By Mike Steely
Senior Writer
steelym@knoxfocus.com
More than two dozen speakers gave their views on religion being expounded in a public meeting during the Wednesday meeting of the Knox County Commission.
District 9 Commissioner Andy Fox took the podium and talked for about 30 minutes about his values and why he believes the Bible supported the deportation of undocumented citizens. The audience was split between supporters and opponents, some of whom held handmade signs. The meeting ended with a Fox proposal promoting open-carry handguns in county-owned and leased buildings.
The contentious meeting lasted almost six hours.
Fox’s ‘Christian View of Illegal Immigration’
The meeting began with a devotional message by Imam Dr. Khalid Shahu of the Knoxville Muslim community, invited by District 2 Commissioner Courtney Durrett. His message was one of compassion and understanding between citizens, and Durrett felt that having him speak was a reaction to Fox’s anti-immigrant speech.
Initially, Fox was given 10 minutes to address the commission and was warned by Chairman Gina Oster when he had 3 minutes left. Fox retorted that he could not be limited in speaking time and threatened to come back to future meetings and continue his speech. Oster relented, and Fox continued with what he called “A Christian’s Biblical View of Illegal Immigration.”
Fox cited Old Testament verses and said the Good Samaritan teachings in the New Testament were more about giving medical attention to a victim rather than teaching acceptance of foreigners. He contended that America is a Christian Nation and quoted President Donald Trump. He quoted the dating of the adoption of the U. S. Constitution as being “In the year of our Lord” as proof.
Of undocumented residents, Fox said, “They are not our neighbors.” Several times during his speech, Fox had feedback from District 4 Commissioner Shane Jackson, who promoted “enforcing the law with kindness” and promoted a middle ground in dealing with resident foreigners “in a Christian manner.”
The Fox presentation required no action by the commission, which then moved on to other agenda business.
Farragut area housing development approved
The commissioners approved, in a split vote, the pass-through funding from the federal government for Everett Pointe, a proposed four-building complex of multifamily rental units. District 5 Commissioner Angela Russell objected to the Housing and Urban Development funds being used with no local financing from the county. At-large Commissioner Kim Frazier questioned the potential increase in the number of students at the future complex and cited the overflow student capacity already in the area. The $744,983 HUD funding was approved in a 6-3-2 vote with Commissioners Rhonda Lee, Fox and Russell voting no and Frazier and Adam Thompson abstaining.
Juvenile service center reorganization passes first reading
Another split vote approved the reorganization of the East Tennessee Regional Juvenile Service Center, passing leadership of the troubled facility to Juvenile Judge Tim Irwin and creating an advisory board.
The ordinance will need another reading at the March commission meeting for final approval, and if it passes, it will take effect on April 1.
At-large Commissioner Larsen Jay, who chairs the current administrative board made of Commissioners Jackson, Lee, Damon Rawls and Terry Hill, suggested that Irwin select five of the seven members of the advisory board, with the county mayor selecting the other two. Russell said the seven-member board should be appointed by the commission.
Jay responded that the proposed board was only advisory in capacity, but agreed to alter the proposal after other commissioners chimed in wanting to have the board members appointed by the judge be confirmed by the commission. A substitute motion by Russell failed, 3-8, and a motion from Fox regarding the makeup of the board also failed, 3-8.
The commission then approved the first reading of Jay’s amendment 8-1-2 with Lee voting “No” and Russell and Fox abstaining.
Gun policy for county-leased buildings
A visit to the East Tennessee History Museum raised some questions in Commissioner Fox’s mind when he saw a public notice poster prohibiting the carrying of licensed guns inside the building. He said the policy was a violation of state law and introduced an ordinance labeled “Recognition of Right to Self-Defense on Knox County-Owned Property.”
His new ordinance would place a $500 daily fine on a county lessee until a proper notice is placed in the building. Jay responded that Fox was a “solution looking for a problem” and called the Fox motion “very overdone.”
Jay moved to postpone any discussion of the ordinance for 60 days, and that idea passed 7-4, with Fox, Lee, Russell and Jackson voting against the postponement.
