KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Both Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon and Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs were absent during portions of East Tennessee's record-breaking snowstorm and cleanup in January.
Jacobs went to Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 13, communications director Mike Donila said. The mayor returned to Knox County on Tuesday, Jan. 16 during the cleanup. Snow fell in Knox County from Sunday night through Monday.
"The mayor had made a commitment to a former President of the United States and the top Republican presidential candidate in the upcoming election," Donila said in an email. "As with most other people who live in the 21st century, he is almost always available via voice call, text, or email."
Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon went to Washington, D.C. on official city business on Wednesday, Jan. 17, her office said. She returned on Saturday, Jan. 20. Kincannon attended the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
"Trips like this are key to cultivating and maintaining strong relationships that ultimately keep the issues and needs of people of Knoxville on the forefront at the Federal level," communications director Kristin Farley said in an email. "Just this past week, we received the largest Federal Grant in Knoxville's recent history."
WBIR requested emails and text message records from Kincannon and Jacobs pertaining to the winter storm and their trips. Kincannon's office said she didn't have text messages that were responsive to our request.
Mayor Jacobs' emails show forecasters weren't expecting snow to begin in Knox County on Sunday night as it did. Jacobs' office said he left for Iowa on Saturday night and was scheduled to return Tuesday.
On Feb. 9, 4 days before Jacobs left for Iowa, an email from Knox County COO Dwight Van de Vate had the subject line "Weather looks really bad next week." He and Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability Executive Director Erin Read discussed plans for warming shelters because of extremely cold weather in the forecast.
"Weather forecasts often change and are not always accurate, especially a week in advance. In fact, on Tuesday, Jan. 9 – according to WVLT and other local stations – snow was not predicted to fall on the evening of Sunday, Jan. 9," Donila said. "So, no, the mayor did not consider canceling the trip based on a six-day early weather report."
Jacobs' office provided WBIR with 25 screenshots of text messages. They show Jacobs responding to updates in a group chat from senior leadership in Knox County's government.
"I know it's hard to believe, but the mayor has a unique ability to multi-task. Only his detractors care about appearances," Donila said.
Kincannon's emails, reviewed by 10News show Zoom invites, Kincannon responding to emails about KAT bus service in the extreme cold and an email sent on Jan. 19, the day before she left, about convening a review of "what we can do better," the email said.
"When she was away from Knoxville, she had regular contact with all Department heads through emails and phone calls -- on top of participating in several Zoom meetings, including EOC briefings and a cabinet meeting," Farley said.
On Jan. 19, President Biden spoke to the U.S. Conference of Mayors at the White House. Kincannon is seen snapping a photo of President Biden as he walks into the room and briefly speaking with him as he leaves.
WBIR asked the Mayor's office if Kincannon considered canceling the trip after seeing the reaction to Jacobs' trip.
"Under the circumstances, Mayor Kincannon would have canceled the trip if she was not assured the conditions in Knoxville were in hand," Farley said.
The full questions and answers from Mayor Jacobs' office are below.
Weather reports in the Mayor’s emails warned of (some) snow and extreme cold, as early as Tues. Jan. 9. With that threat of bad weather coming, what were Mayor Jacobs thoughts about leaving town? Did he consider canceling the trip based on those reports?
Weather forecasts often change and are not always accurate, especially a week in advance. In fact, on Tuesday, Jan. 9 – according to WVLT and other local stations – snow was not predicted to fall on the evening of Sunday, Jan. 9. In addition, the mayor had made a commitment to a former President of the United States and the top Republican presidential candidate in the upcoming election. He felt that it imperative to honor that commitment if at all possible. So, no, the mayor did not consider canceling the trip based on a six-day early weather report.
We’ve received Mayor Jacobs’ emails sent during the storm. We were told text messages from that time do not exist. How did Mayor Jacobs communicate with county staff during the response? How frequently was he in communication?
You said the mayor was away during a record snowstorm but also defined such storm as Sunday evening through Wednesday. The mayor attempted to get back on Monday, but McGhee Tyson Airport closed, so he took an early Tuesday flight and was in Knox County during the storm. Furthermore, the mayor was never absent from the situation. In fact, he was in constant contact with key members of his administration, department leaders, and the EOC helping to direct via phone, text and zoom. He knew Knox County was in good hands.
We understand the Mayor is not an expert in winter weather storm response. Looking back, did he think the appearance of the leader of Knox County being away during a record storm with 10 inches of snow was a mistake? Would he do anything differently?
I know it’s hard to believe, but the mayor has a unique ability to multi-task. Only his detractors care about appearances.
This year…how much time has Mayor Jacobs spent out of a.) Knox County and b.) on political trips and c.) out of the state during regular working hours – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and not counting holidays – according to our phone conversation, which you agreed to use as the definition.
Mayor Jacobs is often out of the county during the regular working hours you defined, but he is still doing the work for Knox County. For example, Mayor Jacobs meets with Gov. Lee to talk about and champion projects for our area, including the new multi-use stadium downtown, or to seek increased funding for the county or the school system. Likewise, he meets with state senators and representatives. Mayor Jacobs also sometimes meets with a consortium of other mayors in nearby counties to discuss projects, maintain relationships and trade ideas.
Mayor Jacobs is often out of the county during the regular working hours you defined, but he is still doing the work for Knox County. For example, Mayor Jacobs meets with Gov. Lee to talk about and champion projects for our area, including the new multi-use stadium downtown, or to seek increased funding for the county or the school system. Likewise, he meets with state senators and representatives. Mayor Jacobs also sometimes meets with a consortium of other mayors in nearby counties to discuss projects, maintain relationships and trade ideas. Mayor Jacobs this year has rarely left the state. He spent two-days in Texas with other local and state elected leaders to see first-hand how broken the immigration system is; and he went to Iowa during a weekend holiday to campaign for President Trump because he feels that a Republican president will help keep Knox County at the federal level’s forefront. Additionally, Mayor Jacobs uses his own money to pay for any trips he takes. And, as with most other people who live in the 21st Century, he is almost always available via voice call, text, or email.
The full response from Mayor Kincannon's office is below
As we told you back in January, Mayor Kincannon was in Washington D.C. on official city business attending the US Conference of Mayors, something Knoxville Mayors have done for years. Trips like this are key to cultivating and maintaining strong relationships that ultimately keep the issues and needs of the people of Knoxville on the forefront at the Federal level. Just this past week we received the largest Federal Grant in Knoxville’s recent history, the 42.6 M Reconnecting Communities grant.
Under the circumstances, Mayor Kincannon would have canceled the trip if she was not assured the conditions in Knoxville were in hand. However, as you may recall, Mayor Kincannon had a media event the Sunday before the storm hit warning Knoxvillians of the storm's danger and discussing the City’s snow plan. She also was part of a news conference from the EOC the day after the big snow.
When she was away from Knoxville she had regular contact with all Department heads through emails and phone calls—on top of participating in several Zoom meetings, including EOC briefings and a cabinet meeting.
In 2023, Mayor Kincannon had 9 out-of-city work trips that included several one-night stays in Nashville as part of Leadership Tennessee and/or meetings with lawmakers. She also attended the Mayor’s Institute of Pedestrian Safety, the TN Smart Mobility Expo, and several US Conference of Mayors’ events. Please note many of the Mayor’s travel days are on weekends–-as Mayor’s don’t have traditional days off.