Go Red for Women Mayor Invited to Pond
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February 9, 2015 www.knoxfocus.com 2012 HONDA ACCORDPAGE A1 $ From 13,890 Several to Choose From * Auto * All Pwr * Cruise * CD RUSTY WALLACE HONDA 8886971272 I75CALLAHAN, N.KNOX www.rustywallacehonda.com FREETake One! February 9, 2015 City Council Board of Education Debates Policies, Sidewalks, Apartments Surveys, CLASS Complaint and a Speedy Agenda By Sally Absher [email protected] Understanding (MOU) was signed, By Mike Steely KCS employees did not receive [email protected] The early February Board of Edu- bereavement leave. The MOU grant- The next Knoxville mayor will get a $12,500 pay cation meetings last week got off to ed two days of leave for certified raise, the Rogers Group, Inc. will get a contract of a rough start. Veteran BOE member employees, but the KCS policies more than $7,467,712 for street paving, and the city’s Karen Carson was clearly irritated do not reflect this change. The dis- Wayfinding Project will increase the contract to Jarvis that newcomer Amber Rountree had cussion was postponed until next Award, Sign and Flag Company by $23,952. It was a requested two discussion items on month so a policy could be drafted. busy but agreeable Tuesday evening meeting at the the work session meeting agenda: The administration claims it will be Knoxville City Council as the governing body ticked off amending the leave policy to include retroactive to the date of the MOU. one agenda item after the other. PHOTO BY DAN ANDREWS bereavement leave for both classi- It’s been just over a year since the The idea of amending the supplemental plan provi- School board member Amber Roun- fied and certified employees; and a extensive KCS teacher survey was sions for city employee pensions was mentioned and tree asks fellow board members about follow-up teacher survey. conducted. Rountree asked why KCS then, on a motion by Councilman Finbarr Saunders, teacher surveys and bereavement Concerns about bereavement was not doing another survey to com- was sent back to the Pension Board for clarification. leave at last Wednesday’s Board of leave are legitimate; until the pare with last year. She explained The council also approved payments in lieu of taxes Education meeting. December 2014 Memorandum of Continue on page 2 for the proposed Tennessean Hotel at 531 Henley Street, which may have 72 guest rooms and 12 resi- dential apartments. Attorney Arthur Seymour, Jr. told the council the project is facing some 500-year flood plain restrictions and being held up by FEMA. The city is Go Red for Women supporting the proposed hotel development because of changes in the flood plain by FEMA in October of 2013 which also affects the convention center. Council Marshall Stair described the FEMA restric- tions as, “the federal government getting in the way of local progress.” The council also approved the “in Lieu” of taxes for Guyot Properties, LLC., for the construction of a brew pub and restaurant at 100 South Broadway. Bruhin Road apartment appeal denied, Bearden apartments requested It is an unusual event when two different neighbor- hoods ask the city council for opposite things. The Inskip Neighborhood Association asked that a zoning change not take place to allow for a large apartment complex; the Bearden Council asked the council to ask the planning commission to rework the Bearden Opportunities Plan to allow for apartments. Quint Bourgeois, owner of just over 4 acres along Bruhin Road across from the Inskip Pool and Park, told the council that he was not notified of plans to rezone the neighborhood from R-2 to R-1A and asked to be rezoned back to R-2 so he could build more apart- PHOTO BY DAN ANDREWS. ments than the 6 per acre allowed in R-1A. The change Mayor Burchett helped kick off the 12th Annual National Wear Red Day at the Physicians Regional Medical Center would require altering the One Year plan there and the on Friday, February 6. Heart disease remains the No. 1 killer of women. The Go Red for Women movement is designed North City Sector Plan. to raise awareness and advocate for more research so that women can live longer, healthier lives, free from heart Continue on page 4 disease and stroke. BZA applicants Mayor invited to Pond Gap to be heard By Mike Steely [email protected] “I want Mayor Rogero to go When 5th District Commissioner the Coop Café and have a glass John Schoonmaker took his seat of tea,” said Pond Gap Neigh- on the Knox County Commission borhood Association president in January, he resigned his position David Williams. as chairman of the County Board Williams said he would like to of Zoning and Appeals. That left a get the mayor’s support in put- vacancy for a new board member ting medians in Hollywood Drive from west Knox County. at Sutherland and at Papermill On Thursday, February 12, Road, both to calm traffic on Schoonmaker will host a public that much-used street. meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the Far- To get her attention Williams ragut High School Cafeteria at sent the city mayor a huge post 11237 Kingston Pike to hear appli- card by U.S. Mail last week. cants for the open 5th District BZA The Pond Gap group has seat. recently completed and The appointment of a 5th dis- installed banners along Suther- trict person to the BZA will be the land about the various historic Pond Gap Neighborhood Association president David Williams holds the poster board-sized postcard decision of the full county commis- sites there and is seeking public he sent to Mayor Madeline Rogero last week. sion. information, especially from Applicants must be a resident of former patrons, at the former the district. Any questions about Hollywood Restaurant, also Road from the 1950s until the about the former restaurant memories. the meeting can be directed to the known as the Hollywood Crème 1980s. and Williams said he’s look- You can reach Dave Williams Commission Office at (865) 215- Bar. It operated on Papermill A history project is planned ing for people to share their at (865) 588-2268. 2534. PAGE A2 The Knoxville Focus February 9, 2015 Focus on the Law Board of Education Debates Policies, Surveys, Social Security in 2015 CLASS Complaint The Social couple. These children is $2,680. The month (for the year 2015) Cont. from page 1 physical exams, and drug Security Admin- higher earners average monthly bene- generally demonstrate sub- that teachers are surveyed and/or alcohol screenings istration has will now pay an fit to a disabled worker is stantial gainful activity. If every year in the online when situations or evi- announced a additional 0.9 $1,165. The federal stan- you suffer from blindness, TELL survey from the state, dence indicate there is a 1.7 percent percent in Medi- dard payment to a dis- your earnings must exceed but the response rate is need.” increase in ben- care taxes bring- abled individual under SSI $1,820 a month before you low (42%) compared to the Perhaps if the BOE had efits for 2015. ing their com- is $733 per month. generally demonstrate sub- participation in last year’s called it the Tina Needham This is to adjust bined Social The Social Security stantial gainful activity. paper survey (89%). Policy, everyone would have for an increase By Sharon Security and Administration defines If you have applied for Some Board members understood. But the policy Frankenberg, in the annual Attorney at Law Medicare tax “disability” in an individual Social Security Disability and Dr. McIntyre cited was poorly written. Carson cost of living. rate to 8.55 per- where he or she is not able benefits and your applica- concern about the time made a substitute motion Nearly 64 million cent for employ- to engage in any substantial tion was denied, you can and man-power it would to postpone discussion Social Security beneficia- ees and 16.2 percent the gainful activity because of continue on your own or take to repeat the in-house for one month, which was ries should have received self-employed. The maxi- a medically-determinable you can hire an attorney survey. Gloria Deathridge approved unanimously. their increased benefit last mum taxable earnings sub- physical or mental impair- or a claims representa- asked why the response The board also discussed month. More than 8 million ject to Social Security taxes ment that is expected to tive to help you appeal the rate was so low for the a proposal for drafting of these recipients are Sup- in 2015 is $118,500, up result in death or that has denial. With certain excep- online TELL survey. an educational adequacy plemental Security Income $1,500 from last year. lasted or is expected to last tions, the fee that you will This question resulted complaint by the four-mem- (SSI) beneficiaries who In 2015, the average for a continuous period of have to pay is limited by in a flurry of responses ber Coalition of Large Area received their increased monthly Social Securi- at least 12 months. “Sub- law to no more than 25% on the SPEAK Facebook School Systems (CLASS). payments on December ty benefits payable to all stantial gainful activity” of your disability award or page. In a nutshell, teach- When the BEP (Basic Edu- 31, 2014. Medicare pre- retired workers is $1,328. describes a certain level of $6,000 whichever is lower. ers don’t like to do online cation Program) formula miums will stay the same The maximum Social Secu- work activity and earnings.