June 15, 2020 www.knoxfocus.com PAGE A1 PAGE APB The Knoxville Focus June 15, 2020 ONLINE AUCTION FRIDAY, June 19 The Knoxvillele New items weekly! See pictures at fountaincityauction.com Fountain City Auction (865)474-9931 FREE OCUS Take One! www.knoxfocus.com F June 15, 2020 Phone: 865-686-9970 | PO Box 18377, Knoxville, TN 37928 | Located at 4109 Central Avenue Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee 37912 Changes to the law director role rejected by Charter Commission By Mike Steely Senior Writer [email protected] In a split vote, an attempt to change who selects the Knox County Law Director was reject- ed by the Knox County Charter Committee Wednesday. A motion by committee member Mike Arms to have the county’s chief law authority appointed by the county mayor failed in a 12-9-1 vote. It means the law director will continue to be elected by county voters. An attempt to have actions by the law director approved by the mayor was withdrawn after intro- duced by committee member James Cochran. It would have removed the authority to pursue, try or settle suits from the law PHOTO BY KEN LAY. director and any matter greater Graduating senior quarterback Dakota Fawver holds his state championship aloft as his fellow senior teammates examine their own than $50,000. rings. Former Central High School football coach Bryson Rosser makes a surprise visit to present the Bobcats with their 2019 Class 5A “The Knox County Law Direc- State Championship rings in a ceremony Thursday at Dan Y. Boring Stadium. tor shall abide by the decisions of the Mayor or the Mayor’s des- ignee,” the proposed charter Central football team receives title rings, change read. Cochran withdrew the propos- als after Law Director Richard (Bud) Armstrong said the chang- surprise visit at ceremony es would not pass legal challeng- By Ken Lay es. protocols in place, was expected. hurrah with the 2019 ‘Cats. this to be a surprise,” Rosser The Charter Committee is The 2019 Central High But the surprise guest who Rosser, who guided Central to said. under a deadline to submit chang- School football team got its presented the players, coaches a pair of consecutive state titles But anyone who knows es by August 15 to get suggested Class 5A State Championship and support staff with their rings in 2018 and 2019, left earlier Rosser knows that he wouldn’t changes on the November ballot. rings Thursday at Dan Y. Boring wasn’t expected. this year because his wife got a have missed this ceremony for Charter Chairman Brad Anders Stadium. The rings were the Former Bobcats’ head coach new job. anything. said all charter items are on the jewels that culminated a second Bryson Rosser returned to “People asked if I was going And he didn’t. table for discussion given the consecutive championship. Knoxville to present the rings. to be here and I told (athletic He wanted to be there for his time limits. The ceremony, which was Rosser came down from director) J.D. (Lambert) to tell players, especially his seniors “I think we’ve taken care of the conducted with social distancing Massachusetts for one last everybody ‘no’ because I wanted Continued on page 3 Continued on page 4 E-911 gets a one-time, Planning Commission allows $2.2M sum from the state development on Dutchtown By Mike Steely resources slot or hire an outside HR Senior Writer [email protected] consultant. by narrowest of margins Anders also said the city is offer- By Bill Howard When the Knox County Emergency ing space in the new Safety Center at The case had been post- property at this location.” Communications District meets on the former St. Mary’s/Tennova Hos- Far more often than poned for two months. At that point, Commis- Wednesday it will vote on its upcoming pital for $1 per year and E-911 may not, cases that appear The request included an sioner Art Clancy made a budget. The E-911 Finance Committee use it as a backup location. He also before the Knoxville-Knox amendment to the County motion to approve both the met Tuesday to discuss what the new said that FEMA is interested in space Co. Planning Commission Sector Plan from NC Sector Plan and Rezoning, budget will be, what it will cover and there. each month are decided (Neighborhood Commer- whereupon a variety of per- what’s new for the coming fiscal year The call center at 605 Bernard by a unanimous vote, or cial) to MDR (Medium Den- spectives immediately sur- Finance Chairman John Fugate told Avenue may also get some stand-up close. Cases decided by a sity Residential). The case faced. Commissioner Tim The Focus that about $15 million is desks to permit call operators to sit or single vote seem exceed- also included a request for Hill spoke first. being requested and E-911 Executive stand during their shifts. ingly rare. Rezoning from CN (Neigh- “I’m just struggling to get Director Brad Anders said the state is Anders also said they are working Such rarity occurred borhood Commercial) to PR comfortable with the den- allocating an additional $2.2 million. with UT for leadership training and Thursday, June 11, when (Planned Residential). sity as I look around,” Hill He expects to use about half of it to may create a “public outreach” effort. the commission held its The proposed density said. “I don’t see where this focus on training and renovations at He said E-911 is looking to save about monthly meeting, it’s third was for up to 12 dwelling fits within that community. the 911 call center. $20,000 each year by eliminating straight online. At issue units per acre. The staff I could get comfortable Anders said that $1.1 million is some unused phone lines and other was a request by applicant recommendation for the with a little bit less den- available now and the remainder is services no longer needed. Georges Brandan – repre- case was to approve both sity, which would be more available in January. He said additional revenue will come sented by Brian Pierce – to the sector plan and the than the LDR (low density The proposed budget includes hiring from state action which increases the develop two acres at the rezoning because “addi- residential).” four new call processors, adding two 911 cost on cell phones to $1.50 per intersection of Dutchtown tional opportunities for a New commission per 12-hour shift. The Emergency phone from the current charge of Road and Bob Kirby Road variety of residential hous- member Sandra Korbe- District board may also add a human $1.16. in commission district 3. ing types are needed … lik said that allowing for and this area is adjacent maximum density didn’t to the Urban Growth Area mean the developers Equipment, New Cabinetry for Knoxville.” would necessarily aim and Building Supply Auction Pierce addressed the for that number. She also Saturday, June 27 at 9:00 a.m. commission to argue for expressed concern about the changes. “ What the flooding on Dutchtown Now taking consignments for equipment. owner plans to do with this Road. An engineer for Knox Only $25 to sell your items. Call Justin at (865)806-7407. is a development with one- County then said that there bedroom apartments, and was no awareness of flood- first-time workers, basically ing problems in that area. a workforce-type housing Commissioner Pat Phil- 6729 Pleasant Ridge Road Knoxville, TN 37921 project,” said Pierce. “This lips inquired about public (865) 938-3403 TNFL735 WWW.POWELLAUCTION.COM will be a good use for this Continue on page 4 PAGE A2 The Knoxville Focus June 15, 2020 Knoxville mayor Wage Garnishment Almost every Collecting this Code Annotated sec- what you owe in full each meets with black day in almost way requires tion 26-2-106 states that month. Judges will gen- every county in that the person someone’s wages can erally require that a wage America, people who owes the only be garnished up to garnishment stays in place leaders are getting sued money actually 25% of what they make. in those cases. By Mike Steely because they has a job, but Further, the person owing In a single case, pursu- Senior Writer Mayor Kincannon said owe money to if they do, and the money always has the ing money this way may [email protected] she is interviewing now someone. It can you can figure option to quit their job so not be worth it, because Suggestions and com- for a new Police Advisory be a credit card By Jedidiah out where they their wages will not be gar- it can be a hassle to try to ments flooded an internet Review Council director. debt, a medi- McKeehan work, you can nished anymore. change small amounts of meeting Tuesday hosted by Darris Upton urged the cal debt, or back attorneyknoxville@ have their Finally, when some- money this way, but for big Knoxville Renaissance and city to hire more minority rent that individ- gmail.com wages gar- one’s wages get garnished, collection companies, it’s promoted as a Black Com- contractors in bidding pro- uals and compa- nished to pay they will often file a peti- purely a numbers game. munity Town Hall. Hosted cesses. Adrian Jones said nies are suing on to collect what they owe. tion with the court to pay Collect a little bit of money by WATE’s Tearsa Smith, efforts should focus on the money they are owed.