Metro Pulse/Ear to the Ground

Comment
on this story

Compelling Explanations

Things momentarily looked dicey for members of the Historic Fort Sanders Neighborhood Association at last Thursday's MPC meeting. A modest crowd of 20-30 responded when HFSNA legal counsel Mike McClamroch asked that supporters of the Fort Sanders Forum's plan for the neighborhood stand. The plan, which includes a NC-1 Conservation District that limits demolition and establishes design control, is vehemently opposed by a small group of Fort Sanders landlords. Just how small, Fort Sanders landlord Britt Howard unwittingly betrayed when, not to be outdone by McClamroch, he turned to the crowd and asked "all those who oppose the NC-1 conservation district please stand up."

Not a person stood—much to the relief of preservation advocates and City officials who have publicly endorsed the Forum plan.

"They must be busy working on their houses," was Howard's explanation, a comment that drew knowing chuckles from the audience and some MPC commissioners. With little further discussion, MPC unanimously approved the Forum plan. However, to take effect, the NC-1 District will require separate approval by the Historic Zoning Commission, MPC, and City Council.

Miracles?

The last time we saw Danny Mayfield, he was in bad shape. His weight had dropped to 105, and his throat was raw and bloody, in reaction to the chemotherapy he is taking for bone cancer. Three weeks later, a PET scan can't pick up any sign of the tumors that were on his heart, lungs and near his kidneys. He has gained 20 pounds, and his wife, Missy, says he is working on a pot belly Mayfield jokes that he's been drinking beer with Jack Sharp, and says he will go back for more tests in a couple of weeks.

Why Is It Always the Cool People Who Leave?

Last weekend, the News-Sentinel wrote a story questioning what exactly Carleton Bryant does in his role as legal advisor for Sheriff Tim Hutchison. Bryant refused to talked to the reporter, John North.

When public officials are afraid to talk to reporters, it often means the reporter is damn good. Such is the case with North, who just last year wrote a series of articles examining the sheriff department's controversial SORT teams.

Unfortunately for Knoxville, the Bryant story was North's swan song at the Sentinel. He's leaving for CNN in Atlanta.

In his years at the Sentinel, North was one of the paper's standouts. North thoroughly covered courts for the paper, and also wrote investigative pieces about Cathy Quist and the SIBC banking scandal. He won several awards, including one on the aftermath of a fatal fire.

North isn't the only standout leaving the paper. The Sentinel is also losing its sharp technology reporter, Kathy Brister, who is taking a job with the Atlanta Journal and Constitution where she'll cover technology and cable television. Two photographers are also leaving. Byron Small is moving to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. And Margaret Bentlage will not be returning from maternity leave.

Contrary to popular belief, there are lots of people we like and respect at the News-Sentinel. But now there's a few less.

Going to the Chapel

Farragut's already approved it, but City Council turned it down the following day, and County Commission is fixing to challenge it in court. So there was little chance for a meeting of the minds Monday on the state-mandated Growth Policy Plan (AKA the Urban Growth Plan). The plan, which is roughly as popular as a barbed-wire enema among outside-the-city Commissioners, is headed for a stalemate, which will send it to arbitration by a panel of Davidson County judges.

The meeting, called by Jeff Wilkins, chairman of the Growth Policy Coordinating Committee, sought to perform a shotgun wedding by inviting each member of the Knoxville and Farragut City Councils and County Commission to attend a joint meeting Monday at the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership. Only one Council member—Danny Mayfield—showed. Six County Commissioners made the scene.

Commissioner Frank Leuthold said the whole thing got off on the wrong foot when an MPC employee sent the county's court reporter home, and he described the meeting as "...about 20 minutes of gobbledy-gook before I got up and asked questions I'd already asked in a letter that they refused to answer. They finally sent back a letter saying they weren't going to answer anything in writing, so they called this meeting." Leuthold said the whole experience wasn't improved by its location—the Chamber Chapel.