No Sarcastic Intent
Observation on your "Ear to the Ground" segment ["Come One, Come All!" Vol. 9, No. 43]: After Bowden's flair up and during a recess, I asked several of my fellow Commissioners and members of the media if they felt my tone was argumentative or combative while asking questions of Commissioner Bowden. I was told "no" by all and I can assure you my intent was not to be, nor was I trying to be sarcastic. I had engaged in numerous conversations over the last several months asking what the future of the Construction Oversight Committee might look like. All discussions indicated a movement to make that committee a standing committee which I favored and encouraged. The lone exception was Mr. Bowden who favored leaving it as is. When Commissioner Bowden announced a unanimous (5-0) Rules Committee decision, questioning the thought process and detail of the committee's discussions over that issue was appropriate.
Commissioner Bowden disagreed with me, obviously. Previous to my questions of Mr. Bowden, Commissioner Griess had directed questions to Mr. Bowden on a point of order regarding Griess' submissions to the Rules Committee as to why his items had not appeared on the agenda. I sensed Mr. Bowden's frustration level rising during that discussion. When it came my time to discuss the Construction Oversight resolution, evidently Mr. Bowden had had enough and decided to vent on me. I was stunned! The resolution to retain Construction Oversight "as is" concerned me enough to cause me to resign as a member of that committee. Your "earpiece" was not adjusted properly in that it was Griess raising concerns over meeting times. My issue followed regarding Construction Oversight. My compliments to you for at least being there to report.
Phil Guthe
Knox County Commissioner
Appropriate and Deferential
I read with amusement the description of last Monday's [Oct. 25] County Commission meeting. As a member of the "disgruntled minority" I take exception to your take on the exchange between Commissioner Bowden and Commissioner Guthe and myself over the issue of moving the commission meeting to after 4 p.m. Mr. Guthe's questions to Mr. Bowden were certainly not sarcastic but were very appropriate and asked in a deferential tone. Committee chairmen are often asked questions about issues that their committee has reviewed and it is one of the many obligations of these chairmen to report to the whole commission as to why their committee does or does not recommend passage of a resolution. It was for this reason that Mr. Guthe asked the questions of Mr. Bowden and it was for that reason that I defended Mr. Guthe when Mr. Bowden refused to answer. It was the general consensus of most everyone present that Mr. Bowden's refusal to answer the questions and his hot-tempered response was not the result of the tone of the questions but because Mr. Bowden was confused as to what was going on and did not have a clue as to how to answer. It is unfortunate that Mr. Bowden chose to refer to me in such a vulgar way when questioned by your reporter, Ms. Betty Bean, and embarrassing to your paper that she did not seek either Mr. Guthe nor my reaction to the exchange.
As a postscript, why didn't this paper report on the resolution to start the commission meetings after 4 p.m.? One of the purposes of this resolution was so the three teachers who also serve as commissioners wouldn't have to leave their teaching duties in order to attend commission meetings. Since they are paid both to teach and serve as a commissioner with taxpayer dollars, this resolution would let them avoid having to double dip into taxpayers' pockets. Of the three teachers on commission only Commissioner McMillian voted to change the time of the meeting. Commissioner Stephens passed on his vote and Commissioner Clark voted with the "irritated majority" to defeat this resolution.
John L. Schmid
Knox County Commissioner
4th District, Seat A
High Concept
First and foremost, to say that Bill Appleton up and moved to California because his bartender girlfriend was tired of Knoxville is absurd ["Down With the Ship" by Jack Neely, Vol. 9, No. 42]. I think we can all agree that Bill is one of Knoxville's most successful businessmen, and for people to accuse Bill of thinking without his brain is childish and incorrect. The fact is, the wells in Knoxville are only so deep, and the money and the opportunities are much greater in the California Bay area. All the people riding Bill's coat-tails are angry because now they have to work for a boss who isn't as kind and generous as Bill was. Get over it. It was a business decision.
Here's an idea... someone else come up with ANOTHER successful business.
Wow, what a concept.
Sheryl Stewart
Memphis
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