Greetings on Earth Day.
OK. Enough of that. Let’s talk about the really big fight brewing today at Knox County Commission. There’s a good chance that enough methane will be expelled to blow a couple more holes in the ozone layer.
You’ve heard of Advance Knox – the two-year effort to update the 20-year-old urban growth plan that everyone has ignored.
The final vote on Advance Knox is today (4/22/24) at the commission meeting that gets underway at 5 p.m. at the City-County Building. I expect a big crowd in support of several amendments.
Commissioners Beeler, Frazier, Hill, Schoonmaker and Ward proposed amendments on the Commission Forum.
On Thursday, Mayor Glenn Jacobs sent a letter to commissioners that listed amendments he did not support. In fact, he would just as soon have no amendments at all. Glenn Jacobs Letter_Knox County Land Use and Transportation Plan
In the letter, Jacobs refers to the hard work by his “team” and “leadership team.”
We inquired: Who are these people?
Mike Donila responded: “The team is comprised of Mandi Benedict, Jim Snowden and Cathy Olsen from Knox County, along with Amy Brooks and Ally Ketron with Knoxville-Knox County Planning.”
OK
Late Friday, Kyle Ward posted: “After reading the mayor’s notice I have decided to respect his request and retract my amendments and plan to pass the plan as presented by staff.”
What do residents want?
Check this Knox TN Today op-ed by Kevin Murphy.
A viewer’s guide to today’s meeting:
- Will Larsen Jay or someone suggest inadequate time to study the amendments and request a postponement? And if so, can the mayor’s allies prevent delay?
- Will other commissioners follow Ward and withdraw their proposed amendments?
- Will someone suggest that all amendments be read into the record? If so, how long will that take?
This could become the longest meeting in commission history. Stay tuned.
Sandra Clark is editor/CEO of Knox TN Today Inc.