[Kim Frazier]

Printed copies of the additional recommended amendments and a list of committee / subcommittee members along with public meeting dates will provided at the regular voting meeting but are provided here in advance…

Additional recommended amendments:

Page 5. Section 1. Definitions. Number 5. Replace current drafted definition to existing Knox County language defining “Relative”.
Suggestion: “Relative” means spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, child, grandchild, or equivalent “step”, “foster”, or “in-law” or any other person that resides in the same household. A legal guardian or individual acting as a parent substitute is also included in this definition.

Page 6. Section 2. Disclosure of personal interest in voting matters. Change last sentence to agree with rest of policy.
Suggestion: Disclosures must be filed annually with the Ethics Committee or county clerk, even if no conflicts arise, to promote proactive transparency.

Page 8. Section 4. Item 4.2 Acceptable Items. The last item on the original policy was omitted in error. Reintroduce language as Number 16).
Suggestion: 16) Entrance fees, food, refreshments, amenities, beverages and other gifts given to all participants in a charitable event sponsored by an established charitable organization or an event to benefit a charitable organization.

Page 12. Section 8. Ethics Committee. Number 3) Change definition to align with other Knox County documents and or language.
Suggestion: 3) Members shall not be a relative to any elected official of Knox County.

Ethics Committee Voting Members:
Deborah Stafford, Chair
Michael Bittel, Vice Chair
Perrin Anderson
Krystal Gibson
Rusty Goddard
Steven Goodpaster
Marcus Hilliard
Carletta Rando-Smelcer
Gary Anders

Ethics Committee Non-Voting Liaisons:
Knox County Sheriff’s Employee: Captain Greg Stinnett
Knox County Mayor’s Office Employee: Marcus Kennedy
Knox County Commissioner: Damon Rawls

Ethics Subcommittee Members:
Michael Bittel, Chair
Steven Goodpaster
Krystal Gibson
Carletta Rando-Smelcer
Marcus Hilliard
Marcus Kennedy
Greg Stinnett

7 Public Meetings:
10/17/25
11/07/25
12/03/25
01/14/26
02/25/26
03/18/26

Ethics Committee Process Subcommittee Page created with all working documents and proposals and a public subcommittee portal for online comment submissions. https//www.knoxcounty.org/ethics/

[Kim Frazier]

Commissioner Russell,

I wanted to respond:

Page 8. Section 4. Item 4.2 Acceptable Items. The Chair of the subcommittee, Mr. Michael Bittel, and also Mr. Marcus Kennedy from County HR who also served on the subcommittee as scribe, believe that the original language was omitted in error. I am prepared to reintroduce the language as number 16) Entrance fees, food, refreshments, amenities, beverages and other gifts given to all participants in a charitable event sponsored by an established charitable organization or an event to benefit a charitable organization.

Question regarding HR. Yes, County HR actively participated in the review and is responsible for the content and access of the training materials. Individual county departments / offices are responsible for team member training, acknowledgement of training, and record keeping.

I hope that this answers your questions adequately. Both the Chair of the Ethics Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee will be present at the regular voting Commission meeting tonight.

[Kim Frazier]

Thank you, Commissioner Russell, for your thoughtful consideration.

[Kim Frazier]

Commissioners…the law department has reviewed all suggested amended language. They do not suggest including the “greater than” language. They suggest simply amending “ten” to “five” calendar years:

“previously been employed by the county Sheriff’s office within the five (5) calendar years preceding his/her appointment, or has previously been employed under the current Sheriff’s administration,…..”

The law department is prepared to speak to this.

[Kim Frazier]

Updated Suggested Revised language in response to Commission Forum June 2026:
Qualifications. All members of the Merit System Board must be over 21 years of age; of good moral character; a citizen of the United States and the state; and must reside in the county. No person shall be eligible to serve as a member of the board if he has previously been employed by the county Sheriff’s office within the greater of five (5) calendar years preceding his/her appointment, or has previously been employed under the current Sheriff’s administration, or if any member of such person’s family is or becomes employed by the county Sheriff’s office at any time during such person’s term of service as a member of the board. For purposes of this section, “family” shall include spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, child, and grandchild or equivalent “step”, “foster”, or “in-law” or any other person that resides in the same household.

[Kim Frazier]

Thank you, Commissioner Russell for the thoughtful expansion of the definition of “family”. I will include.

[Kim Frazier]

Commissioner Fox,

I included this in my considerations for the UDO. Our stormwater ordinance has penalties for non-compliance that could be used as a reference point for developing a similar policy for the non-compliance of a non-disturbance buffer.

[Kim Frazier]

Thank you, Commissioners Russell and Fox.

I would like to respectfully ask for consideration of a postponement and request that a work shop be organized for Commission with County Staff.

[Kim Frazier]

Thank you, Commissioner Jay.

[Kim Frazier]

Commissioners Hill, Jay, and Fox,

Thank you for bringing proposed Rules amendments before the Rules Committee . As a result, the Rules Committee voted to bring your recommendations before Commission for consideration. Kindly be prepared to present and answer any questions regarding your proposed agenda items 41, 42, and 43 accordingly.

Thanks very much.

[Kim Frazier]

Noted.

[Kim Frazier]

yes

[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.

[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]

Thank you, Commissioner Russell.

I will make sure that your comments are distributed to the members of the Rules Committee for review and possible discussion.

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