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November 11, 2008

TSD Ward Building conference room

Meeting began at 7:10

Board members present: Jim Staub, Rachel Craig, Stephanie Welch, Kurt Zinser, Connie Vogt, Laura Barton, Rebecca Simmons-Lamm, Gina Brace, Katie Hannah, Jessica Rodocker, and Rudy Henley

Non-members present: Dean Rice and Mike Rodocker

Dean Rice attended our meeting. He is representing Tim Burchett, candidate for Knox County Mayor. Rice introduced himself, and he spoke about the upcoming election. He shared that the next mayor needs to focus on keeping his/her eye on the senate bill 3024 (relates to tree-topping). Rice explained that it would tie neighborhood associations’ hands and directly impact our neighborhood. Rice explained why Burchett is running for mayor. He has served in legislation for the past 18 years, both in the House and the Senate. He has watched good government be undermined. Burchett wants to come back here and focus on: 1. Finding ways to support education—working with the school board to get money into the classrooms. 2. Economy: how/where can we grow business? How can he work with the county to attract business? The unemployment rate in TN is 11 %.
3. Budget: We have a 647 million dollar budget in Knox Co. Burchett wants to change the culture of how it is spent. He wants to look at every penny that is spent. He is chairman of the budget sub-committee. The mayor sets the budget for the entire county. Rachel asked a question about city/county appointed people to MPC. What are his thoughts on appointing people to this position? Stephanie Welch asked about people in various departments (she works for the Health Dept.). She loves working there, and thinks it is the best department in the state. What will candidate Burchett do with people running these departments if they are not the best person for the job? Rice said that Burchett wants the best people in these positions.

Kurt asked how Burchett feels about metro-government. Rice stated that Burchett is opposed to the true metro government. Rice also said that Burchett does see some consolidation of items. Jessica asked why Burchett is opposed? Rice said that it could turn into a divisive issue (one group against another- political power).

Rice left some palm cards for Tim Burchett, and left the meeting at 7:27.

Gina moved that we approve the January minutes. Katie seconded. Minutes stand as approved.

Jim presented the Treasurer’s report. He passed around the report. Four checks were written. The push on dues brought us to $335!! That brings us to a total of $842 this year. We discussed the proposed budget vs. the actual budget. By the May meeting we need to have a proposed budget, and get a sense from the “money-spenders.” Our COIN dues were paid. We have spent about 50% of what we had budgeted. 42% of the houses have paid their dues. Jim has an updated roster of who has paid and not paid. We decided to put up a sign on the kiosk to try and get others to pay.

Connie gave the Knoxville marathon update. She has talked to the sign people about a welcome banner. Where would be the best place to put it? Maybe where IHB begins in front of Taryn’s house? Connie needs some tables for food and beverages. We need to talk about purchasing some tables for neighborhood gatherings.
We discussed the amounts of oranges and bananas for the runners. We will do lots of oranges and some bananas. Connie sent out an email about getting neighbors to run orange tables. No one has replied to that email. The orange stations will be in the same places as last year. Connie will send out another email with hours/shifts, and she will put up a flyer about street closings. She will talk with Taryn about the other signs. The same band is playing. There will be refreshments in front of Taryn’s house on Maplewood, and by the park. Gina talked about balloons for each pillar and delivery of balloons.

Rachel gave the COIN report. She discussed the absentee landlord registration ordinance. The Oak Ridge guy came to help and we are using that model. Absentee landlords would have to register each year and they can be fined. We talked about 2 houses in IH that are empty. Rachel suggested sending a letter to these owners.

Rachel gave the South Knoxville Neighborhood and Business Coalition report (SKNBC): The Henley Street Bridge was discussed. T-DOT did agree to 5 lanes and 2 bike lanes. SKNBC is working on a forum for 4/13 for a candidate meet-and-greet (time emailed later). It will take place at the South Knoxville community center. This forum will be for the candidates running for the 9th district school board, the 9th commission, and the 2 at-large commission seats. Each candidate will get a few minutes to speak. They will have their own table where you can go by and talk/ask questions. Rachel will moderate the forum. We will have a real debate as we get into the summer. SKNBC will sponsor a debate among the candidates for the position of Knox County Mayor, which has been scheduled for July 13th. SKNBC is also writing their charter. IHPNA will have to approve the charter (all neighborhoods will need to approve it).

Jim gave the Park Grant update. He met with Dave Watson from East TN Design Center. UT architect students will do some of the work (refurbish the steps, put some sort of walkway from children’s tree down, a stroller pathway). The students are supposed to come up with the solution for this. David Brace brought the city engineers over to look at the drain, and the city has agreed to extend that drain line over to the low point area. This should alleviate the water next to the playground. It is 2-phased project, and we may not get much done this year. The mayor’s budget luncheon is going to be at our park, and the city will do some work to prepare our park for this luncheon. This park grant will probably come up next year, and we can have a better plan before we apply for the grant next year. Jim suggested that we should forgo the application of this park grant. Jim made a motion, and Jessica seconded. IH will forgo the park grant application.

Jessica gave the traffic-calming report. Everything has been completed except for the rumble strips, which will be put in when the weather is better. Police cars have been sitting out by Watson, and people have been slowing down! The signs are in, and rumble strips on the way. Visual clutter was the major issue, and Jessica/Greg worked with the city to minimize the signage. Greg took photos of signs that needed to be changed (too many stop signs). Judi Gaston called Jessica and said that the city would not take the stop signs down. Judi shared that she sees 8 signs from her door. We should have a committee to work with Bill Cole from the Traffic and Engineering Dept. This committee could look at the signs in the neighborhood (can we have fewer or combine some?). People suggested for this committee are Carolyn Williams, Nancy Campbell, and Judi Gaston. We need a board member on this committee.

Mike Rodocker presented an idea of replacing all of the metal posts with wooden posts. This would be a beautification type thing. The cost and city engineering would have something to say about that. Mike thought that we could get the cost down to something reasonable like $25 or less per sign. We discussed changing the posts from metal to wood. There was discussion of using a 4x4 post and putting the existing signs on a 1 x. How high do they have to be? Rachel thinks that it has to be 7 ft., but she is not sure. Mike said he would be interested in being on this committee. Connie made a motion that we form a “visual clutter/beautification committee.” Gina seconded. All members present approved this committee.

By-laws update- Rachel asked if everyone had sufficient opportunity to give feedback and look over the by-laws changes. Katie will draft a final version and bring it to the next meeting.

Katie gave a directory update. She will have them at the 4th of July picnic to give them out to dues paying members. Residents will be able to pay and get a directory at the 4th of July picnic. Katie will email the girls group to get email addresses for the directory. We discussed going electronic instead of using a paper directory. It was the consensus that IH is not at this point yet. May is next newsletter, and April 30th is the deadline.
-Gina: egg-hunt story,
-Connie: marathon,
-Jim: park grant article,
-Rachel: president’s message, COIN, S. Knox coalition
-Rick Alexander will get Good Neighbor Award for his 4 years of service as our webmaster
-Mayor’s Budget Luncheon announcement
-Jessica: Gardening tips
-Jim: TSD award (Jim will talk to Joanna Pennoyer about when this is happening).
We will have a mid-May delivery.

Kurt Zinser has agreed to take over as webmaster immediately. ? Thanks, Kurt! Thank you to Rick for a fabulous job.
Mike Rodocker shared that he has started a Facebook page for Island Home. It is a fan page.

Gina stated that the egg hunt will take place at 11:00 at the park on Saturday. Jim is going to be the Easter bunny. Gina is hiding the eggs at 10:00. Chloe is decorating the children’s tree. We will do the children’s tree first. There will be a prize table, like last year. There will be 50 $1 items on the prize table. She will borrow the Barton’s table. Gina will make announcements about the marathon, dues, and the directory.

Our next board meeting will be May 11th.

Roundtable: Jessica said that The Urban Wilderness Challenge will be at 11:00 on Saturday.

Rachel made a motion that we adjourn. Jessica seconded.
Meeting adjourned at 8:50.

Submitted by Laura Barton
IHPNA secretary

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