The Knox County Commission voted to nix its work monthly session. Here's why

Allie Feinberg, Knoxville News Sentinel
·3 min read

The Knox County Commission is changing things up.

Commissioners voted May 20 to get rid of a monthly work session, where they talk through issues before they vote, that occurs one week before voting meetings.

Meetings about zoning requests instead will take place at 5 p.m. on the third Monday of the month.

District 2 Commissioner Courtney Durrett, who introduced the change, said county residents who want to speak about zoning issues can do so "at a reasonable hour," as opposed to later at night after the work session ends. Durrett also said the change will help county staff members who often have to use compensation time in order to attend long meetings in case commissioners have questions.

Commissioners will have an optional meeting to discuss the agenda one week before their regular voting meeting, and that will take place at 3 p.m. Durrett said that session will be when board members can ask the staff their questions and discuss proposals.

She said commissioners functioned just fine when the Jan. 16 work session was canceled amid a record-breaking snowstorm.

"We were still able to do the county's business with one meeting," Durrett said.

The schedule change wasn't unanimous. Commissioners Carson Dailey, Rhonda Lee and John Schoonmaker voted against it. Commissioners aren't required to attend the agenda discussion meetings, and Dailey, who represents South Knox County, worries new commissioners may miss out on the opportunity.

"It's not an option to serve the public," he said May 13. "That's what you signed up for."

Schoonmaker, who serves West Knox County including Farragut, had concerns about eliminating a monthly public forum. Since no votes would be taken at agenda discussion meetings, commission isn't required to take public comment, either.

"If the public wants to address us, they have to come one day a month instead of two," he said.

Changes will be implemented June 1 to allow the current commission to "iron out any kinks" in the new schedule before at least five new commissioners come on board after the August elections. Durrett predicted the agenda discussion meetings will take place in the main assembly room at the City-County Building.

Here is what the new schedule will look like:

  • 3 p.m. on the third Monday of the month: informal agenda discussion meeting

  • 5 p.m. on the third Monday of the month: zoning meeting. There will be public forum at this meeting.

  • 4 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the month: beer board meeting

  • 5 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the month: legislative voting meeting. There will be public forum at this meeting.

In response to concerns about constituents losing an opportunity to participate in public forum, Mike Moyers, a Knox County deputy law director, said those who wish to speak can do so at the zoning meeting one week before the voting meeting. Those are the same two opportunities constituents currently have, they just won't have to sit through discussions on resolutions.

Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg.

Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County Commission eliminates work session