The third week of May is National Public Works Week (NPWW), a celebration of the tens of thousands of American men and women who provide and maintain the infrastructure and services collectively known as public works.NPWW calls attention to the importance of public works in community life and seeks to enhance the prestige of the professionals who serve the public good every day with quiet dedication.

In honor of NPWW, Knox County wants to highlight outstanding employees from different public works divisions, starting with Highway Maintenance and employee JaGade DeBurns.

“Whether they’re mowing right-of-ways or filling a pothole our highway crews work hard, under tough conditions to efficiently serve Knox County residents,” said Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett.

JaGade DeBurns, who most know as Gator, is a truck driver with Knox County Highway Maintenance. He has been with the department for 13 years. In addition to driving his church bus and DJing in his spare time, Gator is a rollercoaster enthusiast and once played in an R&B funk band.

“A lot of people get us confused with highway construction, but what we do is maintenance,” said Gator.

Knox County Highway Maintenance is the most recognizable division of public works. Most days highway crews can be seen working on road repairs and maintaining county right of ways, but these workers do much more than meets the eye. Laborers cut and remove storm debris, treat roadways during winter weather, remove dead animals, level roads, mow right-of-ways, repair potholes and perform dozens of other tasks to maintain safety on our county roads. They also act as first responders in storms and other emergency situations.

“We all have different backgrounds, but we gel really well together,” said Gator of his fellow highway crew members. “We may do several different types of jobs in a day. And we’re really safety conscious.”

For all the men and women who work diligently to maintain our roadways, update infrastructure, keep roads safe during inclement weather and all the other countless aspects of public works, Knox County thanks you.

More information on National Public Works Week can be found at www.apwa.net/discover/National-Public-Works-Week

Knoxville, Tenn. – Knox County is proud to announce that Cynthia M. Pionke, director of planning and development, has been named the 2011 recipient of the Marble J. Hensley Award. She received this award at the 2012 Southern District of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (SDITE) Annual Meeting on April 17.

The Marble J. Hensley Outstanding Individual Activity Award recognizes an outstanding SDITE member who untiringly and unselfishly contributed during the previous year to the profession and who by personal integrity, leadership and example inspired fellow transportation professionals to greater service.

"Knox County is privileged to have employees like Cindy working for our citizens,” said Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett. “She deserves the recognition for all her hard work."

Founded in 1930, the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) is a community of transportation professionals, serving as a gateway to knowledge and advancement through meetings, seminars and publications. The SDITE is one of ten regional subdivisions of the ITE which includes transportation engineering professionals in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. There are approximately 2,000 members in the Southern District.

The awards program was established at the SDITE's 20th Annual Meeting in Memphis, Tennessee on May 9, 1972. Additional awards have been added through the years. The program consists of individual and group awards to recognize individual or committee accomplishments, section awards and awards for students. For most awards, nominations are judged in January and awarded at the Annual Meeting later that spring. The awards presented at the Annual Meeting represent the accomplishments of the previous year.

Fifteen Knox County High Schools have graduations scheduled for the conclusion of the 2011-2012 school year in May.  Dr. Jim McIntyre, Superintendent of the Knox County Schools, will be in attendance at a portion of all graduation ceremonies.

To graduate, students have earned the prescribed 28 credits along with maintaining a satisfactory record of attendance and discipline.

The following Knox County High School commencements are scheduled:

Thursday, May 17

Knoxville Adaptive Education Center at 10:30 a.m.

at the school which is located at 5719 Kingston Pike

Halls High School at 5:30 p.m.

at U.T. Thompson Boling Arena

Karns High School at 8 p.m.

at U.T. Thompson Boling Arena

Friday, May 18

Central High School at 3 p.m.

at U.T. Thompson Boling Arena

Gibbs High School at 5:30 p.m.

at Civic Coliseum

South-Doyle High School at 5:30 p.m.

at U.T. Thompson Boling Arena

Kelley Volunteer Academy at 7 p.m.

at Knoxville Center Mall

Bearden High School at 8 p.m.

at U.T. Thompson Boling Arena

Saturday, May 19

Powell High School at 9 a.m.

at U.T. Thompson Boling Arena

Austin-East High School at 11 a.m.

at Civic Coliseum

Carter High School at 11:30 a.m.

at U.T. Thompson Boling Arena

Fulton High School at 2 p.m.

at Civic Coliseum

West High School at 2 p.m.

at U.T. Thompson Boling Arena

Hardin Valley Academy at 4:30 p.m.

at U.T. Thompson Boling Arena

Farragut High School at 7 p.m.

at U.T. Thompson Boling Arena

In the next 17 seconds, an older adult will be treated in a hospital emergency department for injuries related to a fall.

In the next 30 minutes, an older adult will die from injuries sustained in a fall. Falls are the leading cause of injury

among adults aged 65 years and older in the United States, and can result in severe injuries such as hip fractures and

head traumas. In Knox County, more than 1,800 people aged 65 and older sought hospital care for falls in 2009 (the

most current data), and approximately 19 people aged 65 or older die each year from their injuries. That’s why Knox

County Health Department (KCHD) and the Knoxville-Knox County Senior Safety Task Force will be hosting the

community-wide Senior Falls Prevention seminar on Tuesday, May 22, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at John T.

O’Connor Senior Center, 611 Winona Street in Knoxville. The theme is “Your Roadmap to Preventing Falls.” The

seminar is free and open to the public, but participants must register to reserve their spot by calling 541-4500 by

Tuesday, May 15. Health Care professionals also are welcome and continuing education credits are available.

“Knox County’s seniors are one of our greatest resources,” said Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett. “Keeping them

healthy, active citizens benefits all of us. I appreciate the Senior Safety Task Force’s efforts in helping them maintain

their independence and a good quality-of-life.”

"This seminar is specifically designed to give seniors and their families important tools and resources for doing

personal risk assessment and developing a fall prevention plan,” said Stan Boling, Covenant Senior Health vice

president and task force member. “There also will be workshops and continuing education credits for health care

professionals interested in learning the latest information on minimizing the dangers of falls in the senior population.”

Breakout sessions for community members will include causes and treatment for dizziness, and Dr. John Dougherty,

neurologist, will discuss an Alzheimer’s self-test. The day includes light breakfast and lunch with entertainment by the

O’Connor Singing Seniors, an exercise break and door prizes. More than 25 vendors from the Senior Safety Task

Force and other senior organizations will offer a variety of information and health screenings. Sponsors are Knox

County Health Department, United Healthcare Community Plan and Covenant Senior Health.

For the second year, a professional track with continuing education units (CEUs) for nurses and LPNs will be offered.

The presenters will include Ryan Gabel, a physical therapist with Gentiva Health, and Dr. John Duncan, Knox County

Health Department pharmacist. Health care professionals must call 541-4500 by May 15 to reserve a space.

More than one of every three adults aged 65 and older falls each year, accounting for 13,000 fatalities and 1.8 million

hospital visits annually. In 2003, the total direct cost for falls for this group is more than $27.3 billion annually. By 2020,

it is expected to reach $43.8 billion.

Knox County Health Department convened the Senior Safety Task Force in March 2008 to address concerns about

falls in the older population. The group meets monthly and has hosted a fall prevention seminar every year since its

inception. The task force includes many community partners and has representatives from non-profit organizations,

social service agencies, local government, hospitals, home health and other advocates for seniors.

The Knoxville Knox County Homeless Coalition (KKCHC) in coordination with Knoxville Homeless Management Information System (KnoxHMIS) released a study today called "Homelessness in Knoxville and Knox County, TN" and presented the report to Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero and Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett in the Bill Lyons Pavilion on Market Square.

Rev. Dr. Bruce Spangler, President of Knoxville/Knox County Homeless Coalition welcomed attendees and introduced Dr. Roger M. Nooe, Knox County Public Defenders Community Law Office and Dr. David Patterson from KnoxHMIS. Dr. Nooe and Dr. Patterson presented findings from the report.

Jaime Brennan, Vice-President of Knoxville/Knox County Homeless Coalition presented closing remarks.

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett today presented is Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Knox County Budget proposal to the Knox County Commission, before beginning a series of public meetings throughout the county to bring his plan directly to the taxpayers.

Click here for the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 budget.

Click here for the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 budget in brief.

Click here for the Knox County Budget Presentation.

During his budget presentation, Mayor Burchett made the following remarks:

Good morning. Thank you, Chairman Hammond. Thank you also for the prayer, Philip, and to you all for leading us in the pledge of allegiance.

Commissioners, school board members, other elected officials, thank you all for joining me this morning.

Mayor Rogero, I appreciate you joining us and I want to thank you for the way you and your staff work so closely with me and my administration.

Before I begin, I want to especially thank former Finance Director John Troyer, Interim Finance Director Chris Caldwell and the rest of my finance team for their hard work in putting this proposal together.

As you know, I am here to present my 2012-2013 Knox County Budget proposal. Like last year, when we finish here I will begin having a number of public meetings across the county with the taxpayers so they know exactly how their tax dollars will be spent under this budget.

Like the current budget, this proposal represents the many challenges we face, as well as some positive opportunities.

Even as we see some signs of economic improvement – with slightly higher property tax revenues and a somewhat larger increase in sales tax revenue – we must remain cautiously optimistic, because the challenges are not yet behind us.

Our bond debt remains a significant obstacle, and is something we need to continue to address by resisting unnecessary spending.

Thanks in part to our willingness to show restraint, the County’s bond rating remains extremely strong.

Early this year, we were able to give our employees a pay increase that was not part of the current year’s budget. This year, that $3 million cost is reflected in this budget proposal.

The Uniformed Officers Pension Plan is another ballooning cost in the Knox County Budget. In FY 2013, it will cost more than $5 million to cover our obligations to the UOPP. That’s Three-quarters-of–a-million dollars more than we are spending this year. The Charter Review Committee and Knox County’s voters must address this issue.

But let me be clear: We cannot and should not take the pension away from anyone who is already enrolled in the Uniformed Officers Plan. We can offer future Sheriff Deputies a quality and generous retirement plan, but it has to be one the taxpayers can afford.

I want to take just a moment to thank the employees of Knox County for the work they do to help us overcome these challenges, and I’ve invited a few of the employees who keep this county running to be here today. I would like to ask them to stand and be recognized. Together, these folks have almost 500 years of experience working for Knox County. These employees, and the hundreds of other county employees they work with, do a great job, and deserve our appreciation and support.

I am pleased to say this budget does not require a tax increase. This government can fulfill its role without increasing the burden on our citizens. Now is not the time to raise their taxes.

The total proposed 2012-2013 county budget is $673,717,291. That’s just under $21 million more than last year.

Nearly 73 percent of that increase is directed for Schools. The rest comes from growth in public safety and our required debt payments. While these areas grew, it is important to note that general government funding decreased this year by $331,000.

For the second year in a row, we will meet our obligations without raiding our General fund Balance.

We are also continuing to reduce the county’s debt. Going into the upcoming fiscal year, the county’s debt will be $669 million in principle alone– That’s more than $1 billion when you add interest. We have reduced the county’s bond debt by more than $20 million this year, and we’ll be on pace to reduce it by another $110 million in the next five years.

One significant change in this budget is that we have replaced the former Community Grants program with defined services contracts. Each of the organizations and funding levels presented in this budget went through a well-defined, transparent evaluation process.

As several Commissioners have pointed out in the past, using this model for non-profit funding has removed the politics from this process, while increasing transparency and accountability.

I have long said it isn’t government’s role to create jobs, but government should create an environment that encourages job growth. This budget reflects that fact.

This includes infrastructure. This budget leverages local dollars for $932,000 in state aid for paving, so we can plan for 27 miles of paving in this budget, compared to 16 budgeted-miles in the current year. That’s roughly like paving a road from Solway to Corryton.

I am also asking in this budget for the funds to aggressively promote job retention and recruitment. This year we are combining funding for the Chamber and Innovation Valley -- and we are funding the Development Corporation.

The total for these closely-related efforts is $620,000. I have also asked our finance department to work with the Development Corporation in directing $125,000 in additional CDBG funds to a focused job skills training program.

I am confident that with an economic development investment of nearly $745,000, coupled with the City of Knoxville’s investment, we will see strong and measurable results from these organizations.

In this budget, Public Safety funding increases nearly $3 million dollars to just under $74 million, with most of that increase going to the Knox County Sheriff’s Department.
I am pleased to say that the Knox County Libraries will see no reduction in funding. Myretta and her team do a tremendous job serving the thousands of citizens who use our libraries every month.

Another very important resource for many Knox County residents is the Knox County Health Department. This budget provides virtually level funding of $22.3 million for Public Health and Welfare. Dr. Buchanan and her staff will continue serving children and their families who don’t have access to healthcare.

We will continue to fund other departments like Knox County Parks & Recreation, information technology and our probation office at the levels they need.

Our seniors and veterans are an especially important group of people. They have sacrificed so much for this community and for this country. Because both of these groups deserve the best service Knox County can offer, I have instructed my staff to combine our Senior Services with Veteran Services and Community Outreach. This will allow for greater coordination between three departments that are closely related. I will be asking you to approve this needed adjustment to the organizational chart.

Our Engineering and Public Works Department also plays a fundamental role in the daily lives of our citizens.

In addition to increasing funding for infrastructure, this budget provides funds that will allow us to continue to ensure that Dwight and his Engineering and Public Works staff have the support needed to respond during emergencies and bad weather situations.

Something that is separate but very closely connected to this budget is the 2013 Capital Improvement Plan. I’m proposing a Capital Plan that invests more than $27 million in needed improvements and upgrades to county facilities and other capital projects in FY2013. The plan includes nearly $5 million for overall building improvements and major maintenance, as well as over $7 million for highway improvements. There is also funding for the relocation of the Karns Convenience Center – all in 2013.

This Capital Improvement Plan also includes $3 million for an expansion of the Juvenile Justice Center, $1.6 million for the Knox County Sheriff’s Office for improvements to the Knox County Detention Center and radios for deputies, as well as $9-and-a-half million for the Knox County Schools.

Finally, I want to talk very frankly about our funding for Education.

As most of you know, both my parents were career educators and my degree from U.T. is in education.

I understand the needs of the classroom, and I understand the fact that our teachers are committed everyday to giving our children the best education they possibly can.

I want to publically thank our teachers for the work they do.

I am pleased to say that this budget provides the Board of Education with approximately $13 million in new funding. This is a greater increase than has been provided in the past three years combined.

In my proposed budget, more than 72 percent of the county’s overall $673.7 million budget is directed for schools.

That includes $397.7 million for General Purpose Schools, and $46.5 million for all other school funds, including debt, cafeteria and construction. By comparison, the General Fund budget is less than $152 million.

In addition to these direct dollars, this budget provides the Great Schools Partnership with $2.6 million, and an additional $1.1 million that goes from the general fund directly to pay for a Kindergarten intervention program.

In total, we will be providing our school system with over $400 million, AND we will do this without raising taxes.

I realize that despite this very significant increase, the Board of Education and Dr. McIntyre have requested an additional $35 million on top of this $400 million. I want to very respectfully say that it is easy to claim that more money will solve our problems. We need only to look to Washington, D.C., though, to see that this is simply not true.

We all know that we cannot afford this huge jump in School System spending, unless you as commissioners want to significantly raise taxes. In fairness I need to tell you this morning that should you choose to send a tax increase across my desk rather than to the ballot, I will veto it. We can and are funding our schools without adding to the burden facing small businesses and families in this county.

I realize that some organizations are aggressively promoting a significant property tax increase that would disproportionately hurt struggling small businesses.

As Mayor, though, l do not believe the citizens of this county can afford to have more money taken from them during an economic downturn that is only beginning to level out.

If you are to consider raising taxes either through property or sales tax, I hope you will give every voter the chance to say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ on a ballot.

With this said, there are tremendous needs in our schools, and I believe that the Board of Education and School Superintendent have rightly recognized this.

I have met with Board Chair Thomas Deakins and Superintendent McIntyre and told them that I want to work with them to address the most critical need our school children face today.

Experts agree that the number one indicator of a student’s future success in High School is whether she or he is reading at grade-level in third grade.

I met with a strong supporter of education recently and he summed it up very well: From Kindergarten to Third grade children learn to read. For the rest of their lives they read to learn. The Board of Education recognizes this as well, and requested funding for addressing literacy in its budget.

This need is made very clear by the fact that 56 percent of Knox County third graders are not reading at grade-level.

Thirty of our 49 elementary schools have more than 50 percent of their third grade kids reading below grade level.

Eleven schools have over 70 percent of third graders reading below grade level.

In fact, under the new standards, not a single elementary school in Knox County is meeting its third grade reading goal.

Commissioners, this is not because of a lack of effort on the part of teachers, or a lack of ability among our students. We can change this – and I believe we have to change this.

We have funded an intensive, early literacy pilot program in four elementary schools through The Great Schools Partnership.

I am pleased to say that 75 percent of the children who began the program behind in reading caught up and are now ready to move forward with confidence.

I am ready to see these and even better results in all 49 elementary schools, not just in four.

For this reason, I have told Chairman Deakins that I will ask to provide approximately $3 million targeted specifically at an intensive Kindergarten through third grade reading effort. Superintendent McIntyre has said that this is enough to cover all schools, with the understanding that the needs are different in each school.

These funds will be provided through the Special Projects portion of the school’s funding so that there is both a guarantee of focus and accountability.

Some will say this is not enough and we must fund the entire $35 million now. I say before we raise taxes, let’s tackle this core problem. We can do this without raising taxes, and at the end of three years the school system will hopefully be able tell a great success story.

Most importantly, though, we will have given our children the most important education tool they will ever have: the ability to be a strong reader.

I ask you to join me in promoting and funding a focused and affordable effort supporting early literacy.

I truly believe that this budget will keep Knox County going in a direction that will help us provide efficient service to our citizens by focusing on the core principles of government. And although we have policy differences from time to time, I appreciate the fact that we, along with other elected officials, are all committed to serving the people of this county.

I appreciate your time and consideration, and I ask that you consider this budget over the coming weeks and vote to approve it on May 30th. Thank you.

Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, and Covenant Health fitness expert Missy Kane announced today free walking and hiking programs that will be offered this spring and summer on City and County greenways.

Mayors Rogero and Burchett announced their partnered "Tour de Fleur" wildflower walking series, which is a free tour of greenways where an Ijams nature guide discusses previously labeled flowers. Last year, the event series debuted on Will Skelton and Ten Mile Creek greenways. The mayors announced the new greenways introduced to the program this year.

They also announced the "Happy Hiker" programs offered at various City and County senior centers.

Missy Kane announced the dates and locations for her "Get Out On Local Trails with Missy Kane and Legacy Parks" program. Kane hosts her hikes on City, County, and State trails. Each event in her program is free, but she does accept donations to benefit the Friends of Legacy Parks.

Ijams Nature Center Executive Director Paul James also announced walks that Ijams offers at its 275-acre property. Those include night owl hikes, wildflower walks, and other nature programs.

Other walking programs that were featured in the press conference today included the Knox County Health Department's Active-8 Series, the Knoxville Track Club's Knox Walks program, and the Nordic Walks that will be operated out of the Outdoor Knoxville Center on Neyland Greenway.

Tour De Fleur Wildflower Walks

May 5: Victor Ashe Park; meet at the pavilion
June 2: Ten Mile Creek Greenway, starting at Walker Springs Park
July 7: Will Skelton Greenway, starting at Ijams Nature Center
August 4: Holston River Park, starting at main shelter
September 8: Halls Greenway; meet at the Halls Library
October 6: Ten Mile Creek Greenway, starting at the Wynnsong Theater Parking Area

Get Out on Local Trails with Missy Kane and Legacy Parks

June 6: James White Greenway to the Alex Haley Statue, starting at Outdoor
Knoxville Adventure Center
June 13: New Harvest Park
June 20: Frozen Head State Park (more difficult) or Victor Ashe Park (less difficult)
June 27: Concord Park Trails
July 11: Forks of the River, beginning at Ijams Nature Center
July 18: Fort Dickerson Greenway at the Augusta Road entrance
July 24: House Mountain Natural Area

Schedules, locations, and contact information for each of the programs featured today may be viewed on the Outdoor Knoxville web site at www.OutdoorKnoxville.com/calendar/greenway-walks.

Got a sweet tooth? Join us from 12-5 p.m. on March 31 in Neyland Stadium's Tennessee Terrace as the gridiron transforms itself into the biggest bakery in town.

Over 150 of the fanciest cakes you'll ever see will be on display, and most of them will be for sale. It's a sweet competition for a great cause. As a fundraiser for the Imagination Library of Knox County, all proceeds will help ensure that Knox County children will continue to receive free books in the mail, every month, until age 5. Tickets are only $5, and children under 10 get in for free. For more information, please visit
www.knoxlib.org/cakebake.

The Great Cake Bake is made possible through the generous support of Food City, Sugarbaker's, Friends of the Library, WVLT, Knoxville News Sentinel, B97.5, Sisters of the Skillet and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Knox County's Imagination Library is administered by Knox County Public Library.

Photos of last year's entries and winners are available here and can be requested for publication.

Volunteers Are Needed and the Public is Invited

Knox County Disaster Animal Response Team (DART) volunteers work with the
Knoxville Emergency Management Agency and the Knox County Health Department
(KCHD) Emergency Preparedness Department to help save animals that are the victims
of natural disasters. DART volunteers assist in the on-going care of dogs, cats and
other animals that have been rescued and/or sheltered out of harm’s way.
Anyone interested in becoming a Knox County DART member is invited to an
informational meeting on Thursday, March 29, 5:30 to 7 p.m., in the Community Room
(basement level) of the main KCHD facility at 140 Dameron Avenue. A Knox County
DART Badge will be issued to those who attend and meet requirements. You do not
have to be a Knox County resident to join the team. Those planning to attend are asked
to email Jennifer Wilson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by fax to 865-582-4604
prior to the meeting. Please include the names of those who will attend. 

There have been changes in the requirements for becoming a DART team member. 
This is due to an effort by the federal government to require all responding volunteers to
understand and utilize the Incident Command System. This requirement, along with
other important information, will be discussed at the meeting. If you currently have a
Knox County DART Badge, you do not need to attend this meeting. However, if you
have received credentials from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture in the past, we
encourage you to attend as well.