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Mayor Kincannon helps us kick off summer with a reminder of some of the fun, free, family-friendly activities going on in Knoxville!
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Mayor Presents State of the City
Despite the rain, it was a packed house at this year's State of the City Address on April 26, 2023, in Western Heights.
More than 600 people came together under a massive tent to hear Mayor Indya Kincannon present her proposed budget. The nearly 20 minute address highlighted great spaces in Knoxville and the collective work that goes into creating and maintaining them.
Fittingly, the luncheon was held in the Western Heights / Beaumont community – site of the Transforming Western initiative, a more than $200 million collaborative plan to revamp, renew and reconnect Knoxville’s largest public housing community.
Mayor Kincannon also gave a nod to former Mayors and their risk-taking that led to some of Knoxville’s most valued treasures like the Urban Wilderness, our revitalized downtown, and World’s Fair Park.
There were many special moments throughout the afternoon including a moving rendition of the National Anthem by the Appalachian Equality Chorus, the reading of a new poem by our Poet Laureate Rhea Carmon, and recognition of Veteran Wilford Slade as the Mayor announced $500,000 for Liberty Place- a permanent supportive housing project exclusively for Veterans.
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Lots of Fun at KFD’s Station 16 Open House!
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Park-Friendly Budget Kickstarts Lonsdale Park
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City’s Compost Project Grows
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Gear Up for the Business Opportunities Breakfast
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 Communications Assets
Are you using the City’s standardized signature on your emails?
Do you know the true colors of our City logo or City seal? or the font used?
And, did you know we have a standardized PowerPoint template for City presentations?
Your Comms team finds branding critical and so should you!
Locate these assets and learn more by clicking the button below.
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 KPD Officer / Employee of the Year Awards
The Knoxville Police Department, along with Mayor Indya Kincannon, honored its 2022 employee and officer of the year award winners on May 15, 2023, at the Foundry during the Employee Recognition Luncheon.
Four employees and one volunteer were recognized during the luncheon for their outstanding service on behalf of the KPD and dedication to the City of Knoxville.
Officers Jonathan Gomez and Austin Jordan were recognized as the 2022 Officers of the Year, while Executive Assistant to the Chief of Police Becky Kreisa was named the 2022 Employee of the Year. Andrew Beatty was selected as the KPD’s Explorer of the Year, and Sergeant Phil Major was honored with the distinguished Mike Waggoner Leadership Award.
As Mayor Kincannon said during the ceremony, “The 5 people being honored are true leaders, whose actions are at the heart of what it means to serve.”
Mapping 400 Miles of Stormwater Pipes
 The City and its contractor crews are comprehensively mapping and evaluating the City's entire stormwater system – 25,000 separate parts and 400 miles of pipes.
It’s a tall order. This systematic $2.2 million effort, the first of its kind in Knoxville in decades, is funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA.
But as laborious and expensive as it is to assess the vast network of pipes, catch basins, gutters, culverts and junction boxes, the data collected will ultimately save both money and hassle.
“This will allow us to better prioritize and proactively replace pipes and infrastructure that are in danger of failing," says Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon, who earmarked $800,000 in her 2023-24 budget for stormwater system upgrades.
“It’s dramatically less expensive and much less disruptive to property owners when we make smart, proactive stormwater infrastructure investments, rather than reacting to an emergency situation when something breaks.”
David McGinley, the City's Stormwater Engineering Chief, agrees. By far, in the long run, he says, “being proactive saves taxpayer dollars. It’s not even close.”
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 This month’s mystery employee is a behind-the-scenes superstar.
She grew up in Michigan, and moved to East Tennessee 35 years ago. She’s worked for the City for 15 years, honing her craft and becoming a leader among regional industry representatives.
Maybe you’ve seen her crocheting in between phone calls, emails and meetings – it’s a hobby and stress-reliever she’s practiced since learning the craft in 4-H at age 10.
Do you know the identity of this colleague?
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 Congrats to City employees celebrating significant work anniversaries in April and May 2023!
Congratulations to the individuals and departments that recently won awards: 311/211, Fleet and KUDOS nominations.
You make our City a better place!
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CITY COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT |