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ISSUE 31 VOLUME 26
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FARRAGUT, TENNESSEE
THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014
Fundraiser for Parkinson’s Saturday at Fox Den CC ■
ROBBY O’DANIEL rodaniel@farragutpress.com
The KiMe Fund fourth annual Shakin’ Not Stirred Parkinson’s Fundraiser will take place from 7 p.m. to midnight, Saturday, April 12, at Fox Den Country Club.
The event will benefit the KiMe Fund, Leslie McDermott, KiMe Fund board member, said. All the money from the fund goes toward Parkinson’s research, she added. “In fact, recently on Nov. 5, we donated $25,000 to the Michael
J. Fox Foundation, so that’s the kind of research we fund.” This year’s event has a James Bond theme, she said. A silent auction begins at 7 p.m. Dinner begins at 8 p.m., and See KIME on Page 3A
Photo submitted
Steve Hodges, right, who started the KiMe Fund, stands with KiMe Board Member Eric Brinley, left, and A.D. Baxter.
McGill prepares Volunteers for second term celebrated ■
Town hosts annual FUN Volunteer/Committee Banquet
ALAN SLOAN asloan@farragutpress.com
The path seems clear for Farragut Mayor Ralph McGill to end his mayoral service to the Town at roughly nine-and-a-quarter years, serving well into 2018. Taking office April 23, 2009 — ending then Mayor Eddy Ford’s four-term mayoral run with his first elected office victory — McGill’s first bid for reelection in 2014 has a uncontested path ballot wise. Looking ahead on his wish list, McGill, 71, said, “I sure would like us to make a dent on filling some of the empty spaces on Kingston Pike. Turkey Creek is full. I know everybody wants to be on Turkey Creek, but that’s not going to happen anymore. “We’ve got prime space with a lot of exposure with traffic on Kingston Pike,” he added. “I think we need to work on getting Kingston Pike pretty active again.” As for Town recreation, “We’re going to continue to make amenities for the parks, keep expanding what we have,” McGill said, adding he would like to see “a couple more at least” of artificial rectangular fields “so we could support major tournaments” in soccer, lacrosse or any other sport using a rectangular field. “We have a lot of people clamoring for tennis courts, too,” he
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Mayor Ralph McGill
added. “I’d like to be able to do something about that.” Looking to roads, McGill sounded a note of caution. “We’ve got Concord Road widening coming at some point, although with the status for funding with TDOT it may be pushed back some,” he said. “The
Federal Highway Trust Fund is basically broke. So getting money from the feds to help on some of these bigger projects is going to be more difficult.” As for developing the historic Russell House at the corner for Kingston See MCGILL on Page 4A
TAMMY CHEEK tcheek@farragutpress.com
As the country observes National Volunteer Month, the town of Farragut celebrated the contributions of its volunteers. The Town recognized those volunteers during its annual FUN Volunteer/Committee Banquet Friday, April 4, at Fox Den Country Club. “They don’t’ call us the ‘Volunteer State’ for nothing,” Farragut Mayor Ralph McGill said. “We certainly do have our fair share of [volunteers] in Tennessee and the town of Farragut. “We couldn’t be what we are without the volunteers,” he added. “We don’t pay you for it, but we sure reap the benefits.” McGill said 89 volunteers serve on 12 standing committees, and Town administrator David Smoak added some of those volunteers served on multiple committees at one time. The Town has another arm of volunteers, Farragut’s Unsung Navy, which began in January 1992, McGill said, adding these volunteers give their time working in Farragut Folklife Museum, helping with events and other duties.
McGill said, “In 2013, 112 FUN Volunteers donated 4,613.25 hours of service to the Town. The value to the Town is worth about $46,132.50 and is calculated on the scale recommended by the Points of Light Institute in Washington, D.C. About 116,905 volunteer hours have been donated to the town of Farragut since the inception of the FUN Volunteer Program in 1992 equaling an estimated overall value of $1,169,052. “That’s really money we avoided spending by using volunteers,” McGill added. The following FUN Volunteers were promoted in rank in 2013: Lieutenant (100 to 299 hours): Dixie Andrews, museum volunteer; Sandy Dean, Arts Council member and special events volunteer; Donna Genung, VITA tax assistance volunteer; Marian Howard, museum volunteer; Betty Scott, Beautification Committee member and museum volunteer; Valerie Whiting, museum volunteer, and Linda Wimbrow, special events volunteer. Commander (300 to 499 hours): Charles Dudney, VITA tax assistance volunteer; Sandy See FUN on Page 2A
Board OKs contract to develop architectural design guidelines
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TAMMY CHEEK tcheek@farragutpress.com
Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen is going ahead with its plans to develop architectural design guidelines. The Board voted unanimously to approve a $61,185 professional services contract for Winter & Company from Boulder, Colo., to develop the architectural design guidelines for the Town at its meeting March 13.
Alderman Ron Honken moved to approve the contract while Vice Mayor Dot LaMarche seconded the motion. The guidelines focus on businesses and possibly multi-level residences, such as apartment complexes. Gary Palmer, Town assistant administrator, said implementing the guidelines is in the Board’s Strategic Plan. The Town held a joint workshop between the Board,
Farragut Municipal Planning Commission, Visual Resources Review Board and the Economic Development Committee in order to ascertain thoughts on the direction to take with regard to Town-wide design guidelines Nov. 5, 2013. Town staff asked for feedback from those groups. While some who attended the meeting voiced concerns that guidelines should not be too restrictive, others were more concerned about the
designs the Town might choose to enforce. For example, some attendees said they did not want designs that were too dated. Nevertheless, Palmer said the overwhelming response was excitement about the future and that the Town needed to pursue the project. He said the staff then sought a request from firms to find ones qualified to develop the guidelines. “Consequently, the joint subcommittee, consisting of a plan-
ning commissioner, VRRB member, EDC member and Town staff agreed unanimously that Winter & Co. was the most qualified respondent,” Palmer said. “You may recall Winter & Co. was a sub-consultant working with Winston Associates Inc. on our comprehensive land use plan,” he added. “In fact, Noré Winter led the historical focus group discussion during our See CONTRACT on Page 4A