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ISSUE 53 VOLUME 25
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FARRAGUT, TENNESSEE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013
Town sets for 5th annual Taste of Farragut ■
ROBBY O’DANIEL rodaniel@farragutpress.com
The 5th Annual Taste of Farragut, presented by TDS, will take place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 27, in the old Kroger parking lot along Kingston Pike. “It’s an opportunity to showcase Farragut’s eateries and beverage establishments, and this year we’re going with a Farragut Foodies theme and asking our restaurants to put their best bite forward,” said Allison Sousa, executive director of the
Farragut Business Alliance. “... When they’re doing their samples, we want them to do a sample that’s really going to wow people, whether the food itself is really creative or they use an interesting vessel to serve it in or colorful garnishes, different, unexpected shapes of food. We want them to have the big city street food experience.” She said the event is “the Farragut Business Alliance’s one and only fundraiser each year.” Between 30 and 35 restaurants and beverage distributors are expected to participate, Sousa
said. “Every restaurant will be providing, when folks come through the gates, they’ll get a ticket book where they’ll be able to visit each restaurant one time, and they will enjoy a Best Bite sample from each restaurant,” she said. Beverage distributors will offer wines, high-proof beer and pre-mixed drinks with a low alcohol content, she said. “To purchase tickets in advance online, it’s $25 for adults, $10 children 6-11, children 5 and under are free,” she said. “... If you pur-
chase at the gate, the children prices stay the same, but the adult prices go up to $30, and you can purchase online up to noon the day of the event.” Event attendees only have to pay for the ticket, she said. “Once they get in the gate, they won’t pay for anything else,” she said. According to the Farragut Business Alliance website, a partial vendor list includes Beverage Control, B&T Distributing, Corks Wine & Spirits, Campbell Station Wine & Spirits, D&V Distributing, Dixie Lee Wines &
Liquors, Costco Wholesale, Farragut Wine & Spirits, Frullati Cafe & Bakery, Gigi’s Cupcakes, George Dinwiddie Distributing, Jet’s Pizza, Knoxville Beverage Company, Lipman Brothers, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Mario’s Pizza and Grill, Meksiko Cantina, Newk’s Express Café, Publix in Turkey Creek, Seasons, Snappy Tomato Pizza, Shrimp Oysters & Beer, The Fresh Market, The Shrimp Dock and Triple C Distributing Company. A number of things are new See TASTE on Page 3A
Hawk, Town part ways ■
File photo
Ruth Hawk in her role as town of Farragut Community Development director during a Farragut Planning Commission meeting in 2009.
BOMA amends budget ■ STEPHANIE EDWARDS Correspondent
Farragut’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the first reading of Ordinance 13-21 to amend Ordinance 13-19, the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget at its Aug. 22 meeting, in the following ways: The State Street Aid fund will be amended by increasing the appropriated expenditures by $476,402. The resurfacing budget for the previous year was $500,000; however, only $23,598 was spent. The remaining amount will be transferred to the current fiscal year. The Capital Investment Program will be amended by increasing the appropriated expenditures by $100,000. Funds for the Outlet Drive Extension project were budgeted in FY2012 but not expended until FY2014 budget. This will allow the Town
to purchase approximately 15,000 square feet of the frontage of the property located at the corner of New Snyder Road and Campbell Station Road for $96,771.49. The Equipment Replacement Fund will be amended by increasing the appropriated expenditures by $6,000. The funds will be used to replace the John Deere Gator used to maintain the Town’s parks. BOMA approved the adoption of the Emergency Management Plan. Area residents are expected to report emergency situations through the Knoxville-Knox County E-911 Center, which will determine whether a potential emergency situation exists. The Knoxville-Knox County Emergency Management Agency would take over from this point and if needed, activate the KnoxvilleSee BOMA on Page 2A
ALAN SLOAN asloan@farragutpress.com
Recognized in 2008 by Tennessee Chapter of the American Planning Association as “Tennessee Planner of the Year,” Ruth Hawk was recognized for perhaps the last time in Farragut Town Hall Friday morning, Aug. 30. The relationship between Hawk, Community Development director who has been employed by the Town since March 1994, and town of Farragut officially was terminated Aug. 30 with Hawk pocketing a $41,733.78 “six-month severance payment,” said Town attorney Tom Hale. This was the financial part of a “Separation and Release Agreement” between the parties, officially approved during a rare Special Called Meeting by Board of Mayor and Aldermen Friday morning, Aug. 30, in Town Hall board room. Though Hawk’s departure has been the subject of various rumors soon after her final day serving the Town Friday, Aug. 16, one phrase in a Town press release made available at the meeting stated she “decided to
pursue new interests.” “The Town’s senior administrative staff and Ruth Hawk have an agreement pursuant to which Ms. Hawk would resign from her employment with the Town,” Hale announced upon returning from a roughly 20-minute executive session with BOMA and Town Administrator David Smoak. However, within the language of that separation-release agreement was included, in Paragraph 1, that Hawk “will not seek further employment with the Employer [town of Farragut].” Also, in Paragraph 6, Hawk “will not make disparaging or defamatory remarks or comments about Employer.” Conversely, the Town “will not make disparaging or defamatory remarks or comments about Employee.” A vote by BOMA was required “because it provides for a sixmonth severance payment to Ms. Hawk,” Hale added. “In part to recognize her 19 years of hard work for the Town.” Without any questions or statements by any Board member prior to its vote, BOMA voted unanimously to approve (4-0,
Alderman Jeff Elliott absent). Though Hawk was said to have “resigned,” Ward 1 Alderman Bob Markli made reference to a “staff decision” during a recent telephone interview. “I would say it was unfortunate for Ms. Hawk, and I won’t comment beyond that,” he said. “It was a staff decision and I 100 percent support our staff. … I’m sure it’s for the best.” Considering that Hawk’s ordinance interpretations often were considered stringent as quoted by various developers and often had them scrambling to revise plans brought before Farragut Municipal Planning Commission, “I think it is safe to say that there are many developers who will be comfortable with the staff decision,” Markli said. Any reply to telephone messages left at Hawk’s home seeking comment were not returned. Mark Shipley, assistant Community Development director under Hawk, will fill Hawk’s position pending Smoak’s chosen replacement. Smoak said he’d collaborate with Gary Palmer, assistant town See TOWN on Page 2A
‘Pike Picnic’ to feature music ■
ALAN SLOAN asloan@farragutpress.com
Fourth Annual Picnic on the Pike is all about the music. “This year we are changing it up quite a bit,” said Lauren Cox, special events and program coordinator for town of Farragut, coordinating sponsor, about this event that got it start in celebration of the Town’s 30th anniversary in 2010. “It’s just going to be about the music.” Two prominent local bands will be featured for two hours apiece, as Picnic on the Pike runs 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 29, in front yard of presenting sponsor farragutpress.
Also sponsored by Doug and Brenda Horne, Picnic on the Pike is free. “The Chillbillies are going to play from 1 to 3. They play a lot of cover songs like rock ‘n roll,” Cox said. “The Chillbillies play a lot at the Irish Times pub in Turkey Creek and everybody loves them. “We thought they would be a good band because we haven’t had them at any of our events, since they have such a high following and people really love their music.” Performing from 3 to 5 p.m. is Back Talk, with members quite familiar with Picnic on the Pike. “They pretty much play some
cover songs, too,” Cox said. “Some of their members are formerly from the Atomic Horns. … In previous years we’ve had Atomic Horns play Picnic on the Pike. People have been requesting for them to come back. “They’ll have the same sound as what the Atomic Horns had,” Cox added. “They have like the trumpet and trombone and the saxophone in their band.” While attendees are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets and food, “You can purchase food from a local food truck: Savory and Sweet food truck,” Cox said. “They will be our only food venSee PICNIC on Page 2A
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