The Knoxville City Council swore-in and sat its newest members Monday, May 6th – but all were already familiar faces. Leslie Wilt has been the acting City Clerk for over a year now but was officially sworn in last night after winning the mid-term election. Wilt was the Deputy City Clerk for Knoxville since 2012. First Ward Alderman Jim McGovern, Second Ward Alderman Kirk Heller, and Third Ward Alderman Ed Mahar all did not seek re-election. Heller and Mahar had each sat on the City Council since May of 2007; McGovern was appointed to the council in 2011. Mayor Dennis Maurer then appointed a First Ward and Third Ward Aldermen in Mike Howard and Charlie Gruner, respectively. Howard resigned from the Zoning Board of Appeals before accepting the appointment. Gruner was appointed City Clerk in 2012 after the resignation of Pam Eagle, he resigned last year due to personal reasons. Fourth Ward Alderman Dan Eiker also won re-election and was also to be sworn-in but was absent.
- In other council news, Alderman approved the intergovernmental agreement with the Knox County Highway Department for the annual oil and chip of city streets.
- The council approved a resolution for city employee salary adjustments in preparation to the $15 minimum wage in the coming years. Full-time department heads would see an increase of 50 cents per hour, full-time employees would see 40 cents and 30 cents per hour for part-time employees.
- Keith Vaughn, owner of the St. Mary’s Chapel is Knoxville applied for a liquor license for this summer to host wedding receptions. City Attorney Rob McCoy drafted a license considered a “sub-class 2” license which would be an add-on to a “CR” or catering license. With a CR license, a venue could host up to 20 events per year, but $25 per event for the “sub-class 2” license would be needed. The council decided to table the ordinance until Vaughn had a chance to review it.