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Come One, Come All!
The October County Commission meeting was a doozy, as the rift between the disgruntled minority (Wanda Moody, Pat Medley, John Schmid, Phil Guthe and John Griess) and the irritated majority (everybody else) grows ever more pointed, leading to a spirited display of democracy in action. It's hard to pick a high point from this embarrassment of riches, but here are a couple or three favorite "Ear" moments:
Rules Committee Chairman Frank Bowden, under close and sarcastic questioning from Guthe concerning the reasons why the committee failed to consider changing meeting times, took exception to Guthe's tone, which he called "interrogation." Schmid interrupted to interject that Guthe was "just asking a question," provoking Bowden to shoot back "Shut up, Smitts! Nobody's talking to you." Later, when asked about the exchange, Bowden, a crusty old high school principal, elaborated:
"Smitts? He's a @#% and I'd like to punch him right between the eyes."
Then there was the exchange when Moody took exception to Commission Chair Leo Cooper's contention that holding zoning appeals (now heard in an evening session immediately following the Commission's regular work) on a separate night could result in many commissioners not showing up for the hearings. Moody said that she was offended that Cooper would suggest such a thing, since she and other commissioners who represent city districts don't have zoning issues come up in their own districts, but are responsible elected officials who can be counted on to do their duty.
Cooper took exception to her taking exception and replied that he was expressing an opinion to which he is entitled; Moody said she's entitled to hers, too. Soon thereafter, Moody's District 3 seatmate, Pat Medley, skipped the evening zoning session.
District Attorney General Randy Nichols took exception (once again) to building the Justice Center, which he used to advocate until a few weeks ago when he discovered that crime rates have been nose-diving for years. He said the public hates the Justice Center and that he is leading a "movement" against it. Several commissioners took exception to this, since Nichols used to lobby for the hated $90 million building.
Just then, PBA chief Mike Edwards interrupted to announce that there'd been a "threat."
"I thought crime was down," said John Mills just before the building was evacuated and the bomb-sniffing dog came through.
Preservation At Any Price?
Lawyer Caesar Stair, on behalf of a group of preservation-minded clients, has offered Cherokee Country Club $1,060,000 for the historic J. Allen Smith house that the club bought earlier this year at that same price. The Stair group is seeking to protect the house from demolition that would result if Cherokee carries through on original plans to level it for a parking lot. But according to a member of the group, club president Jimmy Smith has said the property—which adjoins Cherokee's golf course—is not for sale.
Cherokee has held demolition in abeyance pending completion of an analysis of uses for the property by planner Don Parnell. The preservationists would like to see the house maintained as a residence. But failing that and subject to a zoning change, they are amenable to seeing it converted to office use with some of the grounds going to meet Cherokee's purported parking needs.
Tropical Old City
As some Old City merchants struggle to hang on, a major chain restaurant and nightclub has decided to give it a go. A combination restaurant and late night dance club/sports bar, Banana Joe's signed a deal this week for the old Hoo-Ray's building on Central Avenue. A spokesman for the Ohio-based company—which just opened a Banana Joe's in Nashville—says they hope to be up and running by Thanksgiving, though that depends on getting the necessary licenses and permits.
According to the company's website, "Banana Joe's is a casual, fun-filled gathering place with the look and feel of Key West and the Caribbean Islands."
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