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November 2020 Constituent Update

News & Noteworthy Events in Knox County / Commission
This constituent update contains information on the work of Knox County Commission, news about recent experiences, community information and upcoming events. This newsletter is issued at the beginning of each month and generally covers activities of the previous month.
Every project needs a visionary, a champion, and a dedicated leader who will make things happen. For Knox County's watersheds, that person is Roy Arthur. I had the pleasure of spearheading the campaign to rename the park on Harrell Rd. to the Roy Arthur Stormwater Park in honor of this well respected, long-term Knox Co. employee. Roy has been working on improving water quality, mitigating flooding and enhancing our outdoor assets for over 30 years. The renaming ceremony was attended by over 50 of Roy's friends, family and colleagues with an official declaration from Mayor Jacobs naming it "Roy Arthur Day" to cap it off. So next time you're in the Karns area and stop to enjoy this special park, remember that Roy Arthur has been a tireless educator, and advocate for cleaner watersheds and natural spaces - and will forever leave a legacy of improving the health and livability in Knox Co.
I VOTED! - WILL YOU?
Early voting in Knox County is now complete and with over 170,000 citizens voting in person or by mail, we are on pace to set a new voting record! (click here for all the early voting stats) Remember, on election day you must vote at your precinct (you can find a list here). If you are holding an absentee ballot, it must be mailed, with postage, at the downtown post office (501 W. Main Stree) by 3:00pm on election day - Tuesday, November 3rd. Anything that comes in after that deadline will not be counted. Thank you to everyone who participated in the future of our government!
It was a pleasure to attend the opening of the Signature Self-Storage at Choto. This was part of a much larger development by John Huber that has increased retail space and created a commercial corridor in deep West Knox Co.
This month, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science and Oak Ridge National Laboratory held an interesting event titled "A Conversation with Dr. Chris Fall on Science and the Community." Dr. Chris Fall was confirmed as Director of the Office of Science in May of 2019.  In his role as Director, he seeks to expand the engagement of the Office of Science with elected officials as well as the community and business leaders who’s partnership is so important to our joint success. Dr. Fall was joined by Dr. Thomas Zachariah, Director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, to discuss the future of the National Labs and the critical role of the Knoxville-Oak Ridge community in shaping that future.
You can watch the entire event at this link.
Congratulations to the team at Make-A-Wish East Tennessee on opening their new location in the Bearden area. Their team is committed to getting to the heart of a child living with a life-threatening medical condition to learn his/her true heartfelt wish so they can make the most impact. A great organization!
I attended a wonderful community event in the Lonsdale neighborhood where residents, students and parents got a "first-look" at the new Lonsdale Elementary School. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement for this long overdue project. The new school is slated to open in 2022.
Early in the month, I held the first of six Chairman's Briefings. These sessions are provided to Commissioners and afford us the opportunity to take "deep dives" into complicated projects, issues or ideas that help Knox County. The session topic was focused on "TIFs & PILOTs," which are tools used in complex development projects. The learning session was led by Mark Mamantov, the Development Corporation team and hosted by the Knoxville Chamber. Special thanks to all who participated.
Click here if you'd like to read the entire presentation.
Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB) is Knox County's largest utilities provider. This week, KUB released its annual environmental report (you can view it here). The report outlines their sustainability, partnerships, incentive programs and much more.
I had the pleasure of attending the opening of Parkview Senior Living Community in Powell as they cut the ribbon and welcomed new residents. The facility was so nice I almost put in a deposit! If you're ever on the north side of Knox Co. stop on in!
I hope you had a wonderful and safe Halloween night. While this year's celebration is no doubt different due to the pandemic, Adrian and I want to wish you all the best and look forward to next year!
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Copyright © 2020 Larsen Jay - Knox County Commission, All rights reserved.

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P.O. Box 52331 / Knoxville, TN 37950

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