Gerald Witt over at Knoxnews was able to get Tim Burchett to make a statement about the business that is renting his property. There is still a lot of other questions that will be asked. It is interesting that the Mayor and his communication guy ignored at least three requests for comments. But, the Mayor likes to call about issues he wants to talk about on a regular basis. As recently as about a week ago and he always starts with this is off the record. I have always honored that. But in typical Burchett fashion, when he wants information, he expects, but when he wants to run and avoid he runs and avoids. It is alright, it all comes around.
As for his position, he only leased it to Angela Taylor and it is up to her to comply. I don’t believe that is the typical tenant/landlord legal status. The Knoxville News Sentinel would not have accepted that response from former State Senator Stacey Campfield on his rental property.
According to communication from Knox County Codes today, they are expecting Ms. Taylor to be in tomorrow Wednesday 11/4/2015, however her quote to Gerald Witt is she will be in on Monday 11/9/2015.
Problem with Burchett’s comments in Witt’s article is that he was only there on opening day back in May. But then he says she (tenant) has cleaned the place up. How would he know that it’s been cleaned up if he hasn’t been there since opening day in May?
How coincidental is it that the business is motorcycle parts, eBay stuff all things that the Mayor has been in the business of dealing in the past. How coincidental that an Angela Taylor would name the business using the same name as the Mayor’s middle name.
Could it be that photographs exist that place the Mayor at the business at other times than the opening day of the business?
How will Knox County Codes handle the permitting process? Will they fast track it due to the County Mayor being the land owner? Will the business be treated differently since the media is watching? I have requested copies of the applications, I will follow the process. There is a business operation since May operating illegally, there are three erected signs that are illegal. All of these can be assessed fines. Will they? I will continue to monitor the process and the results.
A Certificate of Occupancy is about making sure the property has been inspected for life safety code compliance. It does include fees but more importantly it makes sure the property meets requirements for occupants to get in and out safely in case of a fire or other emergency. The Mayor might want to talk to his insurance carrier about his responsibility….if someone loses a life because no one cared enough to get a permit and a certificate of occupancy proving the codes have been met he would most certainly be included in the subsequent law suit. Not to mention the fact that a loss of life which could have been prevented….so this is more than a non-story….people circumventing the permitting and code compliance aspect of operating any business are putting the public at risks which are preventable. After someone is dead, the owner saying she didn’t know she was supposed to do this or that won’t make the family of the deceased feel any better or bring the person back to life.