KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Eight Knoxville businesses have been warned about operating when they're not considered an "essential" firm and one business has received a $50 ticket, according to the city of Knoxville.
Non-essential businesses are supposed to remain closed as the community works to stop the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus.
While governments have been vague at times about saying just what a non-essential business is, they readily define essential businesses as things such as drug stores, grocery stores and hardware stores.
A record shop, on the other hand, would not be considered essential. Restaurants can offer carryout food but can't be open for sit-down dining.
The 311 call center has gotten 324 complaints of businesses not complying with Safer at Home guidelines, according to city spokesman Eric Vreeland. He said 219 of those were about businesses in the city.
Some of the calls represented multiple complaints about the same business.
From all the complaints, eight have been warned by the city. They are: two Knoxville Wholesale Furniture stores; Ashley Furniture; the Bed Store; the Great Backyard Place; Party City; Bennett Gallery; and GB Shoes, according to the city.
The store that's been cited is the Mattress Place on Chapman Highway, according to the city. It got a ticket, the fine for which is $50.
"Obviously, the dollar amount on the fine is relatively minimal, so it's worth noting that most businesses have come into compliance, either on their own accord prior to being contacted by the City, or after being contacted by the City," Vreeland told 10News.
Twenty-two complaints were sent on to the Knox County Health Department that addressed businesses providing "food, tobacco, tattoo, hotel or pool services."
The city said it prefers not to issue tickets to businesses.
The complaint process first involves making a call to the business alerting them about the complaint. Then, authorities make a site visit and the operator is given a caution.
Lastly, "If the business has not taken steps to come into compliance when a second site visit is made, nor has it contacted the Law Department to contest the NOV (Notice of Violation) warning, then the citation is issued," according to Vreeland.
WBIR has received dozens of complaints from the public about East Tennessee businesses that residents say have failed to close as directed.