noe4accountability

• December 7, 2009 Pearl Harbor Day

  
  
  Pearl Harbor Day. December 7, 1941. 
  The day after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt inspired the nation with a moving speech before Congress. See and hear the speech here.
  
  The News-Sentinel has an article on an 86-year [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: December 07, 2009, 5:21am EST
  

• December 5, 2009 Public Notice: City Announces Three Different Early Closing Times on Fridays

  According to a new public notice just a couple of days ago in the Tribune, the City of Morristown now has three different early closing times on Fridays.                                                                                       Click on the notice at left to enlarge. The City Center will close early at 3:30 PM on Fridays. [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: December 05, 2009, 1:35pm EST
  

• December 3, 2009 City Council Meeting: Sewergate To Cover-up Bankruptcygate?

  In a previous post (click here), I mentioned the City of Morristown's illegal transfer/loan of $2.5 MILLION dollars from the city's sewer fund to the city's general fund in the fiscal year ending 6/30/08. Former City Administrator Jim Crumley apparently authorized the transfer to cover up the "poor" cash situation of [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: December 03, 2009, 7:42pm EST
  

• December 2, 2009 The Draft Contract for City Administrator Anthony Cox

  
  
  The first image (left) is the first page of a 7-page draft of the proposed city administrator's contract that was approved yesterday at City Council. The other pages (2-7) of the draft contract are in order at the end of the blog text.  You can click on [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: December 02, 2009, 3:10pm EST
  

• December 2, 2009 Council Approves New Administrator's Contract But Never Mentions a Salary Amount or Benefits during the "Public" Discussion of "Public" Business at a "Public" Meeting

  At yesterday's public meeting, the Mayor and City Council passed an employment contract to forward to Anthony Cox, the city-administrator select, for his consideration.
  
  During the "public" discussion and deliberation of the contract, Mayor Barile and council seemed nervous. 
  
  It seemed like they were talking in some kind of [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: December 02, 2009, 6:30am EST
  

• November 29, 2009 Mayor Barile and Councilman Frank McGuffin "Fast-Track" Contract with New City Administrator

  The City Council Agenda is here. It lists the contract with the new city administrator as one of the items [IX (1)] for consideration at the council's 4:00 PM meeting at the City Center on Tuesday, December 1.
  
  IX (1). Approval of an employment contract with Anthony Cox [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 29, 2009, 9:18am EST
  

• November 26, 2009 Happy Thanksgiving

  Happy Thanksgiving to All.
  
  [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 26, 2009, 5:10am EST
  

• November 25, 2009 Anthony Cox Selected as New City Administrator

  Not surprisingly, Anthony Cox of Radford, Virginia was named the new Morristown "city administrator-select" at yesterday's 11:30 AM special called meeting of council. Wonder how many working taxpayers were able to leave work and make it to that meeting?
  
  Pat Hardy of MTAS and Interim City Administrator Lynn Wampler had presented the [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 25, 2009, 4:00am EST
  

• November 24, 2009 No Public Forum at Today's "Special Called" Meeting of City Council

  As mentioned in an earlier post, the City Council is having a special called meeting at 11:30 AM.
  
  The announcement of the meeting in Sunday's paper said that there were only two items on today's agenda:
  
  1) Hiring a City Administrator;and
  2) A Bond Anticipation Note in the' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 24, 2009, 6:13am EST
  

• November 22, 2009 City Center Closing at 3:30 PM on Fridays

  [UPDATED] There was an announcement in today's Sunday paper that the City Center would be closing at 3:30 PM on Fridays beginning December 4.
  
  Now, if you had a business that served the public, would you shut your business down completely for 1-1/2 hours on Friday afternoons or would you rotate' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 22, 2009, 9:00pm EST
  

• November 22, 2009 City Council Special Meeting on November 24 at 11:30 AM (For the Convenience of all Citizens? Not!)

  The City Council is having a special meeting on November 24, 2009, at 11:30 AM at the City Center to:
  
  1) Name a new city administrator; and
  2) Consider a bond anticipation note in the amount of $950,000 for the purchase of the Roy Widener property on N. [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 22, 2009, 1:24pm EST
  

• November 19, 2009 City of Morristown and the FY 2008 Audit: Stay Tuned

  City leaders are offended when financial responsibility--or their lack thereof--is mentioned.  They blame "the economy." Certainly, the overall economic outlook today is not good. However, the city's mismanagement and wasteful spending sprees that have driven it into virtual crisis-mode go back to pre-bailout times.
  
  Some readers may recall a headline in the [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 19, 2009, 6:18am EST
  

• November 17, 2009 Jack Fishman Recommends Acquiring Additional Land in East Tennessee Progress Center, Eminent Domain Threatened

  
  
  Industrial Board Chairman Jack Fishman, who is also owner of the Citizen Tribune, appeared at the city council work session yesterday. Fishman wants the city to fund the purchase of 11 pieces of property inside the East Tennessee Progress Center near I-81 and 25-E. Fishman wants the city [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 17, 2009, 8:55pm EST
  

• November 17, 2009 City Council Cuts Hours of City Employees

  This afternoon's city council meeting was lengthy. Interim City Administrator Lynn Wampler, who did not have cuts ready for discussion at last Thursday's Finance Committee meeting, today had each department head present cuts to the council today.
  
  The council chambers were full of police, fire, public works, and other [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 17, 2009, 8:21pm EST
  

• November 17, 2009 Crumley's Legacy Begins to Unfold. Where Were Council's Checks and Balances?

  Morristown City Council meets today at 4:00 pm. [At their last meeting, they refused to move the meeting time to a taxpayer-friendly 5:00.]   Most councilmembers are happy with 4:00 and especially with the fact that 4:00 makes it inconvenient or impossible for working taxpayers to attend and actually watch what is being done with THEIR money.
  [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 17, 2009, 2:26pm EST
  

• November 14, 2009 City Finance Meeting: New Administrator and Sewer Mess

  This 'n that:
  
  SELECTION OF NEW CITY ADMINISTRATOR:
  
  Interim Administrator Lynn Wampler went over the qualifications of the four candidates for city administrator. He stated that he and MTAS representative Pat Hardy did phone interviews during the previous week. Wampler said that the four on the final list are' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 14, 2009, 6:48pm EST
  

• November 14, 2009 City Finance Committee Meeting and the Farmers Market Site

  The Farmers Market site on West Morris Boulevard was a topic of lengthy discussion at the 11/12/09 City Finance Committee meeting.
  
  While the discussion was always civil, there are obvious differences of opinion.
  
  Gene Brooks, who was appointed chair of the Farmers Market Task Force, expressed concern about the [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 14, 2009, 9:10am EST
  

• November 13, 2009 City upset at WATE-TV questions regarding finances

  Yesterday's City Finance Committee meeting was long.  I will go into more detail this weekend.
  
  Although it was not on the agenda, there were several comments about calls that councilmembers had received from WATE-TV in Knoxville about the financial condition of the city.  The WATE website report is here. ' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 13, 2009, 9:43am EST
  

• November 12, 2009 Lawyer: Red Light Cameras Must Have a Private Investigator License

  There are a lot of people in Morristown who don't like the red light cameras. And that sentiment is shared by many people across the state.
  
  An attorney in Clarksville claims that the cameras are "private investigators" for the company (Redflex) that operates them.  The attorney represents several clients, all of' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 12, 2009, 9:53pm EST
  

• November 11, 2009 Veterans Day

   Freedom isn't free.
  
  
  
  As Americans, we owe a special debt to all veterans of all branches of the armed forces. Our freedom has been bought with their sweat and blood. Many have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country.  Freedom isn't free.
  
  [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 11, 2009, 8:05am EST
  

• November 4, 2009 City Council Sticks with 4:00 Meeting Time

  Despite pleas from at least three individuals, the Morristown City Council in a 5-2 vote refused to move its meeting time from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
  
  Gene Brooks made the motion to move the time to 5:00 to make it more convenient for citizens and taxpayers and the [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 04, 2009, 7:11am EST
  

• November 2, 2009 City Council Has Later Meeting Time on Tomorrow's Agenda

  Tomorrow's agenda for the Morristown City Council includes an Ordinance to change its meeting time from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. This is a request made by Charles Cook several weeks ago and discussed at the council's last work session.
  
  The full agenda is on the city's website. Click' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 02, 2009, 6:48am EST
  

• October 30, 2009 Expect a Slow Revelation of Crumley's Handling and Mishandling of City Finances

  The City of Morristown is in a financial mess--even more so than was previously admitted or known.
  
  At least some of former City Administrator Jim Crumley's handling and MIShandling of city accounts is gradually coming out. The Mayor and Council may be looking at budget cuts and postponing projects as the true' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 30, 2009, 8:10am EDT
  

• October 20, 2009 Deputy Sheriff Campaigning and Running for Sheriff?

  The state attorney general has issued an opinion (AGO 09-167) addressing the question of whether deputy sheriffs who run for sheriff (without first resigning their deputy position) violate any state or federal law.
  
  OPINION:
  
  If the deputy sheriff's position or duties are in connection with an activity financed' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 20, 2009, 8:42pm EDT
  

• October 11, 2009 One of My Public Requests Is Answered: Committee Agendas Are on the Hamblen County Website

  Wow!  For a long time now, I have asked the county commission to put committee agendas and minutes on the Hamblen County website.
  
  At long last, County Mayor David Purkey and his staff have finally done it. And it wasn't hard at all.
  
  Click here to see the agenda' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 11, 2009, 12:54pm EDT
  

• October 6, 2009 City Agenda for Today Posted Yesterday: Work Session Includes Discussion of Meeting Times

  I contacted the City yesterday morning when I saw that the agenda for today's meeting and work session had not been posted on the city website as is customary.
  
  I received a reply e-mail yesterday afternoon that said that the agenda was usually posted on the Friday before the council meeting' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 06, 2009, 7:57am EDT
  

• October 5, 2009 City Looking to Bones Seivers with Tennessee Municipal League Bond Fund for Help with Debt

  In addition to the KIA building/community center that received little support and TDEC's potential fines of $175,000/$15M of sewer corrections, another item that came up at the October 1 Morristown Finance Committee meeting was debt.
  
  I arrived a little after the 3:30 start time for the meeting and' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 05, 2009, 8:15am EDT
  

• October 3, 2009 City Plans

  In addition to the discussion about the KIA Property and Sewer/Wastewater problems, there was one other discussion at Thursday's City Finance Committee meeting that deserves mention.
  
  Councilmember Kay Senter suggested that council meet to discuss where the city wants to be five years from now.
  
  Gene Brooks responded: "Out of debt."[...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 03, 2009, 5:30am EDT
  

• October 2, 2009 Crumley and Wastewater Head Bryan Fowler Apparently Kept Sewer Problems and Repair Costs from the Mayor and Council

  At yesterday's regular meeting of Morristown City Council's Finance Committee, several councilmembers grilled Wastewater Head Bryan Fowler about potential fines of up to $175,000 that have been levied against the City by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Division of Water Pollution Control.
  
  Fowler provided the council with copies of the TDEC [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 02, 2009, 5:30am EDT
  

• October 2, 2009 Purchase of KIA Property for Morristown Community Center Gets No Traction

  At yesterday's meeting of the City Finance Committee, councilmember Kay Senter turned the presentation over to Realtor/County Commissioner Paul Lebel.
  
  Lebel noted that a community center has been a topic of discussion in Morristown for a long time. He stated that the KIA property on West Andrew Johnson Highway' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 02, 2009, 4:46am EDT
  

• September 30, 2009 City Finance Committee Meeting and the Tennessee Open Meetings Act

  
  
  The regular meetings of the Morristown City Council are on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The Finance Committee of City Council meets regularly on Thursdays prior to Tuesday council meetings.
  
  Yesterday (Tuesday) there was a special called meeting of the [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 30, 2009, 10:27am EDT
  

• September 26, 2009 Crumley May Be on His Way To Murfreesboro

  Newly "retired" former Morristown City Administrator Jim Crumley appears to be headed to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to take the number two position there. Click here for more details.
  
  Hopefully, as the 'Boro's #2 man, Crumley won't lead Murfreesboro into horrendous debt as quickly as he did Morristown. 
  
  Hopefully, as the 'Boro's #2' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 26, 2009, 8:25pm EDT
  

• September 19, 2009 Hamblen County Website To Get An Update (Finally!!)

  I have publicly asked county commission several times to update the county website and to make it easier to access information about county government. Here and here.
  
  Commissioner Nancy Phillips and I pushed for a county website from the moment we took office in 2002.  A website was [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 19, 2009, 7:25pm EDT
  

• September 14, 2009 Hamblen County Website. Are Changes Coming?

  As one who was directly involved in pushing for and implementing a Hamblen County Government website when I served on the county commission, I asked then and I have continued to ask that the site be better utilized to provide much more information than is currently available.
  
  If you [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 14, 2009, 9:00am EDT
  

• September 13, 2009 Saving Taxpayer Money: Use Current County Vehicles to Provide a Vehicle Pool for Work-Related Use but Not for Commuting To Work

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  At tomorrow's Hamblen County Finance Committee meeting, commissioners will conside the cost of purchasing three more county vehicles to' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 13, 2009, 8:38pm EDT
  

• September 13, 2009 The Facts on Hamblen County's Payment of Unauthorized Car Allowances--Yes, Including Mayor David Purkey's Car Allowance

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  On August 20, 2009, Hamblen County Commission finally voted to come into compliance with long-standing state law and [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 13, 2009, 11:00am EDT
  

• September 5, 2009 County Commission Stops Unauthorized Car Allowances in Order to (Finally) Comply with State Law

  At its August 20 meeting of the full commission, the Hamblen County Commission voted 12-1 to stop three of the four car allowances that have been paid for several years in violation of state law. [Commissioner Tommy Massey was absent.]
  
  This was a total reversal of what the Finance [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 05, 2009, 11:50pm EDT
  

• September 3, 2009 More from City Council's Meeting on 9/1/09

  Other happenings at City Council on 9/1/09 and what the Trib is likely to report and what the Trib is likely to leave out.
  
  The Trib may report today or tomorrow on the lengthy city council discussion on the Farmer's Market at the corner of S. Henry and W.' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 03, 2009, 3:40pm EDT
  

• September 2, 2009 Jefferson County Land Purchase? Mayor Barile Did Not Talk To the Industrial Board

  For all who believed "Morristown" Mayor Barile when she said that she would contact the "Morristown" Industrial Board to find out what was going on about the "Morristown" Industrial Board contacting landowners in Jefferson County about selling their land to "Morristown/Morristown Industrial Board," she didn't do it.
  
  On August' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 02, 2009, 6:18am EDT
  

• August 27, 2009 Crumley's Departure and Information That the Trib Doesn't Report

  Sometimes, there is so much going on at home and at work that posts get postponed. [I like puns. If you don't, just give that last one the obligatory groan.]
  
  Here's a quick catch-up post on the City Council meeting on August 18 with some interesting information that the [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 27, 2009, 8:15am EDT
  

• August 27, 2009 Crumley's Departure and Information That the Trib Doesn't Report

  Sometimes, there is so much going on at home and at work that posts get postponed. [I like puns. If you don't, just give that last one the obligatory groan.]
  
  
  Here's a quick catch-up post on the City Council meeting on August 18 with some interesting information that' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 27, 2009, 8:15am EDT
  

• August 11, 2009 Taxpayers Will Have To Continue To Pay for Unauthorized Car Allowances

  Hamblen County is not authorized to pay car allowances to county officials. But Hamblen County pays them anyway.
  
  Hamblen County is not authorized to provide a car or vehicle for full-time use of salaried county officials. But Hamblen County provides vehicles anyway.
  
  And yesterday, despite state law and [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 11, 2009, 6:30am EDT
  

• August 11, 2009 Barking Dogs Get Commission's Attention Again...Another Meeting Is on the Way

  At yesterday's meeting of the Public Services Committee of the Hamblen County Commission, there was lengthy discussion and many public comments about barking dogs, bark collars, coon dogs, an allegedly weak and/or unenforced nuisance ordinance, limitations on the number of animals per acre, and all things dog-related.
  
  The Sheriff, [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 11, 2009, 5:30am EDT
  

• August 10, 2009 Two Enter Democrat Primary for Hamblen County Sheriff

  The field is getting more crowded in the race for Hamblen County Sheriff in 2010.
  
  Democrat Ernie Burzell's recent announcement that he would be running for sheriff in 2010 was quickly followed by Democrat Freddie Kimbrough's announcement that he would be running for sheriff in 2010 as well.
  
  [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 10, 2009, 10:05am EDT
  

• August 10, 2009 Last-minute Addition to Today's Hamblen County Committee Agenda?

  There is a strong rumor from several sources that a last-minute addition will be made to a Hamblen County Commission Committee agenda today. [Maybe Finance Committee?]
  
  It seems that a few officials and maybe a commissioner or two have been involved and have been "in the know" about the [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 10, 2009, 9:53am EDT
  

• August 10, 2009 Tribune: Double Stories, Double Pictures, and a Front Page Headline Problem

  If you were reading the Tribune yesterday, August 9th, you may have done a double "double-take"!
  
  The Trib put the same exact article in two different sections of yesterday's paper. Tommy Bible, general manager of the Jefferson-Cocke County Utility District, received the Tennessee Gas Association's Silver Flame Award. The [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 10, 2009, 7:35am EDT
  

• August 5, 2009 Drugs, Planning Commission, Koch Foods Sewer Bill, Interim City Administrator, City Audit, Sheriff's Race in 2010

  Drugs: Mexico to Morristown (via Atlanta). The Knoxville News-Sentinel report is here. [Here's the Trib link. Catch it while you can---- the Trib disables its links quickly.]
  
  John Cahill recently resigned from the Morristown Regional Planning Commission. He was appointed to the post by former Mayor John [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 05, 2009, 6:00am EDT
  

• July 29, 2009 Crumley Leaves with $145,000+; Mayor Barile Claims It's a "Railroad" Job But Doesn't Have the Guts to Vote "No"

  If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly. Macbeth.
  
  At yesterday's city council meeting, the removal/retirement of Jim Crumley was "done quickly" and with little of the bloodletting that marks Shakespeare's Macbeth. The vote was 6-1 to approve the agreed severance package that [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 29, 2009, 8:10pm EDT
  

• July 24, 2009 City Council To Move Forward With Termination of Crumley While Negotiations over Price of an "Agreed Retirement" Continue

  After budget discussions concluded yesterday afternoon in the tiny Conference Room at City Center, frank discussion of City Administrator Jim Crumley's exodus began.
  
  The City initally offered Crumley approximately $110,000 to leave. Crumley recently countered with a proposal to "retire" at a cost to the city of a $129,000 [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 24, 2009, 5:00am EDT
  

• July 22, 2009 Crumley: Where's The Tape? Senter: It's My Tape, But I'll Play It For You and the Mayor

  The City Council meeting was over quickly, and then the work session began. Work session agenda topics: Chief Overholt's proposal that city council set a fixed price that tow trucks can charge when they are called to a wreck by a police officer on a rotating basis and a wellness [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 22, 2009, 5:30am EDT
  

• July 14, 2009 It All Depends on What the Meaning of "Repairs" Is...

  County Commissioners and the School Board met on July 7 regarding East High repairs.
  
  Weeks ago, the Commission offered the Board $5.3 Million to spend on repairs at East High.
  
  According to news reports, the Board's proposed "repairs" (dubbed Phase I) included buying more property around East High,' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 14, 2009, 5:45am EDT
  

• July 8, 2009 City Council Avoids Discussion about Its "Policy" of Automatically Doubling Sewer Rates for Outside Customers

  City Council met yesterday at 4:00. It was a short agenda that was dispensed with quickly.
  
  During the public comments portion, I asked the council about the double rates charged to outside sewer customers. I asked if they have any cost study or any report by anyone showing that [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 08, 2009, 7:45am EDT
  

• July 6, 2009 City and County: Briefs and Upcoming Posts

  A lot has happened locally over the past several weeks.
  
  Democrat State Rep. John Litz announced that he would not run for re-election and said that he was not ready to comment on his future plans.
  
  Democrat Larry Mullins jumped into the vacuum and announced that he is [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 06, 2009, 8:06am EDT
  

• July 4, 2009 The Fourth of July

  
  IT IS THE SOLDIER
  
  It is the Soldier, not the minister, who has given us freedom of religion.
  It is the Soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
  It is the Soldier, not the poet, who has given us [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: July 04, 2009, 8:17am EDT
  

• June 27, 2009 Jeff Gardner Appointed Election Administrator

  The (well-founded) rumor that I reported on Thursday turned out to be on-the-money.
  
  Jeff Gardner was indeed named Hamblen County Administrator of Elections at a public meeting on Friday of the Hamblen County Election Commission. The job pays $62,000/year plus all kinds of benefits.
  
  The Trib posted an [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 27, 2009, 9:00am EDT
  

• July 25, 2009 Has the New Administrator of Elections Already Been Determined Before Tomorrow's Public Meeting?

  Tomorrow at 3:30 the Hamblen County Election Commission will select a new Administrator of Elections to replace Wanda Neal.
  
  Last week, the paper said that there were four applicants for the $62,000/year post.
  
  It is rumored that one of the four applicants already has the votes and knows [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 25, 2009, 1:00pm EDT
  

• July 25, 2009 Crumley, Facing Majority Opposition on City Council, Is on the Way Out

  A majority of city councilmembers are now apparently on board to remove City Administrator Jim Crumley.
  
  A similar effort to remove Crumley last year was never able to get majority support.
  
  New councilmembers Bob Garrett and Gene Brooks make no bones about their disdain for and distrust of [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 25, 2009, 6:17am EDT
  

• June 24, 2009 City Council Changes 3-year Sewer Increase To 8%, 8%, and another 8%

  At yesterday's 11:00 am city council meeting, it was apparently decided to change the original proposal for an approximate 14%, 6%, and 2% rate increase over the next three years to an 8%, 8%, and then another 8% increase. See the original proposal by clicking here.
  
  The city' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 24, 2009, 6:50am EDT
  

• June 24, 2009 Wanda Neal, Administrator of Elections, Retires Effective June 30

  At the county commission meeting on June 18 and in the June 19th edition of the local "news"paper, Wanda Neal's retirement from the position of Administrator of Elections in Hamblen County was finally announced.
  
  I mentioned her retirement in several previous posts, here, here, and here.
  [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 24, 2009, 5:55am EDT
  

• June 18, 2009 And the New Hamblen County Administrator of Elections Is....

  Rumor is that the meeting of the local 5-person election commission will be held soon to appoint a local Administrator of Elections. Wanda Neal is the current Administrator. Click here for the names of the Election Commissioners and other background information.
  
  Joe Swann serves as chairman of the [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 18, 2009, 6:52am EDT
  

• June 17, 2009 City Council: 2010 Budget, Sewer Rate Increases, Amendment to 2008 Budget, 2008 Audit

  If City Council planned a routine meeting yesterday, it turned out to be anything but routine.
  
  No one spoke during the public hearing on the 09-10 city budget. The budget was adopted on first reading 7-0.
  
  A budget amendment to amend the Fiscal Year 2008 budget passed with [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 17, 2009, 8:50am EDT
  

• June 15, 2009 Knox County Takes Applications (45) for Election Administrator Position

  As a follow-up to Friday's post about the likely change in the local Administrator of Elections post, I see that Knox County recently took formal applications for the Knox County Election Administrator position. Forty-five individuals applied.
  
  
  Click here for the News-Sentinel article and there's even a link [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 15, 2009, 6:48am EDT
  

• June 15, 2009 Knox County Takes Applications (45) for Election Administrator Position

  As a follow-up to Friday's post about the likely change in the local Administrator of Elections post, I see that Knox County recently took formal applications for the Knox County Election Administrator position. Forty-five individuals applied.
  
  
  Click here for the News-Sentinel article and there's even a link [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 15, 2009, 6:48am EDT
  

• June 14, 2009 Flag Day

  
  June 14. Flag Day. www.ace-clipart.com [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 14, 2009, 10:10am EDT
  

• June 12, 2009 New Hamblen County Election Administrator?

  There is a rather persistent rumor that Wanda Neal, current Hamblen County Administrator of Elections, will resign soon and open the way for the new Republican majority on the Hamblen County Election Commission to appoint a new administrator to the post.
  
  The local position of Administrator of Elections is [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 12, 2009, 8:15am EDT
  

• June 11, 2009 City Attorney Dick Jessee Will Give Opinion on Crumley's Commercial Garbage Moratorium

  Tuesday's City Council meeting included a third major item that was not mentioned in Wednesday's "news"paper.
  
  [The "news"paper ignored two other items of importance that were discussed at Tuesday's meeting. One of those items was City Administrator Jim Crumley's admission that he gave car allowances to four employees by [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 11, 2009, 7:15am EDT
  

• June 10, 2009 City Car Allowances and Crumley's "Mistake"

  At the end of yesterday's city council meeting on sewer rates, Councilmember Claude Jinks brought up car allowances and the 33% cut in car allowances that City Administrator Jim Crumley had earlier proposed in the current budget.
  
  It appears that Crumley's 33% cut only applied to employees who are [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 10, 2009, 7:00am EDT
  

• June 10, 2009 Morristown Sewer Rate Increases

  The City of Morristown continues the pattern of large increases in sewer fees.
  
  Yesterday, the Mayor and City Council heard a presentation by Lamar Dunn and Associates regarding sewer costs and rate increases for the next three years for sewer customers.
  
  Dunn is recommending that the city increase [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 10, 2009, 6:11am EDT
  

• June 8, 2009 Radio Announces That The School Board Will Meet at 7:30 AM This Morning

  I just happened to be listening to the local radio this morning when a local public meeting was announced.
  
  It appears that the Hamblen County School Board has scheduled a meeting at 7:30 AM this morning at the Central Office to vote on budget revisions to present to county [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 08, 2009, 7:05am EDT
  

• June 5, 2009 Instead of Making Other Cuts, School Board Makes Raises the Issue

  The Hamblen County School Board did little cutting to its original budget at a meeting on Wednesday, June 3.
  
  Based on the report in Thursday's Tribune, it appears that all the School Board and Director Lynch did at the meeting was political posturing while ranting and raving at' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 05, 2009, 7:45am EDT
  

• June 4, 2009 City Budget: What about the Sewer Rates?

  Something that has been mentioned once or twice but never actually discussed at Morristown City Council meetings is the city sewer fund and upcoming changes in city sewer rates.
  
  There was supposed to be a presentation and discussion of the results of a sewer study last Thursday. That didn't' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 04, 2009, 6:00am EDT
  

• June 3, 2009 After TWO Large Tax Increases, Morristown Is In Deep Financial Trouble

  Yesterday's budget session at city council was lengthy as City Administrator Jim Crumley presented cuts of $1,775,700 to the previously proposed 2009-2010 general fund budget. I have already outlined most of those cuts here.
  
  Police officers were in attendance--occupying about one-half of the seats. Several officers spoke out' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 03, 2009, 4:00pm EDT
  

• June 1, 2009 Claiborne Sheriff David Ray and Community Service in Hamblen County

  It's been almost ten months since CLAIBORNE COUNTY Sheriff David Ray signed a diversion agreement in HANCOCK COUNTY in which the State of Tennessee agreed to suspend its prosecution against Ray of charges of statutory rape and statutory rape by an authority figure.
  
  Part of Ray's diversion agreement [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: June 01, 2009, 5:37am EDT
  

• May 29, 2009 Commissioners To School Board: Back To The Drawing Board

  Director of Schools Dale Lynch met with county commissioners yesterday to present the school budget.
  
  His budget and his planned presentation were derailed two days before by the action of commission's budget committee on Tuesday, moving 8-cents of the school's property tax revenue to debt service earmarked/reserved for school [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: May 29, 2009, 8:26am EDT
  

• May 29, 2009 Commissioners To School Board: Back To The Drawing Board

  Director of Schools Dale Lynch met with county commissioners yesterday to present the school budget.
  
  His budget and his planned presentation were derailed two days before by the action of commission's budget committee on Tuesday, moving 8-cents of the school's property tax revenue to debt service earmarked/reserved for school [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: May 29, 2009, 8:26am EDT
  

• May 27, 2009 Commission Gives Sales Tax Money To Schools and Takes Away Same Amount of Property Tax Money for School Repairs and Building Program

  At yesterday's meeting of the Hamblen County Budget Committee, the commissioners voted unanimously to recommend to the full commission that the school system's share of increased sales tax revenues go to the schools (which, of course, is required by law) and that 8-cents of the current school property tax rate [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: May 27, 2009, 7:50am EDT
  

• May 25, 2009 In Flanders Fields

  
  
  
  

  MEMORIAL DAY 2009

  In honor and in remembrance of those who serve and have served in the armed forces of the United States of America.
  

  
  
  In Flanders Fields
  
  By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army
  
  In Flanders Fields [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: May 25, 2009, 3:51pm EDT
  

• May 23, 2009 Tribune, Friday, May 22: Why No News Coverage of City Council's Thursday Budget Meeting?

  I posted early yesterday morning (Friday) about the big city council budget meeting on May 21 (Thursday) and the proposed cuts of $1,794,300 to the city budget. The post is here.
  
  After I got home from work yesterday, I was reading the paper, but I didn't see a' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: May 23, 2009, 1:30pm EDT
  

• May 23, 2009 McGuffin Asks Whether Crumley's Moratorium on Providing City Garbage Cans To City Businesses Is Legal

  At a budget meeting on Tuesday, May 19, Mayor Sami Barile and councilmembers Frank McGuffin and William Rooney expressed support for elimination of ALL commercial garbage collection within the city limits. Such a move would have saved the city some money but would have required many businesses (apartment owners, Morristown [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: May 23, 2009, 12:15pm EDT
  

• May 22, 2009 Beer Gets the Hamblen County Commission Engaged in Public Discussion

  The Hamblen County Commission rarely engages in discussion during the monthly meeting of the full commission.
  
  Yesterday's meeting would have been over in record time except that a beer permit was on the agenda.
  
  The owners of Ridgewood Market at 2875 Reeds Chapel Road applied for a beer' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: May 22, 2009, 9:15am EDT
  

• May 22, 2009 Louis "Doe" Jarvis Takes Joe Swann's Seat on Hamblen County Commission

  Louis "Doe" Jarvis was appointed to the 5th district seat on the Hamblen County Commission yesterday without opposition.
  
  
  Ernie Horner--as I posted yesterday morning--decided to withdraw from contention for appointment. My earlier post describing some of Ernie Horner's political connections and actions is here.
  
  [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: May 22, 2009, 8:48am EDT
  

• May 22, 2009 City Administrator Jim Crumley Finds $1,794,300 To Cut in City Budget (Including His Taxpayer-Funded Country Club Membership)

  In a relatively quick meeting yesterday, Morristown City Administrator Jim Crumley proposed reducing the city budget by $1,794,300.00 in order to bring expenses down in line with decreasing revenues.
  
  The summary sheets passed out list the cuts as follows:
  
  Personnel $1,167,100
  Police 59,500
  Fire 13,600
  Administration 7,500
  All [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: May 22, 2009, 7:50am EDT
  

• May 21, 2009 Ernie Horner Drops Out of Commission Race

  The rumor going around is that Ernie Horner has now dropped out of the race for the county commission seat that has been vacant since April when Joe Swann resigned.
  
  See my previous post about Horner here when he was still in the race and trying to get [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: May 21, 2009, 8:07am EDT
  

• May 20, 2009 Reminder on Anonymous Comments

  Recently, I have received anonymous comments and comments that have a first name only but no true identifying information. This is a good time to refresh readers on my policy for anonymous comments.
  
  I do not post anonymous comments or comments from sources that I can not identify. However, [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: May 20, 2009, 12:20am EDT
  

• May 19, 2009 Who Will Take Joe Swann's Seat on the Hamblen County Commission?

  All is quiet on the news front as Hamblen County Commissioners prepare to select a replacement for Joe Swann in the 5th District. I haven't seen any news in the Tribune about those who are interested in the position.
  
  [Swann was elected to the county commission in 2006 but' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: May 19, 2009, 7:30am EDT
  

• May 18, 2009 Bill Swann's May 11 Tribune Ad

  Former city council candidate Bill Swann's ad in the May 11 Tribune was bitter in tone while heaping a lot of criticism on Tribune election reporting and on the Trib for failure to investigate the candidates. Swann pretty much blamed the Tribune for his election loss.
  
  In a multiple' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: May 18, 2009, 10:30am EDT
  

• May 17, 2009 Tennessee Comptroller Justin Wilson Expresses Concerns about City and County Variable Rate Debt/Swap Agreements

  Where is Joe Ayres?
  
  Tennessee State Comptroller Justin Wilson is looking at the use of variable rate debt/derivatives/swaps by cities and counties, and the new Comptroller apparently doesn't like what he sees.
  
  Wilson points out conflicts of interest and notes that the complexities of these debt instruments' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: May 17, 2009, 10:30pm EDT
  

• May 12, 2009 Crumley Repeats My Words and Recommendation Almost Verbatim

  Yesterday's Morristown City Council Budget Meeting was held at 5:00 pm in a small conference room near the Mayor's office.
  
  Other than the Mayor, Councilmembers, City Administrator Jim Crumley, and a few members of city staff, only Tribune reporter Bob Moore, Gwen Holden, and I were present.
  
  Revenue [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: May 12, 2009, 7:32am EDT
  

• May 11, 2009 Morristown City Councilmembers Will Be Sworn In and Start Budget Talks

  New Morristown City Councilmembers Gene Brooks and Bob Garrett and long-time member Kay Senter will be sworn in today to 4-year terms. Following the swearing-in ceremony, the Mayor and Council will get to work, starting with a presentation from city staff on the financial position of the city.
  
  The [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: May 11, 2009, 6:45am EDT
  

• May 6, 2009 Two New City Council Members Are Elected and Sales Tax Increase Is Now Countywide

  Morristown City Council will have two new faces and one familiar face.
  
  Bob Garrett defeated former assistant City Administrator Jack Kennerly to take the vacant Ward 1 seat. Gene Brooks took the at-large seat, prevailing in a crowded field over former MUS head Bill Swann and incumbent councilman Rick [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: May 06, 2009, 8:10am EDT
  

• May 4, 2009 Sales Tax Referendum

  I'm guessing that the city's blackmail referendum making the sales tax increase "countywide" will pass tomorrow.
  
  Click here to see how the blackmail referendum came about.
  
  Here's the 15-month saga in a nutshell showing that the government--city and county--never give up on getting more tax money! County' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: May 04, 2009, 6:32am EDT
  

• May 2, 2009 Tennessee Legislature: How To Pass a Tax Increase Without Voting

  Watch out for higher gas taxes in Tennessee and nobody is responsible!
  
  A subcommittee in the Tennessee House of Representatives has quietly approved legislation providing for "automatic" increases in Tennessee's gasoline tax based on the consumer price index.
  
  Tom Humphrey has the full story here.
  
  Here's [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: May 02, 2009, 5:15am EDT
  

• May 1, 2009 Win the Vote Committee Turns in Sales Tax Increase Financial Disclosure Statement

  The Win the Vote group supporting the Sales Tax Increase Referendum in Hamblen County filed its first financial disclosure form on April 28. More on Win the Vote in a previous post.
  
  Win the Vote reports taking in $2,380. [$1,680 in unitemized contributions under $100/each. $700 in itemized [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: May 01, 2009, 5:10am EDT
  

• April 29, 2009 The Tribune Is Way Too Easy..."Reporting" on Debt Via Press Release

  Gotta love it. I blog about the county and city debt and then the Tribune jumps in with not one, but two front-page news articles--- actually they're more like front-page press releases---with the county and city saying everything is just fine while ignoring the real issues with the structure of' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: April 29, 2009, 5:30am EDT
  

• April 28, 2009 Why Won't the Tribune Report Hamblen County's Debt Mess?

  The New York Times ran an article weeks ago about how many counties in Tennessee are being hit with additional debt due to debt swap agreements arranged by Joe Ayres of Cumberland Securities, Joe Ayres of Morgan Keegan, Joe Ayres of Regions Bank, and Joe Ayres of TNLoans.
  
  Yes, [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: April 28, 2009, 6:20am EDT
  

• April 27, 2009 Sevier County Voting on Sales Tax Increase (Again)

  The News-Sentinel has an article and interesting comments on a second sales tax increase referendum in less than a year in Sevier County. Hamblen County also has a second sales tax increase referendum on the May ballot.
  
  There are many similarities between the Sevier and Hamblen sales tax increase [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: April 27, 2009, 5:00am EDT
  

• April 25, 2009 Joe Swann Becomes Chairman of Hamblen County Election Commission: Lifelong Dream Realized

  Right after voting this morning, I dropped in on the Hamblen County Election Commission meeting which was just starting.
  
  This was a reorganizational meeting since the composition of the Election Commission has recently changed. There are now three Republicans on the Election Commission (Judy Blackburn, Lyle Doty, and Joe [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: April 25, 2009, 2:00pm EDT
  

• April 25, 2009 Tax Increases: The Tribune and Chamber Love 'Em

  (OLD) BREAKING NEWS.
  
  The Tribune actually wrote and published its own editorial! Yep. The April 15 editorial was apparently written in Morristown, Tennessee, instead of being copied out of some other newspaper.
  
  The Tribune editorial supports the May 5 county sales tax increase referendum and is actually [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: April 25, 2009, 5:00am EDT
  

• April 24, 2009 Hamblen County's Chief Financial Officer, County Mayor David Purkey, Finally Asks for an "Objective Appraisal" of the County's Debt

  Well, lo and behold, County Mayor David Purkey at long last wants to get an "objective appraisal" of the county debt.
  
  In previous posts, audit documents have shown that the county borrowed $40 Million between 1998 and 2001 and still owed the full $40 Million as of 2007 [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: April 24, 2009, 5:44am EDT
  

• April 22, 2009 More Questions on the "Joint Meeting" That Was Announced But Didn't Take Place

  Well, things just get curiouser and curiouser.
  
  The Tribune reported on Sunday, April 19, that there would be a joint work session meeting of the Hamblen County Commission and School Board on Monday, April 20, at 6:00 PM. That joint work session didn't happen.
  
  Yesterday, the Tribune' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: April 22, 2009, 5:00pm EDT