Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs Weekly Update
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2024
- Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs Weekly Update.
TRANSCRIPT:
“It’s Friday. Time for another weekly update. This week, I welcomed Knox County Schools’ principals, administrators, and 865 Academy coaches at the S.T.A.R.T. Center, our skilled trades academy, where they toured the facility and discussed CTE and dual enrollment opportunities with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology. I also spoke to representatives of Realty Executives Associates who were meeting at the Knoxville Chamber.
Last week, I talked about the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s new 10-year transportation plan and the impact it could have on some major highway projects in our region. I mentioned that the new plan is fiscally constrained. Let me explain what that means. Tennessee is a PAYGO state. PAYGO stands for pay-as-you-go. That means the state does not bond, or borrow money, to build roads. The money has to be available in each year’s budget.
Obviously, this puts limits on what TDOT can do. Hence, the term “fiscally constrained.” Now, this is not a bad thing at all. In fact, it has helped Tennessee carry one of the lowest debt burdens of any state in the Union. The issue is that TDOT has said they were planning to begin some important projects in our area, including the Watt Rd interchange, the Campbell Station interchange, and the completion of the Pellissippi Parkway, that they are now delaying or greatly reducing in scale. My concern is how these decisions will affect our economic development.
A major sports tourism complex is in the works at Watt Rd. We do not believe that what TDOT has most recently proposed will accommodate the increased traffic this development will bring. The completion of Pellissippi Parkway is also vital. Not only will this route provide more accessibility to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is crucial for tourism, but along with Blount County, Maryville, and Alcoa, Knox County owns a technology park at the current termination of Pellissippi Parkway.
The plan has always been for the Parkway to go right through that park, linking it with the federal facilities in Oak Ridge. Without the Parkway, it’s back to the drawing board. Additionally, when DENSO was contemplating its billion-dollar expansion in Blount County, state officials assured them Pellissippi Parkway would be completed. I certainly understand fiscal constraints, but my hope is that TDOT can figure out a way to lock in these projects, so we don’t miss out on some once-in-a-generation opportunities.
Flags in Tennessee were flown at half-mast this past Wednesday in memory of Medal of Honor recipient Capt. Larry Taylor, a native of Chattanooga and a University of Tennessee alumnus, who passed away on Sunday, January 28th, at his home in Signal Mountain. Capt. Taylor was an Army helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. While on a mission in 1968, at great personal risk to themselves, he and his crew rescued four soldiers who had come under heavy rocket and machine gun fire. My condolences to the friends and family of this American hero.
Finally, I am proud to announce the Knox County Water Trail received a Bright Spot Award at last night’s Keep Knoxville Beautiful’s Orchids Beautification Awards gala. Once completed, the Knox County Water Trail will stretch 44 miles from Clayton Park in Halls to Melton Hill Lake in Hardin Valley. Many thanks to the Beaver Creek Kayak Club, who have been instrumental in this project. Until next Friday, I hope everyone has a great week.”
Great to see my childhood superhero is a mayor , Mr Mayor Glenn Jacobs ❤️
Thank you for all you do as our Mayor.
Every people out there should watch your weekly update Kane
Big Red Machine
Very very nice work i appreciate it.
I wish you all a very nice week greetings to Glen the employees the family's and friends.
We need more politicians like Kane.
Love It Mayor Kane Bro.
Love you Glenn ❤ ❤ ❤
Take care Glenn. Have a good weekend
Love you kane❤