Ambulance service, appointments, funding and code of ethics on commission agenda

By Mike Steely

Senior Writer

steelym@knoxfocus.com

When the Knox County Commission meets Monday, November 13, in work session it may clean up some rules. For years the governing body has operated without placing itself under the Knox County Code of Ethics.

The Rules Committee has two resolutions to correct that, one requiring the commission itself to adhere to the Ethics Code and the other to require all members of county committees and boards to do so as well.

The contract for county ambulance service with AMR will apparently be officially approved and is on the agenda.

Mayor Glenn Jacobs is making two appointments. Joseph Mack will replace Kelly Mathis on Visit Knoxville and Cathy Olsen will replace Aaron Fitts on the Air Pollution Control Board.

The sheriff and mayor are asking for approval of contracts with various agencies and the Community Development Department is requesting amendments canceling the McNabb Center Point Expansion and allocating those funds to Angelic Ministries, CONNECT Ministries, InterFaith Health Clinic, Knoxville Leadership, and Volunteer Ministries. The funding is from federal dollars.

Amendments to the county’s annual action plan may move federal funding from the Affordable Housing program to the Home Rehabilitation Project. An agreement may allocate $150,000 to Centro Hispano, $150,000 to CONNECT Ministries, and $150,000 to the Knoxville Leadership Foundation.

The Community Action Committee may get $80,326 for its street outreach and $50,000 may go to Restoration House for childcare education.

Commissioner Larsen Jay is asking the Knox County Sheriff’s Office to give an update on recruitment and retention. Commissioner Kyle Ward may appoint a member to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

The Cedar Bluff Flood Project may see $100,000 approved for the purchase of a Dutchtown Road property.