Another Young Life Taken Away From Farragut

Are we just willing to continue living with the status quo? The citizens of Farragut spoke (or didn't speak, to be more precise) and voted to continue with the status quo. Well, with the 3rd traffic fatality within the last 6 or 7 months, this is becoming all too familiar. And don't tell me that it's up to law enforcement or that kid's parents. The root cause is the community mentality which apparently is to speed, drink & drive, speak on the cell phone, apply makeup, eat, and read the paper (sometimes all at the same time!). That, and drivers who believe that they pretty much "own the road" with the bigger vehicles bullying the smaller ones.

Meanwhile, we're supposed to be courteous and share the road (doesn't matter if it's a Hummer, Big Rig, Vespa, Harley-Davidson, or even my Bicycle!). I mentioned on my other blog about what I'd do in a humorous way, but being serious, it's time we either fix what's really wrong (and I mean root-cause) with these roads, or we start heavily enforcing the speed limits within our town!

I know that there is a short period of time at the beginning of each board meeting and planning commission meeting where citizens can voice their concerns. Maybe it's time for all of us to start making time to do that. Ask for a road commission, safety commission, and other commissions to make our towm a better place. Sure it'd be a volunteer job, but you know what I think at this point anything to make our town better has to be considered.

Let me know if you feel differently.

I see that on one of my fellow Bloggers has issued a challenge here. I say we take him up on it!

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Looking for Good Ideas

I'd like to know what people think is wrong about the town of Farragut and how to fix it. If you read my previous posts, you'll see what I consider to be wrong, but are the town leaders bold enough to listen to their residents and change things? I understand that we can talk about any topic at the beginning of each of the town meetings, but is 5 minutes long enough to really give those concerns anything more than lip service?

I'd like to see what you think. Comment and criticize away!

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Gas Prices and Budgets

Arrgh!

I'm tired of spending 2.15+ per gallon for CHEAP gas. It's beginning to impact my budget! I put in a significant amount of cash each week just to keep my modest sports wagon full of gas. Pretty soon, my wife and I will be stopping our usual visits to our favorite restaurants, going out to the mountains, shopping, etc., because it's too expensive to drive. I'm already looking at having things shipped to my home rather than going to stores because it'll mean less cost overall.

What are y'all doing? Comment and let me know.

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Overcrowded Schools still a problem in Knox County

Now if you've got kids & you're reading the title above and are shocked by it, please tell me where you've been hiding so I can join you.

With all the press (Farragut and KNS) and the passing of a Wheel Tax to build a new High School, I would have thought that this should have been "fast-tracked" through. But all I'm hearing is the same old stories about the raising of taxes for things, but few if no results. In the Farragut Press, someone actually had the guts to ask for an accounting of where that Wheel Tax money has gone/is going, and I'm glad he's asked. After all, as a taxpayer, he has that right and the county should give it to him and to all of us that live here.

Also, aren't our Primary and Middle schools just as crowded? Where are the new schools or their plans? Can someone please tell me why there hasn't been any planning for new schools?

If you don't think our county leadership isn't accountable, well it's up to you to make them.

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Virtue Road Comments in Farragut Press

Well, if you've been reading the FP, you've seen many comments about this road. This is a safe road as long as you follow the speed limit and observe common courtesy. As a concerned resident of the town, I've voiced my opinion here, and it's to create reasons to follow the speed limit (in other words, traffic calming). The time has come for Farragut and East Tennessee in General to get off the "build it bigger and faster" mentality. All we've done is create an environment where people continually speed up and down Virtue Road, Kingston Pike, Pellissippi Parkway, I-40, Middlebrook Pike, Parkside Drive/Grigsby Chapel Road, etc. And when someone gets hurt or dies, we all become outraged, but what have we done to slow ourselves? I have started to drive no faster than 5 mph over the speed limit, even though I know that has caused many people to get mad. Well guess what, gaining 15 seconds by speeding through town doesn't get you much in terms of quality of life. Besides, what do you do with that time? Wait at a stop light! Trust me, I've seen it happen time & time again on Parkside Drive. Some guy zooms by me @ 50+mph (I've seen them drive by @ 70mph) and I catch up to him at the next light. But until we get off this mentality that we need to get there first, we're going to continue seeing articles in the paper where people get hurt.

Parents, your children will do exactly the same things you do, so what is your example saying to them when you speed, cut people off, etc.? They're the ones who suffer, because they really haven't mastered the art of driving. My father when he taught me how to drive, said "take it easy, get there safe--it's better than not getting there at all." He did speed on occasion, but usually not in or through towns.

I think its time to get a campaign going to slow the roads down and get people being courteous again, don't you?

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Support Local Farragut Business

This post is basically to point you to the website for our local Farragut/West Knox Chamber of Commerce. We've got to really start supporting the business community in Farragut. After all, the only other major source of revenue after the shared taxes we get back are from local sales taxes. If the residents want to continue without any property taxes, we're going to have to spend more money in our own town. For the past few years, the FBMA has had to dip into the "rainy day" fund to balance the budget. If I understand correctly, that's the $7.5 Million that they've been dipping into (which means there was even more there to begin with!). If we don't increase the towns revenue, pretty soon that fund will be dried up and you know where that could lead.

Start supporting your local businesses today!

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The Gondolier in Farragut!

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you should know by now that the Gondolier in Farragut is now open in the West End over by SuperPetz. Good food, cozy atmosphere, and of course, all those home made desserts! My wife and I stopped in for dinner with our neighbors a few days ago, and it was Jam Packed! Tip: If you don't want to wait in line go in during a weeknight or for lunch. But as with all the other Gondolier restaurants in the area, the food is delicious! And even with a full house, service is quick and friendly, that is, once you're seated. About the only thing they could use is a way to tell customers that their table is ready.

Head on over and experience Farragut's newest restaurant!

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Business as usual...

The opinion in the Farragut Press is absolutely correct when they hope that some of the innovative ideas will be taken into consideration. Let's just hope that the FBMA actually decides to do something positive for a change. Now if they choose not to, it will be up to the citizens to hold them accountable. Notice, I didn't say voters (mainly because only 16% of registered voters actually voted in this election and it was a RECORD for turnout!). Well, citizens of Farragut, will you start getting involved and participate? Or will it be business as usual? As always, I'm open to hearing your comments...

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Try being Governor!

Try being a Governor and craft a budget.

Ever wonder how hard it is be the Mayor, Governor or President?Well go to this link and find out how hard it is to craft a balanced budget. Well, I tried and gave up after 3 rounds. I thought it'd be easy, you know smooze a few legislators, submit a budget that people could live with and be the next President. Boy was I wrong! It is such a tightrope walk trying to balance the needs of your state while facing an income shortage. Too bad we can't be like the Federal Government and raise our own Credit Limit (otherwise known as the debt ceiling)!Try it out and let me know if you were successful!
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Tax Day Already??? Ugh!

As one who just finally finished his taxes, I'm about ready to scream! I had no idea that 45,600+ pages of tax code could make my life so miserable! Oh well, there are only 2 guarantees in life, aren't there....

I'm just glad I'm finally done!

Are you having a rough time of it? Or are you already done and spent that refund already (I'm jealous)? Or are you filing an extension?

BTW, as a reward, I will not be blogging until Sunday, so have a great weekend (to the 3 of you that actually read this)!

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Commerical Development in Farragut

Everyone 'round here knows about the Turkey Creek Development, right? If you don't, please turn off your computer and come on out to West Knox County and exit on Lovell or Campbell Station Rd. On Parkside drive between those 2 roads, you'll notice that on the Knoxville side there is a Wal-Mart, Knoxville's only Super-Target (although there are rumors for more of those to come), Olive Garden, Steak-n-Shake (as well as many other businesses), and a Multiplex and Proffits (and more restaurants, too) are being built. On the Farragut side, we currently have an office complex in process, along with 2 banks and a gas station already built.

My beef isn't the fact that there is a lack of development on the Farragut side. It's the fact that the town is creating new development while there are boarded up businesses on Kingston Pike as well as a boarded up mall on the North side of Lovell Road. Common sense tells me that the town should not be creating new commercial developments BEFORE filling up (I'd say at least 85% full) the current commercial areas that we have. Shouldn't the town either bring in new businesses to replace those BEFORE developing new areas? It's not like Kingston Pike isn't a great road to do shopping on, is it? Or should the town re-zone some of those areas? Got any ideas? Comment and be imaginative! Who knows, you may end up with something that's totally genius!

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Day After Yesterday....

Well, the election in Farragut came and went. Out of almost 15,000 registered voters less than 2,500 of you all showed up to vote. That means 5 out of 6 people in the town didn't exercise their right as citizens. I know that many of you probably didn't even know that there was an election going on despite the signs, newspapers, and occasional (and I do mean occasional) radio and tv announcement. However, the time has come to keep our elected officials honest and make sure that we keep ourselves involved in the community and it's needs. That includes safer roads and streets, more communication and collaboration with our surrounding neighbors, and more activities that our local residents can take advantage of.

Congratulations to Mayor Ford, Aldermen Mike Haynes and Tom Rosseel for their wins in this election and I wish them all the best in their terms that they may be able to keep our beloved town moving forward.

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Election Day

Hear Ye, Hear Ye...o.k. Listen up all y'all...
Tuesday (April 5) is the day that Farragut finally gets a say in which direction the residents want to go. Do you like the way things are, or do you think there needs to be a change? Well, either way make your voice heard by your vote tomorrow. If you don't vote, don't complain if you don't like what happens next. Voting will be from 8a-8p at Farragut High. GO VOTE!
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Village Green Festival

For those of you who like arts and crafts, head on over to the Village Green Shopping Center in Farragut. This weekend, they're having a sidewalk sale as well as other events (including a rock wall, fun stuff for the kids and a car show from what I understand). Head out, have some fun and support your community!
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