May 12, 2025 at the Knox County Commission meeting, a rezoning on 8022 Hill Road out in far North Knox County, the link to the rezoning request on Commission’s agenda is here. Former County Commissioner Scott Davis development company is the developer. Both Commissioner Adam Thompson and Commissioner Rhonda Lee said they received a lot of calls opposing this rezoning. The property in question is in Lee’s Seventh District, however Thompson’s Eighth district is nearby. Commissioner Terry Hill of the Sixth District has property nearby and said she received a letter and/or notice about the rezoning.
Ultimately, after some back and forth between Davis and Lee about postponing until June. Davis agreed and the Commission postponed the rezoning until June, you can watch the relevant portion of the discussion here.
The next morning Davis contacted Lee asking for names and contact of residents that he should meet with.
Commissioner Lee,
As per the County Commission meeting yesterday. Please let us know who you would like for us to meet with regarding the rezoning on Hill Road.
From past experience, it seems to be more productive if we are able to meet with 3-4 representatives from the community rather than a group session of 10-30 people.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Scott Davis
Commissioner Lee responded to Davis Tuesday evening.
Scott
Thank you for your reply.
I do not have a list per se. I would ask that you get a list from the property assessors office and send out 40-50 letters to the immediate neighbors and make them aware of a meeting.
Mandi at the Mayors office said she could get Halls High School or the library to have a meeting.
If you could get some dates that would work and we could coordinate the meeting, and then send out notices.
It is hard to estimate the number of people that will attend.
However, it is important that the community have input.
Please send me 2-3 dates and times and then send out letters.
Thank you for your cooperation.
In Service
Rhonda Lee
Now both Thompson and Lee said they had calls. But with numerous citizens, you would think that some may email the district Commissioner, in that effort, I open record requested emails to the Commissioners email address between the date in April of the Knox Planning meeting where it was approved and the May 12 Knox County Commission meeting. The response to my request was that there were no records responsive to my open records request, thus no emails. Commissioner Lee did say “calls”.
It is very difficult to contact opposition, if Davis can not locate any. No opposition attended the April Knox Planning meeting and no opposition attended the Knox County Commission meeting. Without any opponents being identified, how can Davis plan to meet with someone?
