Recently appointed interim County Commissioner District Five John Schoonmaker held a second interview meeting for fifth district residents interested in replacing him on the Knox County Board of Zoning Appeals. The second meeting was this past Thursday in the community room at the Farragut Town Hall.
When I arrived (NOT AS A CANDIDATE), Mr. Alan Sloan of the Farragut Press was present with the Appointed Interim Commissioner Schoonmaker. The meeting on Thursday began at 5 p.m. and when I left at 5:45 p.m., the meeting consisted of Mr. Schoonmaker talking to Mr. Sloan and myself about his 5 years of service on the Board of Zoning Appeals.
At the first meeting Schoonmaker held, only two individuals appeared. Mr. Ron Rochelle and Mrs. Becky Benson. Schoonmaker intends to make his decision this weekend and at 5 p.m. on Monday (tomorrow) at the County Commission workshop will fill in the name of the person he recommends as the BZA member to the Commission. Then in one week, Monday March 30, 2015 at 5 p.m. the County Commission will appoint a representative.
Mrs. Becky Benson is a former Speech Language Specialist with Knox County Schools, a former Education Coordinator of the Knoxville News Sentinel from 1979-1984, a former Knox County Schools Assistant Principal, a former Coordinator of Student Services at Lincoln Memorial University and from 2009-2013 Adjunct Instructor at Tusculm College.
Mr. Ron Rochelle obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Tennessee in 1975 and graduated from the College of Financial Planning in 1996. From 1977-1992, Rochelle owned two high end furniture stores in Knoxville and Bristol, TN. Rochelle has been a Certified Financial Planner since 1996 and since 2002 has been a Comptroller with Designsensory. Rochelle has served on the Farragut MPC 2010-2012, he served as Chairman of the Knox County Parks and Recreation in 2011, served on Farragut Visual Resources Review Board 2C0B-2009, served the Knox County Chamber of Commerce as an Ambassador, he volunteered with VITA_lRS, CAC Office on Aging, United Way, Volunteer Ministry, President, Tennessee Tipoff Club and an Arena Donor.
I asked Schoonmaker about the legal action that Mrs. Benson is a party of between citizens and Knox County and the Board of Zoning Appeals. He said that he knows that will be an issue if she is recommended.
