[Larsen Jay]

Commissioners,

Thank you for your support over the last year as we’ve worked hard to clean up Knox County’s Rights-of-Way and make things safer for all citizens.

As mentioned in my presentation, below is my recommendation moving forward. Please let me know if you have any suggestions, objections and/or recommendations as I pursue next steps.

– Discontinue quarterly meetings / do not renew 2024 Resolution

– Pass a resolution instructing the UDO (Unified Development Ordinance) team to:

– – Review the ROW permitting process, including a fee structure for all permitting (utilities, HOAs, private property owners, etc.).

– – Grant EPW the authority to withhold future work permits to those who do not comply with ROW standards including the removals and transfers of double poles, other ROW hazards, or incomplete work.

[Kim Frazier]

Thank you, Commissioner Jay, for your work on this initiative.

I offer the following for the ongoing discussion:

1. In consultation with EPW, I think that the authority should hold permits if utilities are uncooperative, especially related to road project delays and unresolved safety issues.
2. EPW has a meeting next week to discuss the budgetary scope for a utility ordinance/ pro’s and con’s.
3. It’s my opinion that we do not need a resolution to request the leadership team ask the consultant to consider the inclusion of a utility ordinance as part of the UDO. Any commissioner can submit considerations to the team or the consultant at any time.

[Kim Frazier]

Additional considerations:

-ROW management and best practices could be a request for the UDO. Ultimately it is the Mayor’s decision but if we move forward to include fees/fines, we need to create a utility stakeholders group asap because addressing and/or adding utility fees was not included in the scope of work.

[Author]

Posts