pool and game couple of blood pressure signs. mission Chairman Brad istering for the center. The room, a computer room screenings, exercise class- The new height requirements, limit interstate exit Anders spoke at the ribbon ribbon was cut and the and several smaller meet- es, early morning walkers, signs to 35 feet, down from 50 feet; 30 feet for inter- cutting to open the Karns 8,000 square foot center ing rooms, plus a first for a Zumba, Bridge, etc. state proximity signs; 20 feet for signs along Federal Senior Center Friday. Bur- opened. Even after the 10 Knoxville senior center – an The Karns Center is locat- Highways; and 10 feet for signs on all other streets. The chett said the need and a.m. dedication seniors outside kitchen. ed at 8032 Oak Ridge High- new area restrictions limit the size of interstate exit or push for the county’s sixth continued to appear to tour The center also has a way and is open Monday proximity signs to 200 square feet,, with 165 feet total senior center, especially for the center. large exercise room with through Friday from 7:30 space for the Federal Highways, and 100 square feet the Karns Community, has The Karns facility is equipment donated by Cov- until 4 p.m. Anyone want- for all other streets. That vote was 6-3 with Councilmen been a multi-year effort by managed by Darrell Good- enant Health. ing more information can Marshall Stair, Nick Grieve and Mark Campen voting for Anders and others. ing and Robyn Bozeman Various activities and call (865) 951-2653. even less square feet. Existing signs are grandfathered and are not affected by the new size and height requirements unless aban- doned or in disrepair. Supporters of the tighter restrictions attended wear- ing “Thank You” stickers and supporters of taller signs Parade of Tractors brought in a spokesman from the sign industry to plead By Ralphine Major with the council to adopt the Task Force recommen- How long could it take dations. to look at a tractor or two? Council George Wallace, who had served on the Task Longer than I had gauged! Force with Grieve, tried to get an enforcement delay but There were tractors dating the council turned that idea down in favor of the “emer- back to 1935, an orchard gency” adoption. tractor with large fenders Palmer called on John Carpentier, a spokesman for over the tractor tires, and the Mid South Sign Association, to speak to city coun- a museum-like collection of cil. Carpentier, a guest of the Knoxville Chamber earlier antiques. Our mother was that day, pushed for the more lenient Task Force rec- most impressed with the ommendations. Also speaking on behalf of the taller miner’s lunchbox, probably signs were Attorney John King, Steve Ridenour, and because her father worked Tom Johnson. in the coal mines during Joyce Felt, President of Scenic Knoxville, spoke brief- his early years. I really ly in support of the tighter restrictions which had been enjoyed the big swing posi- passed on first reading at a previous council meeting. tioned perfectly to catch “No other city would use our city as a model,” she said the summer breeze. of the past ordinance that permitted taller signs. Grady Lett’s barn is “It’s not a failure,” Grieve said of the volume of work home to eleven antique machines rolling down PHOTS SBY RALPHINE done by the Task Force and said the changes are not John Deere tractors, all in their driveway to join the MAJOR over. showroom condition. Sev- parade. Mother sug- Above, Grady “It’s a continued work in progress,” Grieve said, but eral have a huge Ameri- gested to me that such Lett with his suggested the ordinance be adopted. can flag already mount- a scene would make a little side-kick, Councilman Nick Della Volpe said the sign height sec- ed and ready to roll along great picture. I put it on granddaugh- tion was the “most contentious” part of the new law and the parade route. It was my list. In the Knoxville ter Abbey, on mentioned sections of the city streets, like Merchant not surprising to see all of Veterans Day Parade, his oldest John Drive, as an example of a commercial route that might those beautiful flags from Grady pulled a float car- Deere trac- be restricted on the 10 foot sign height. this veteran who served in rying veterans from the tor, a 1935 AR Pavlis moved and Palmer seconded the idea to leave Korea from 1963-64 and Korean, Vietnam, WWII, (“A” designates the height requirement as the Task Force recommend- was there when President Iraq, and Afghanistan size; “R” stands ed but the motion failed. Kennedy was assassinat- Wars. Two of the veter- for “row crop”) The council also voted, 8-1, to amend the zoning ed. ans were Purple Heart Grady Lett’s col- regulations on Urban Agriculture over the objection of Lett’s many tractors are recipients, and two were lection of John Councilwoman Palmer, who said the city was “over- a familiar sight in the Gibbs Bronze Star recipients. Deere tractors. reaching and overstepping” its bounds and said she and Corryton Christmas He transported three has concerns about produce stands in front yards and Parades. “It looks like a tractors and a wagon abandoned gardens. parade in itself,” his wife up the interstate for the Erin Gill, Director of the city’s Office of Sustainability, said. Polly Lett, Grady’s Dollywood Parade where said, “We really tried to balance the concern of property wife, was referring to all owners,” and said that neighborhoods and homeown- those big green and yellow Continue on page 4 ers need to take advantage of vacant lots. 2012 HONDA ACCORD From $13,890 Several to Choose From * Auto * All Pwr * Cruise * CD RUSTY WALLACE HONDA 8886971272 I75CALLAHAN, N.KNOX www.rustywallacehonda.com PAGE A2 The Knoxville Focus July 27, 2015 THE CHALK BOARD Bits of News About Local Education By Sally Absher [email protected] evaluation rubric used for Knox for all the indicators, that there These are the teachers who was prior to the TVASS evaluation 6th, 9th Grade County educators, it provides a is still some subjectivity, and that must endure 4 evaluations every pay schemes. much more objective, data-based there should be a place to pro- year, instead of the two that He compares recent results Orientation August 7 structure than the previous nar- vide evidence for a score. She teachers in TEAM (Tennessee from Putnam and Cumberland On Friday, Aug. 7, 2015, 8 a.m.- rative evaluation, in which BOE added, “I would also think that Educator Acceleration Model) Counties, two neighboring coun- noon, the Knox County Schools members evaluated the Super- those luxuries should be afforded schools have. But the future of ties with similar demographics will hold student orientations for intendent in five general areas: to our teachers.” the APEX bonus program was and schools. Putnam was among rising sixth and ninth graders to Student Achievement; Strategic This fall, McIntyre will be evalu- already uncertain. the first to develop a pay scheme help transition those students Planning and Execution; Effective ated under the current narrative Earlier this year, McIntyre based on teacher evaluations into middle and high school. Ori- Use of Resources; Relationships evaluation model. The new evalu- asked Rodney Russell, his “direc- and TVAAS. Cumberland County entations will be held at all middle with Staff, Personnel, and BOE ation protocol, if approved by the tor of human capital strategy” relies on the traditional teacher and high schools where the stu- Members; and Family and Com- BOE, will take effect for the 2015- (yes, that is his actual title) to pay schedule.