Jan 2025 - ONK Meeting Minutes

January 27, 2025

Board members attending: Chloie Airoldi-Watters, Kelly Arsenault, Garrett Bentley, Sean Bolen, David Booker, Martin Cordell, Joy Guilford (presiding), Margareth Olsson, Steven Rider, Jenny Spatz, Donna Spencer (recording), Dave Ticehurst

Others attending: John Golliher, Erin Lund, Juliet McVay, Drew Sparks, Lauren Rider

GUEST

Shelley Clemons, KPD

Break-ins at 523 E. Oklahoma, glider thefts, car break-ins, house had utility cables cut. Increased activity behind Kenjo/Shell station at Grainger and Broadway, people urinating etc. Camp in the lot across Grainger from there; a police officer was there today. Lauren Rider added that there have been chronic problems in that lot, standing no trespass order.

Officer Clemons encouraged people to call things in. Use 911 if you don’t have quick access to the non-emergency number and they’ll redirect it if needed.

OFFICER REPORTS

President: Joy Guilford

Dues are payable now. Required of board members, optional for others. Paypal is an option; they take a small cut but you can add a bit in to cover that.

Treasurer: Martin Cordell

Presented treasurer’s report. $45k in checking currently. We have room to increase charitable spending, and he had two recommendations for organizations that have been supportive.

• East Tennessee Community Design Center: has a neighborhood-level membership for $500 a year. Chloie Airoldi-Watters moved to approve. Dave Ticehurst seconded, and the motion passed in a voice vote.

• North Knoxville Business and Professional Association: membership is $150 a year. Margareth Olsson made a motion to approve. Drew Sparks seconded, and the motion carried in a voice vote.

Joy led the group in expressing thanks to Martin for serving as both treasurer and home tour chair.

Minutes: Kelly Arsenault made a motion to approve October’s minutes. Chloie Airoldi-Watters seconded, and the motion passed in a voice vote.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Historic Preservation: Sean Bolen led discussion of the proposed triplex on Leonard Place, with 809 Luttrell as a reference. The first application, in December, had numerous issues, some of which have been resolved. A meeting with the developer will be happening at the law office on Luttrell at 6pm on Wednesday, January 29.

Discussion included background on missing middle housing, interpretation of standards in historic guidelines, and parking. People can contact Sean directly at 865-603-5651 to let him know their thoughts.

Garrett Bentley brought up the need to establish priorities as a first step in developing new historic guidelines that will address issues of infill as well as others like solar panels and new materials. He’s going to prepare a survey.

Beautification: Margareth Olsson

First Creek cleanup will be April 5, 9am to 1pm. Celebration event will be the following weekend with supplies, T-shirts, music. She needs volunteers for the day of the event and will use paper goods left over from the ice cream social. Keep Knoxville Beautiful neighborhood cleanup with weeding and trash pickup will be at Booker Park on Saturday, March 8. She needs volunteers for that one as well.

Discussion included hiring someone to do maintenance and possibly update landscaping (especially in the front bed) at Beth Ann Booker park. Twice a year isn’t enough. She asked people to help identify firms or individuals who might be able to take that on.

Message boards (glassed-in bulletin boards) for parks were discussed with a plan for placing one in Beth Ann Booker Park and one at First Creek Park. Joy will talk to Bentley about the possibility of making some that would match the Little Free Library.

Public Works: Dustin Durham. No report.

Communications: Donna Spencer

Newsletter will go out next month and postcard in March.

Home Tour: Martin Cordell

Net is around $15,500, about the same as the year before. Expenses ran about $9,000 and attendance was about 1,100 people. Ad revenue was down but online ticket sales were up, and we saved money by not printing tickets and posters.

Social: Kelly Arsenault

They’ll be meeting soon to discuss spring events. Monthly neighborhood social will be at Schulzbrau February 5, from 7 to 9 pm.

OLD BUSINESS

Banners. Martin Cordell and Drew Sparks still have designs still in work. Discussion of hiring a professional company to do a full logo package based on the selected design.

NEW BUSINESS

Elections will be coming up soon for board seats. We’ll have at least one open seat and possibly others, so anyone interested in serving can talk with Joy. Looking ahead it would also be good to bring in a new secretary if someone is willing.