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www.farragutpress.com ISSUE 32 VOLUME 25
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FARRAGUT, TENNESSEE
THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013
FIS welcomes SERC educational volunteers
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ALAN SLOAN asloan@farragutpress.com
Farragut Intermediate School is breaking new ground as it reaches out to Farragut Schools Education Relations Committee. Mark Littleton, committee chair, said FIS “is the first school that’s really
said, ‘yes, that type of registry is a tool that we could definitely tap into’” concerning SERC’s efforts to make professionals available as educational volunteers at Farragut schools and Hardin Valley Academy. Kay Wellons, FIS principal, and Debbie Adorante,
assistant principal, expressed a desire to potentially make use of any volunteer expert teaching assistance SERC could drum up through its proposed registry of names. Committee member Mike Singletary suggested “adding a registry, if we don’t already have one, of
willing volunteers. And let the teachers who are inspired to do a project, or to need project help, let them be the ones to initiate the deal.” He also advocated distinguishing a registry for volunteer lecturers versus a registry for project-assistance volunteers, the lat-
Town budget talks begin
ter of which “would require a greater commitment on the part of volunteers. You would have people who are going to need to be there two or three days a week, or whatever, for a period of time.” Wellons said, “If we had the names of four or five people on a list, and these
Stephanie Edwards/correspondent
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STEPHANIE EDWARDS Correspondent
Town department heads presented their concerns and needs for the upcoming fiscal year to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen during a special workshop Thursday, March 28. Sue Stuhl, Parks and Leisure Services director, said one of the biggest concerns is the need for replacement and reconstruction throughout the town’s public parks. “A lifetime for a playground is about 10-11 years,” Stuhl said.
“Softball field fences are rusted and curled. It’s getting to the point where it’s not serving its purpose anymore. The splash pad has a damaged water tank … there are internal columns that are crushed.” Stuhl also cited the need for additional staffing for the opening of a new artificial turf field, regular maintenance of the parks and public relations efforts. Human Resources director Janet Curry discussed a salary study she currently is conducting. “We want to maintain a
competitive compensation plan,” Curry said. “We have been comparing [salaries] with other cities, surveying like-sized towns.” Additionally, Curry is looking at rising health insurance premiums. “We are looking at a 15 to 20 percent trend increase, but we try to negotiate that down,” Curry said. She said the town’s aging workforce is another factor in the potential increase. Town administrator David Smoak said the Town has budgeted for 15 percent and the Town will
tweak the plan as they can. Community Development director Ruth Hawk’s concerns lie with her current employees retiring in the coming years. “Right now, we work at our highest efficiency levels because of employees’ longevity,” Hawk said. “It will take us years to build back to that efficiency level.” The development department also is working to ensure that citizens meet Town compliance regulations. She encourSee BUDGET on Page 2A
Silver Spoon restaurant closed by Feds
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ROBBY O’DANIEL rodaniel@farragutpress.com
The store is closed, and there is no traffic at Silver Spoon Café at 210 Lovell Road. Instead, a notice on the door talks of a state seizure of the property for lack of payment of state taxes through a levy by the
Department of Revenue, Tax Enforcement Division. “All persons are warned not to remove or tamper with this property in any manner,” the notice reads in part. Attempts to reach those affiliated with Silver Spoon Café were unsuccessful. Billy Trout, public infor-
mation officer for the Tennessee Department of Revenue, declined comment. “Tennessee’s statutes protect taxpayer privacy, and those statutes do not allow the Tennessee Department of Revenue to comment on collection matters that are specific to taxpayers,” he said.
According to an Oct, 11, 2012, farragutpress article, the café opened in that location in late September. “The first Silver Spoon opened in The Gallery in 1984 as part of the Ruby Tuesday brand,” the article read. “In 2000, Silver Spoon separated from Ruby Tuesday.”
See SERC on Page 4A
Mayor, aldermen select Community Health Council members
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Farragut Mayor Ralph McGill, right, and Alderman Bob Markli listen as Community Development director Ruth Hawk presents information pertinent to the Town’s budget.
people could be flexible for us, that would have worked in nicely” in a previous FIS project. “We could have nicely fit in a couple of speakers if we’d had just a little bit more time,” Wellons added. “And if we’d had a
STEPHANIE EDWARDS Correspondent
In an effort to improve community health, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen appointed two members to the Community Health Council during its March 28 meeting. Five applicants’ resumes were presented during a special workshop prior to the meeting for consideration for the council, which is a joint force among the City of Knoxville, Knox County and the town of Farragut. Members will serve a staggered three-year term on the council. Mayor Ralph McGill was allotted one appointment. He chose Registered Nurse Debbie Pinchok, BSN, CEN, who currently works as a staff nurse in the Turkey Creek Medical Center Emergency Department and Chest Pain Emergency Center. McGill commented that he and Pinchok had spoken at length, and he feels she will represent the Town very well. “I want to serve on the Community Health Council because I want to be the voice of reality and experience in our community,” Pinchok said in the application she submitted to town officials. Aldermen who were present were allotted a collective appointment in addition to McGill’s. Alderman Bob Markli voiced his preference for Dr. Mark Ray, a head and neck surgeon. He said Ray has the best interest of the community and the political process in mind. “I am very interested in the role of local government in establishing an environment where a community can See HEALTH on Page 3A
BOMA approves partnership with Loudon County, TDOT
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STEPHANIE EDWARDS Correspondent
The Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved plans to partner with Loudon County and TDOT for a beautification and safety improvement project at Dixie Lee Junction, the intersection of Highway 70 South and Highway 11 South, during a meeting on Thursday, March 28. “We’ve been talking to Loudon County for quite some time,” Town administrator David Smoak said. “It's been on the Transportation Planning Organization's projects list for a number of years. It's finally starting to get off the ground. It’s a TDOT project because two state routes are coming together. In order to get a little additional funding for landscaping and things like that, we're just requesting this to TDOT as a partner consideration.” Smoak noted that the project would entail additional landscaping, signage, gutters and basic road and sidewalk repair. “This will be prettier than a typical road intersection,” See PARTNERSHIP on Page 3A
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