Yesterday, the Knox County Commission sent out a “Sunshine” meeting notice. It has to be filed in the you can’t make this 💩 up.
At 3 pm on Monday 9/21/2020 they are conducting a mock meeting in the Main Assembly Room of the City County Building.
It reads that the purpose is to offer the new Commissioners the opportunity to do a walk through of the process and procedures of the commission and work sessions meetings.
In all the years of new Commissioners, to my vast historical recollection, there has never been one Commissioner that had a practice mock session. I could be corrected, but I doubt it.
Isn’t the purpose of the Knox County Law Department being at the meeting to ensure there is no foul ups? Isn’t the Chairman suppose to know how the process goes, I mean there are Commissioners that have been on Commission for six years that still have to be told you can’t do that.
Think back to about 2006-2008, the Commission had several Commissioners win election/re-election in 2006, several appointed ones 2007, several replacement appointees in late 2008. None of them needed a practice mock session.
You would think if a practice mock session were necessary, when Former Chairman Hugh Nystrom and Current Chairman Larsen Jay organized a two full day Orientation and Training session in August 2020, they would have worked that into the schedule.
The four new Commissioners are former six year Knox County School board Member Terry Hill, Business Entreprenuer Kyle Ward, Dr. Dasha Lundy and Courtney Durrett. I am sure each of them have watched Commission meetings before.
As a former Board Member and Vice Chairman of the Knox County School Board myself. I recall my first meeting I jumped right in, asking questions and participating.
As a candidate, these folks told the community, at least by perception that they could do the job.
If a learning session is deemed necessary, let’s bring some former Commissioners in and show them how it’s really done.
This whole practice thing, reminds me of a former Commission meeting when former Commissioner Greg “lumpy” Lambert told then Mayor Mike Ragsdale, “this isn’t candy land, you can’t have a do over”
Others that have called me in the last twelve hours, are just shaking their heads in unbelief and laughing that this is happening. I feel certain that NONE of the four new Commissioners felt this was necessary. In my opinion, it is likely from a heavy handed power control leadership. But I may be wrong.
I doubt this mock session will be broadcast on live stream or Community Television, so in order to get video of it, I suspect I or someone will have to go record it.
