After a wonderful Christmas with friends and family, it's back to blogging.
The one-vote annexation referendum in Knox County continues to be the subject of a lot of interest and investigative articles in the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Reporter Rebecca Farrar, in an article in the December 21st Sentinel, highlights questions--and provides at least some answers-- about the residence and employment of 20-year old Garrett Meek.
Meek is the 20-year old who cast the one and only vote in an annexation referendum that brought 70 acres into the City of Knoxville.
Developers apparently have said that Meek lived at 7521 Chapman Highway, the site of the proposed 70-acre shopping center.
After casting his ballot during early voting on October 23, water was cut off to Meek's "residence" the next day. Within just a few short days, the entire "residence" was torn down.
Utility records garnered by the Sentinel raise some questions about the timeline based on the use, or non-use, of water and electricity at the house.
KUB and Knox Chapman Utility District records show no electricity or water at 7521 Chapman Highway from January to May.
Records show very low electricity and water usage during the summer.
In explaining the lack of use and/or low use of electricity and water, the developer's attorney, Tim Zitzman, has said Meek lived in a camper from January to April, then moved into a house rented from Graham Corp.
Despite several previous reports and attempts to contact Mr. Meek, the News-Sentinel has not been able to locate him.
The Knox County Commission passed a resolution Monday asking that the state attorney general investigate the annexation vote. The request for an investigation has been sent to the state attorney general, according to a December 23rd article.
Commissioners, County Mayor Mike Ragsdale, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, and others appear to be in agreement that the project is a "good development" moneywise.
For the most part, sales tax and property tax money are not issues. The integrity and handling of the referendum election and Mr. Meek's residence are the issues.
Obviously, Mr. Meek's comments would be helpful in sorting this all out, but it looks like the 20-year old is not talking.
Now an attorney, saying that he represents Mr. Meek, has jumped into the fray.
Attorney John Lucas is warning Knox County Commissioners to back off and hints that commissioners who question Meek's involvement in the referendum might find themselves as defendants in a lawsuit.
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