Broad range of projects
Jacobs shares county happenings
Currently serving his second term as Knox County mayor since 2018, Jacobs shared what is happening in the county and in what projects the club can be involved.
“I wish there were more organizations and folks like you that make our community such a better place — intentionally,” he said.
“We have some projects going on in this area,” Jacobs said. “We just broke ground on Farragut Elementary School (off Boring Road in Farragut). That will be the largest school in Knox County.
“It will have 1,400 students, about 140,000 square feet,” he said. “Hopefully, it will take some of the pressure off of the primary school here.
“We also have the new elementary school … that will help in the Hardin Valley area,” Jacobs added.
On another project, he said the county is repaving the county portion of North Campbell Station and Yarnell roads.
Regarding an update on I-40, “I wish I had one,” Jacobs said. “I know that Mayor (Ron) Williams is interested in that as well.
“He’s exactly right,” Jacobs said about what Williams had said about the interchange. “(The problems in Farragut and throughout the county) really start with the interstate and state roads. When the interstate backs up, guess what happens? People get off the interstate and get onto Campbell Station Road … eventually all of our roads get clogged up.
“We’re really constrained by what the state does,” he said. “Until the state starts doing some of the work on the highways … but what happens is we have new leadership at (Tennessee Department of Transportation).
“Eventually, we’ll have a new interchange at Watt Road, a new interchange at Campbell Station Road, the weigh stations will be converted to weigh in motion … if they don’t have to slow down, that really just helps the traffic flow,” Jacobs said.
He added there will be improvements made to Northshore Drive in the fall or spring.
“They’re out to bid right now,” Jacobs said.
Concerning projects with which RCF can help, the mayor said the county has a program, One Book Read City, which came about when he first came into office.
“Thirty-thousand elementary school students read the same book at the same time,” Jacobs said. “The books are all supplied by the private sector … sponsors, businesses we work with. It’s been an amazing program.”
He added the club could consider being a sponsor, as well as supporting another school-related event, Schoolmania, an annual back-to-school giveaway.
“When we started, we handed out 2,500 bags of school supplies at no cost,” Jacobs said. “This year, we’re up to 8,000 … next year, we want to get to 10,000 bags.”
The last project “we’re really excited about” is Operation Hero’s Hill, he said. “We are building 20 tiny homes for homeless (military) vets, as well as a community center, computer lab and laundry facilities.
“The homes will be constructed by students from Knox County Schools’ Career and Technical Education programs,” Jacobs added. “We’re working with kids in the construction trades. They will have mentors, folks who are in the construction trades sector of the economy who will be guiding them through this.”
To support the program, visit the website, knoxcounty.org/operationheroshill/
