A email invitation I received but will be unable to attend. Maybe you have some free time.
Solar PV Technology - An In-Depth Look. A free Workshop at 10 AM to 12:30 PM on Saturday, June 13th at Ijams Nature Center. This
workshop is provided free through the City of Knoxville Solar America
Cities program, and will give an in-depth understanding of Photovoltaic
(PV) technology. Speakers from the City of Knoxville, the Southern
Alliance for Clean Energy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the
Tennessee Valley Authority will cover such topics as the legal
requirements for a solar energy system in Knoxville, Market Trends in
the PV industry, Building Integrated Solar, new innovations such as
micro inverters, potential maximum efficiencies and Concentrated Solar
PV. The workshop will also provide an update on TVA's new version of
the Generation Partners program and have a small group "tabling" break
out providing a chance to talk more in-depth with solar experts.
-------------
Agenda
10 AM - Introduction and Welcome - Erin Burns, Knoxville
10:05 - An overview of solar PV technology - Gil Melear-Hough, SACE
The legal requirements and explaining Generation Partners
10:30 - Where the PV industry is going - Neil Placer, TVA
Building Integrated solar
Innovations, micro inverters
11:00 Conventional and unconventional PV technology - Curt Maxey, ORNL
Efficiencies and fundamental
Concentrated Solar PV
11:30 Q & A on topics and Solar Installer identification - facilitated by Gil Melear-Hough, SACE
12:00 Topic Tabling - Generation Partners, Industry Trends and More!
12:30 Wrap up
Archive for the ‘Planning’ Category
FYI- Info on Free Solar Workshop – Saturday, June 13, 10 AM at IjamsNature Center
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009411 North Rezoning
Wednesday, February 11th, 2009
Just a quick note on the 411 North Rezoning request.
This item has been pulled from the Commission agenda indefinitely. Rumor is there will be a residential development go in on the property.
This item has been pulled from the Commission agenda indefinitely. Rumor is there will be a residential development go in on the property.
Family Businesses and Rezoning
Friday, January 9th, 2009
Good Afternoon!
With the recent discussion related to the rezoning of properties on both 411 and Montvale Road. I have a question and I am seeking input. Family businesses for many years have been a backbone of both employment and taxes in Blount County. When zoning came along these business, many of which, were located out in the county and in what one would consider residential areas.
As our County grows so do these family businesses, I mean they are local and have a interest in the local economy and contribute to the local economy as well.
How are these businesses supposed to grow? Where are they supposed to grow? Are they supposed to grow?
Please feel free to chime in as I intend to bring this discussion up before the County Commission soon.
Thanks!
Mike
With the recent discussion related to the rezoning of properties on both 411 and Montvale Road. I have a question and I am seeking input. Family businesses for many years have been a backbone of both employment and taxes in Blount County. When zoning came along these business, many of which, were located out in the county and in what one would consider residential areas.
As our County grows so do these family businesses, I mean they are local and have a interest in the local economy and contribute to the local economy as well.
How are these businesses supposed to grow? Where are they supposed to grow? Are they supposed to grow?
Please feel free to chime in as I intend to bring this discussion up before the County Commission soon.
Thanks!
Mike
Hotel/Motel Tax Increase and 2 Rezoning request on Sevierville Road and Ridge Road
Tuesday, December 16th, 2008
Afternoon!
The increase in the Hotel/Motel Tax and 2 rezoning request seem to be the hot items on this months agenda.
The first is a request to amend a private act which enacts a hotel/motel tax for Blount County. Currently Blount County has a 4% tax on lodging, Maryville and Alcoa have amended this legislation to go 1% above the amount placed by Blount County.
The requested increase is to move to 5% on the County based tax which would mean that for Maryville and Alcoa it would go to a total of 6%.
The additional 1% would go toward the purchase of property located beside the current Townsend visitors center which the visitors bureau has had a 1st right of refusal on for approximately the last 2 years. After the property is paid for the tax would remain and be designated to go toward advertising or increasing tourism in the Townsend area.
This discussion should be interesting.
Next the rezoning on Sevierville road, the property in question is where the holding pond was constructed by the City of Maryville. Due to reasons beyond their control the city was not able to use the property for the reasons intended. The property was sold and now there is a request for the property to be rezoned so the zoning will allow the intended use.
Ridge Road rezoning request, this request involves the property which adjoins the current property of Blount Excavating, there have been several residents who have called and attended meetings related to this request and I am interested to see what the commissioners who represent this area have to say during the debate on Thursday night.
As always feel free to drop a note with your thought of these or any item appearing on the Blount County Commission Agenda.
mike@commissionerwalker.com
The increase in the Hotel/Motel Tax and 2 rezoning request seem to be the hot items on this months agenda.
The first is a request to amend a private act which enacts a hotel/motel tax for Blount County. Currently Blount County has a 4% tax on lodging, Maryville and Alcoa have amended this legislation to go 1% above the amount placed by Blount County.
The requested increase is to move to 5% on the County based tax which would mean that for Maryville and Alcoa it would go to a total of 6%.
The additional 1% would go toward the purchase of property located beside the current Townsend visitors center which the visitors bureau has had a 1st right of refusal on for approximately the last 2 years. After the property is paid for the tax would remain and be designated to go toward advertising or increasing tourism in the Townsend area.
This discussion should be interesting.
Next the rezoning on Sevierville road, the property in question is where the holding pond was constructed by the City of Maryville. Due to reasons beyond their control the city was not able to use the property for the reasons intended. The property was sold and now there is a request for the property to be rezoned so the zoning will allow the intended use.
Ridge Road rezoning request, this request involves the property which adjoins the current property of Blount Excavating, there have been several residents who have called and attended meetings related to this request and I am interested to see what the commissioners who represent this area have to say during the debate on Thursday night.
As always feel free to drop a note with your thought of these or any item appearing on the Blount County Commission Agenda.
mike@commissionerwalker.com
Ad Hoc Committee Responsibilities Expanded
Sunday, October 19th, 2008
Well, Good Evening!
The Blount County Commission has expanded the responsibilities and duties of the adhoc Buffers Committee. The members have now been charged with reviewing all pasted and future storm water related policies, incorporating them into a all incompassing policies rather that separate policies.
While I agree with the overall thought of one policies to address Storm Water controls, I am a little concerned with the expanded duties of the committee. We will attempt to stay on task and address what we have been charged to address.
The committee is scheduled to meet on November 3, 2008 at 5:00pm in the large commission room. I will attempt to begin gathering all documents that we are charged with addressing and start posting them here.
mike@commissionerwalker.com
The Blount County Commission has expanded the responsibilities and duties of the adhoc Buffers Committee. The members have now been charged with reviewing all pasted and future storm water related policies, incorporating them into a all incompassing policies rather that separate policies.
While I agree with the overall thought of one policies to address Storm Water controls, I am a little concerned with the expanded duties of the committee. We will attempt to stay on task and address what we have been charged to address.
The committee is scheduled to meet on November 3, 2008 at 5:00pm in the large commission room. I will attempt to begin gathering all documents that we are charged with addressing and start posting them here.
mike@commissionerwalker.com
Stream Buffers – Committee Meeting
Wednesday, December 31st, 1969
The adhoc stream buffers committee will meet 31-Jul-2008 at 6:00pm at the Blount County Courthouse. The members of this committee are Don Headrick of Townsend, Comissioners Mark Hasty, Wendy Pitts-Reeves, myself, and Justin Teague.
We will be meeting to discuss the above mentioned item, the full contents of the resolution can be found in last weeks commission packet.
As always, feel free to drop a comment or email.
We will be meeting to discuss the above mentioned item, the full contents of the resolution can be found in last weeks commission packet.
As always, feel free to drop a comment or email.
Bicycles
Wednesday, December 31st, 1969
Here we are at another beautiful summer start in Tennessee with a very familiar problem. We live in the county and we have many visitors wanting to see the Great Smoky Mountains. Who can blame them? It's stunning! Of course, except for the familiar problem I mentioned. We all want to share the beauty but we need to know how to do this safely for all parties. Living in the county, most of us work elsewhere, needing to commute by car or truck. Our county roads are curvy and with limited views due to our hardworking farmers and tall agriculture. This is not the problem. The problem I'm speaking of are the bicycles. Some of them are courteous and stay to the side, however narrow the side is. Some are not. Some ride down the middle and will not narrow their trail to one lane so automobiles can safely pass them. This causes traffic tie-ups and accidents. When our agriculture growth is at it's peak, it is impossible to see what's around one of our curves. You are startled by an abrupt slowdown or met with a bicycle head-on. We have a wonderful bicycle trail in Townsend but it is not used by most bicyclists. Also another in town at the Greenbelt. It is also not used by most bicyclists. Most bicyclists and those holding races choose to use the curvy, narrow, limited-view county roads. Why? Who is liable in an accident? Do we have laws to protect the bicyclist and the automobile driver?