Poll for Knox Co. residents only (Knoxville, Chattanooga: HOA, insurance, condo)

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by knoxgarden

I wouldn't support it unless Knox County government cleans up their act. There may be economies to be had, but based on what we've seen of the problems with county government -- credit cards, sherrif's office, contracting, cronyism in filling term-limited seats, etc. -- giving the current government control over city and county would be giving the fox the run of the chicken coup.
Clean up county government, then talk consolidation.

Oh. I was assuming that we could just get rid of county government and Lumpy-like antics.

[Beretta]

One of the main reasons we are not in Knox County is Ragsdale, Lumpy and the gang.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by SmokyMtnGal

One of the main reasons we are not in Knox County is Ragsdale, Lumpy and the gang.

When we bought our house within city limits I said, "Whew, we are finally free of Lumpy who was our commissioner."

They should ban him from coming into the city. Remember the gunfight at the East Towne Mall?

I saw him at KUB and to this day I can't figure out if he was up to no good or being a good Samaritan.

[knoxgarden]

Current proposals, at least the ones I've heard of, call for disbanding city government and putting the county mayor and commissioners in charge of the consolidated government.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by knoxgarden

Current proposals, at least the ones I've heard of, call for disbanding city government and putting the county mayor and commissioners in charge of the consolidated government.

Yikes! I would never vote for that, not even if I was drugged and bribed.

[aquarijen]

Umm, yeah - No.
I would not vote for that.

[Kitties of Domination]

Originally Posted by knoxgarden

Current proposals, at least the ones I've heard of, call for disbanding city government and putting the county mayor and commissioners in charge of the consolidated government.

I have never heard that. How did Nashville do it? In my opinion, for Knoxville to reach its potential metro government is a necessity. Many people don't realize that Knox Co. has nearly as many people as Davidson Co. But Nashville looks much bigger on paper because it is metro. Don't think that matters? It does to businesses that are merely looking at the paper when considering where to expand or relocate. Of course there are still many in Knox Co. that fear change. They like to collect guns and hang "no trespassing" signs in their yard...and vote for Lumpy. Usually the more educated county residents.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by Kitties of Domination

I have never heard that. How did Nashville do it? In my opinion, for Knoxville to reach its potential metro government is a necessity. Many people don't realize that Knox Co. has nearly as many people as Davidson Co. But Nashville looks much bigger on paper because it is metro. Don't think that matters? It does to businesses that are merely looking at the paper when considering where to expand or relocate. Of course there are still many in Knox Co. that fear change. They like to collect guns and hang "no trespassing" signs in their yard...and vote for Lumpy. Usually the more educated county residents.

That's sort of what happened in Nashville. When a city and county merge, it's the city that gives up its charter and is absorbed by the county. So, technically, the city ceases to exist.

HOWEVER...

That doesn't mean that the county commission automatically takes over. In Nashville, they essentially combined their old county commission with the old city council to create a much larger metropolitan council. Some in Nashville say that their metro council is too large (it's got 40 members) but at the time it was, I think, the only way that the voters would accept consolidation.

Frankly I don't know what the big fuss is about. In a larger metro council, buffoons like Lumpy wouldn't have nearly as much clout as he does in a smaller county commission particularly when weighted against the council reps coming from Knoxville's more urban neighborhoods.

But, like I said before, the devil is in the details. I certainly wouldn't vote "no" just because of Lumpy.

And I agree, I think it would be sweet for Knoxville to have a population of 420,000 instead of 180,000.

Oh I just thought of one bump on the road. What would happen to Farragut? Some of Davidson County's old towns have remained fiercely independent (Belle Meade, Berry Hill, Forest Hills, Old Hickory) and separate from the rest of metropolitan Davidson County. I wonder if voters in Farragut would want to dissolve their posh enclave or would want to stay separate?

[Kitties of Domination]

Originally Posted by JMT

That's sort of what happened in Nashville. When a city and county merge, it's the city that gives up its charter and is absorbed by the county. So, technically, the city ceases to exist.

HOWEVER...

That doesn't mean that the county commission automatically takes over. In Nashville, they essentially combined their old county commission with the old city council to create a much larger metropolitan council. Some in Nashville say that their metro council is too large (it's got 40 members) but at the time it was, I think, the only way that the voters would accept consolidation.

Frankly I don't know what the big fuss is about. In a larger metro council, buffoons like Lumpy wouldn't have nearly as much clout as he does in a smaller county commission particularly when weighted against the council reps coming from Knoxville's more urban neighborhoods.

But, like I said before, the devil is in the details. I certainly wouldn't vote "no" just because of Lumpy.

And I agree, I think it would be sweet for Knoxville to have a population of 420,000 instead of 180,000.

Oh I just thought of one bump on the road. What would happen to Farragut? Some of Davidson County's old towns have remained fiercely independent (Belle Meade, Berry Hill, Forest Hills, Old Hickory) and separate from the rest of metropolitan Davidson County. I wonder if voters in Farragut would want to dissolve their posh enclave or would want to stay separate?

The answer to that one is obvious! And yes, I think you would see the same-type council in Knoxville. My guess is that they would borrow the metro Nashville handbook. Another plus to metro government: the end to Knoxville's long annexation battles. A few interesting facts: Knoxville has the smallest land area of TN's four major cities (yep, Chattanooga has more land) and Clarksville is now approaching Knoxville's land area. What does this say? Much of "Knoxville" (the area that functions as Knoxville) is not even in the city limits. Knox Co. is pushing 450,000, though I don't know if it will make it by the 2010 census. Knoxville will probably finally hit 200,000 by the census (I think). In the modern era of sprawl, a city's population is often merely how much it can annex (if it hasn't gone metro). Knoxville operates as a city of more than a half million (pushing 700,000 metro), so why shouldn't the official population more accurately reflect this?

[jabogitlu]

The mere fact that Knoxville still has a commissioner named "Lumpy" is very telling, I think.

I fear we're (well, you all - I've left now, lol!) a few years behind Nashville and the gang.