Knox County citizens seek reforms

A government reform committee is asking the Knox County Commission to place nine charter amendments on the ballots for the August election and says if the commission declines, it may seek access to voters through a referendum.

The committee's formation and action comes after various commission actions that included back room dealings in appointing new members -- an activity that a court ruled to be illegal.

In a letter to commissioners, the commission said, ""Over the past year, the citizens of Knox County have become increasingly mistrustful of Knox County Government as a result of backroom politics, nepotism, conflicts of interest, and financial mismanagement, but in this crisis, we have an opportunity to positively change and prepare our government to face the challenges of the 21st century."

According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, the charter amendments would:

• Reduce commission from 19 to 11 members, with nine representatives elected by district and two elected countywide. The races would be nonpartisan. Currently, voters get to select two commissioners per district, with the exception of the 5th District, which covers Southwest Knox County and has three seats. The proposed change would give all voters a say on three of 11 seats - one in district plus two at-large - as opposed to the two of 19 that most residents vote on now.
• Change eligibility requirements for commission, prohibiting county employees or people "whose compensation is required to be funded directly or indirectly by Knox County" from serving on the body.
• Make it a violation for elected or appointed officials to "advocate, recommend, supervise, manage or cause the employment, appointment, promotion, transfer, or advancement of his or her relative."
• Require elected officials or employees who vote on measures to disclose possible conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from discussions and votes.
• Create the position of inspector general, which would be chosen through a purchasing department process and appointed by commission.
• Reduce the number of petition signatures necessary for charter amendments from 15 percent of registered Knox County voters to 15 percent of those who voted in the last gubernatorial election.
• Make the county mayor responsible for the appointment of the trustee, county clerk, property assessor, register of deeds and law director. Those appointments would be subject to commission approval. Those positions are currently elected positions. The commission report said the change would eliminate "unnecessary separate fiefdoms" and bring $8.9 million annually into the mayor and commission's discussion of budget priorities.
• Clarify that the amended charter supersedes other regulations.
• Provide a form for Knox County employees or elected officials to disclose personal interests in non-voting matters over which they have discretion.

    - Jim Grinstead