Ethics are in the foreground in the Knox County scandal circle. Commissioners want to make changes

Ethics is the talk of the city.

While state investigators go through the government offices of Knox County, the district commissioners take a look at some of their own ethical questions.

Two commissioners have sponsored a change in the rules that would prevent the commissioners with family members who work for Knox County to sit in committees that monitor these offices.

It seems to be a fundamental conflict of interest, and many commissioners would not report to serve in committees that deal with departments that the salaries of their family members pay. But the rules of the district do not prevent it.

What is proposed: Terry Hill, Commissioner of Knox County, and Courtney Durrett presented the change change that will enter into the process of the rules committee and the full commission. It is said that a commissioner cannot serve in a committee if a family member works in a government department or agency of Knox County, which is supervised, regulated or examined by this committee.

The hypothetical problem: If a department is examined internally, like two in the past few months, a commissioner could theoretically exchange information about its relatives.

Do you want to study? Take a look at the full proposal to the Commission. Knoxcountytn.gov. Click on the “Agenda” tab on the left and then select the option of the rules committee. It is point 7.

And there is more ……

Ethics problems, take 2

Betsy Henderson, chair of the Knox County School Board, spoke to the legislators in Nashville on January 28th to support dramatically expanding private owle vouchers. Just a few days before her speech, the school authority of the Republican majority Knox County voted against the inclusion of vouchers in its legislative priorities of 2025.

Henderson's advocacy representation triggered criticism from some voters, including Hill, their counterpart in the Commission. Hill took the rare step to rewind Henderson publicly, and told her that it was a “gross abuse of a position of power” to push vouchers in Nashville.

Hill asked the school authority to consider on March 6, to initiate ethics reforms for themselves. She pursues this proposal for the change proposal, although it only applies to the Commission. Hill as a commissioner cannot tell the school authority what to do.

What is proposed: Hill suggests that you have to disclose that your position differs from the commissions, even if you are committed as private individuals if you speak publicly about a problem.

What Hill said: “If your coordination with the minority is on a specific topic, support your board and share your responsibility for this decision,” said Hill on March 6th.

Do you want to study? Take a look at the full proposal to the Commission. Knoxcountytn.gov. Click on the “Agenda” tab on the left and then select the option of the rules committee. It is point 8.

How to take part in the meeting where you will both discuss Ethics questions: The discussion is set for 1 p.m. on April 28th in the small meeting room of the city building in the 400 Main St.

If you miss it: The committee will discuss the proposals and decide whether it will forward them to the entire commission or not, which decides whether the changes should be made.

Commissioners will talk about federal dollars

It seems that the whole country is taking an inventory of the federal government's edition. Andy Fox, Commissioner of Knox County, will propose a change that gives the districts of the district an additional level for federal grants.

At the same session, the Commission votes whether it should accept dollars to help the homeless community.

Fox 'suggestion: The district's granting department requests state and federal help and then applies for the Commission to approved before accepting the money. Fox wants commissioners to know before the department at all. The commissioners could approve or refuse the application, and they could also postpone it (possibly exceed the deadline).

Money commissioners will vote: The district expects the government to expect $ 1,610,000 for the affordability and stability of living space.

Important date: The Commission meets at 3 p.m. on April 28th in the general meeting room of the city building in the 400 Main St.

Do you want to study? Take a look at the full proposal to the Commission. Knoxcountytn.gov. Click on the “Agenda” tab on the left and then select the Commission option. It is Article 48.

Tax gaps in the Knoxville city council

Payments instead of taxes are a tool used to make affordable housing buildings built by private developers. The city does not receive the full height of taxes on real estate, which it normally does in exchange for something that benefits the city's inhabitants.

Payments instead of taxes are essentially tax freezing. If developers agree to keep rental prices for a certain period of time within a certain area, they only have to pay the city and the district the current property taxes for the entire duration of the agreement.

The city council will discuss two different projects.

Apartments in the 2501 Edgewood Ave. You will have 15 ADA accessible units reserved for those who achieve income with or below 30% of the middle income of KNOXVILLE of $ 51,000 for one person.

Apartments in the 2226 Parkview Ave. They have 10 studio and one-bedroom units reserved for those who achieve an income from or below 80% of the middle income of KNOXVILLE of USD 51,000 for one person.

Important date: The city council meets at 6 p.m. on April 29 in the general meeting room of the city building, 400th Main St.

Do you want to study? Take a look at the Council's agenda at Knoxvilletn.gov/government/city_council. Click on the agenda option and choose April 29. You are elements 11.T and 11.v.

Allie Feinberg Reports of politics for Knox News. E -Mail you: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Alliefeinberg.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County Commissioners hope to present ethics changes