Should School Directors Be Elected or Appointed?

It was requested that this subject have its own thread. So here it is.

Property Committee Meeting Held 12 Jan. 2009

The following items were discussed in the Property Management Committee chaired by Commissioner Connie Howell this morning.

Item 1 Proposal to move the tax assessor's office to the area formally occupied by the elections office at an approximate cost of $163,000.00 was presented by an architect. The matter was discussed and alternative proposals were offered but rejected by the Tax Assessor. The committee finally rejected the move at this time as being much too expensive. Further study was to be done with new proposals to be presented at a later date.

Item 2 An estimate of $54,270.00 was presented for repairs to the Hunter Smith Building. This would include removal of loose plaster, removal of the covered walkway, pressure washing the brick, repointing the brick, repair of the roof and repainting.
After a report that it would cost approximately $100,000.00 for the county to tear down the building and much discussion a proposal to sell the building at auction was made and accepted. After an auction company is found to manage the sale the building will be sold on the courthouse square to the highest bidder and finally returned to the county tax role.

Item 3 Proposal was made by architect to repair plaster in courthouse ceiling at a cost of $40,000.00 to $50,000.00. This would remove the old damaged plaster and canvas and replace it with new and some sound baffling.

After the meeting was adjourned six ladies from the Tax Assessors Office sought to be heard. Their very emotional complaints involved no pay raises, no space, and broken promises of being moved to the former election area in the courthouse basement.
Allen Barrett

From The Legislative Committee Meeting 12 Jan 2009

These items were discussed at the Legislative Committee chaired by Commissioner Faulkner this morning.

Item 1 SENIOR TAX FREEZE. Much negative was said against adopting this legislation including the false assumption that extra people would have to be employed at a cost of over $80,000.00.
This is legislation that has been passed by the people as was expressed by Commissioner Adams on more than one occasions. One response to Commissioner Adams was that the people didn't know what they were voting for and the commission had to decide what the people really wanted.
Finally Commissioner Adams motioned that it be taken before the full commission and Commissioner Bailey seconded the motion which passed.
This item was discussed without any public input which resulted in less than full accurate information being available.

Item 2 Commissioner Lee stated that some commissioners had been on certain committees far too long and served as chairmen of some powerful committees much too long and that there should be term limits placed on how long a person could remain as chairman. A second part to this concerned conflicts of interest. Those employed by county entities should not be in position of deciding matters that involve that employer. In such matters a conflict of interest exist either by reality or perception regardless of whether the little statement is read stating there is no conflict.
The matter was put aside to be studied.

Item 3 Proposal to place financial statements on the county website was met with much enthusiasm.

Item 4 Statement from Rep. Eddie Bass was read in response to the Tourism Board requesting the county be named "Turkey Capitol of Tennessee". After some laughter and assurance that this was not an identification of the County Government the committee agreed to propose the designation be changed to "Wild Turkey Hunting Capitol Of Tennessee".

Item 5 Discussion was held about requiring the Industrial Development Committee submit reports of activities to the Commission each quarter. Some felt a written report each month of how the money was being spent was appropriate along with a personal report from the Economic Development Recruiter each quarter.
Presently no one in County Government has any clue as to how money the county contributes is being used.

Item 6 Questions were raised about when the Ethic and Courthouse Security Committees would meet since none had been held in the past year. Allen Barrett