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VOL. 56 NO. 7
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February 15, 2017
FIRST WORDS Creative ways to build sidewalks By Nick Della Volpe We need your help. As a city councilman, you often hear from neighborhood groups and individuals about the need/ desire for more sidewalks, a safer way to get around the neighborhood on foot or bike. In a May Della Volpe 10 Shopper article, I wrote about the five criteria the city’s engineers use to assign priority to sidewalk segments to build. Let’s focus on quantity. Currently, Knoxville builds roughly a mile-plus of new sidewalks and rebuilds another mile-plus of reworked/repaired walks each budget year. How can we build more? If you skip over the restrictions of topography and space limitations, that work generally costs over $1 million per mile. Indeed, it is estimated that retrofitting sidewalks in established areas costs about $300 per running foot, considering land acquisition cost, plans, stormwater drainage (piping and infrastructure), curbs, ADA requirements and the actual concrete pad work. Most of this work is contracted out by the city, although our Public Service crews tackle small segment repairs and replacement, when a break in regular work permits. Public Service is also building some greenway segments. How can we improve on our sidewalk build-out rate? More money is the simple answer, but that resource is as scarce as a pinch of saffron for your next paella. City government services already cost some $215 million of your annual tax dollars. A general tax increase, anyone? Didn’t think so. Realistically, we have to look for creative solutions. That’s where you come in. One obvious solution is to require new subdivisions to include sidewalks in their design and build-out. When built as part of that original build-out and grading, the cost is much lower, estimated at $100 per foot (it depends on drainage, grade, etc.) – roughly 1/3 of the cost of a retrofit. To page A-2
Sherri’s photo feature:
Bully to all
The Smoky Mountain Bulldog Club held its Wine to the Rescue fundraiser at Crowne Plaza Saturday night. ➤ See pictures on page B-3
offering more than ever before Student Brenda Hamilton takes painting instruction from Aurora Bull during a workshop at Fountain City Art Center.
By Shannon Carey Fountain City folks of a certain age might remember that mid-century modern building next door to the swings at Fountain City Park as the old Fountain City Library, but some are still surprised that the
Kim Hansard to headline Halls schools centennial celebration By Ruth White Halls schools graduate and talk radio personality Kim Hansard will serve as master of ceremonies for a gala event celebrating 100 years of Halls schools, to be held 6-11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Foundry near World’s Fair Park in Knoxville. The event will include dinner, dancing and a silent auction, and dress is cocktail attire. Tickets are $50 and may be purchased at the Halls Elementary or Halls Middle school offices or online at eventbrite.com (search “Halls School Centennial Gala”) or Facebook (search “Halls Schools Centennial Celebration”). Event sponsorships are also available. Gold level is $1,500, silver is $1,000, and bronze is $750. You may also sponsor a teacher to attend the gala for $50. All proceeds will go to benefit Halls Elementary and Halls Middle.
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By Betty Bean
Those with Halls schools stories or memorabilia to share are encouraged to do so on the gala’s Facebook page. If memorabilia is not digital, it may be brought to the school offices for display at the gala. Items will be labeled and returned after the event. The event coordinators are seeking community support to help continue and strengthen the educational opportunities available at Halls schools. Those who would like to make a direct donation may do so by contacting Halls Elementary School principal Chris Henderson. Info: 865-922-7445 or chris. henderson@knoxschools.org
the beating heart of this thriving creative hub. A retired French and English teacher, Williams joined the Fountain City Art Guild in 2002 and heard members talk about To page A-2
Halls Ahead
seeks street lights By Sandra Clark
lawsuit brought by two female supervisors whom Hammond fired shortly after taking office in September 2014. The firings of Debra Sewell, 62, and Jean Smathers, 68, cleared the Knox County’s clerk of Crimiway for Hammond nal and Fourth Circuit courts, to hire or promote Mike Hammond, has a pattern of younger individubehavior that recently cost county Hammond als. taxpayers almost $200,000. They probably would have won The latest scrum was the settlement of an age discrimination at trial, but trials are expensive
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more than ever in the way of classes, workshops, fine art exhibits, music and even unique, locally made gifts. While FCAC director Sylvia Williams doesn’t call herself the founder, it’s clear to see that she’s
Take this as it’s written: it’s gossip, it’s fun and some of it is even true. ■■ Street lights: Halls Business & Professional Association leaders have set a meeting with Mayor Tim Burchett to ask for support street lights on the new stretch of Maynardville Pike up to the high school. The Halls Ahead promotion is comprehensive, but as VP Bobby Hubbs says, “How can you market what you can’t see?” And there’s a big safety factor, too. ■■ Firestone: That’s the word on the street for the space previously known as Mynatt Bros. Hardware and Furniture. So those hoping for fine dining must continue the wait. Unless your meal of choice is rubber.
■■ Tindell Inc. is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2017. It’s the oldest business in Halls for sure, and this writer was there at the beginning, using Civil War era photography to capture the first Tindell and his rolling sawmill. Carl’s grandpa could have rolled to downtown Knoxville or even Nashville, but he stopped on Norris Freeway and we’re all the better for it. ■■ HBPA: Sgt. Tom Walker of the Sheriff’s Office gang unit will speak at noon Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Beaver Brook Country Club. It’s the best $10 lunch in town. The March 21 speaker will be Wayne Blasius, director of the East Tennessee Community Design Center. The HBPA has contributed $1,500 toward a study of Beaver Creek.
Age discrimination settlement costs tax dollars Donald Trump is not the only Republican officeholder who’s got a problem with women.
NEWS News@ShopperNewsNow.com Sandra Clark – 865-661-8777 Sarah Frazier – 865-342-6622
building has found new life since the library moved in 2004. Since then, the building has been host to the Fountain City Art Center, a onestop shop for all things creative in the heart of the community. And now, FCAC is offering
Photo by S. Carey
and uncertain and three years is a long time to wait for compensation, so they settled. Smathers received $57,500, Sewell got $65,000 and Knox County paid their attorney, Jeffrey C. Taylor, $28,100.50 per client. Hammond could have avoided this with better personnel practices. Richard Julian, manager of Knox County’s human resources department, said the employee handbook clearly outlines a progressive discipline procedure. (Hammond has opted his office
out of the county’s HR department.) “Do an annual performance review,” Julian said. “If you want improvement, put it in writing.” The next steps are verbal warning, written reprimand, suspension up to 10 days without pay and termination. “I can’t imagine why anyone would not go through these steps,” Julian said. Another way to terminate is simply to abolish an unneeded position. To page A-3 2704 Mineral Springs Ave. Knoxville, TN 37917 Ph. (865) 687-4537
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