Knox County ethics subcommittee reports 70% progress; schedules Dec. 3 meeting and plans red-line posting

The Knox County ethics subcommittee reported substantial progress on a proposed code of ethics, with members saying they completed seven of 10 sections and plan to finish the remaining sections in upcoming meetings.

Subcommittee chair Michael Biddle told the committee the group’s first meeting addressed about 70% of the code’s sections and that Commissioner Terry Hill provided input during discussions. Biddle said the subcommittee plans to post a red-line version of the document to a shared drive so members and the public can see suggested changes; he also said minutes and materials from prior meetings are posted.

Biddle announced the next subcommittee meeting will be Dec. 3 at 08:30 in the same room and noted the committee has a public forum where residents may sign up at the podium to speak for up to three minutes. A member of the public had earlier urged the committee to add a public forum section to the committee’s agenda to comply with a state statute; the chair agreed to add that item to the end of today’s agenda.

Committee members reminded one another they must avoid discussing committee business outside meetings because of the sunshine law; instead, suggested edits should be submitted through the public portal or the shared subcommittee repository so they remain part of the public record.

Marcus Hilliard was nominated and approved to join the ethics subcommittee after the report; committee members asked that the red-line and updated materials be circulated to the subcommittee and posted where the public can access them.

The committee did not receive any public comments during the open forum at the end of the meeting.