County Commissions Trying To Kill Sunshine Law

This appeared in the Daily News Journal as an editorial on 10 November 2011. It alerts readers to a very serious attempt to weaken and destroy the State Open Meetings Law. Some Giles County Commissioners have already been in discussions supporting this proposal. While many aspects of the law are already ignored if the law is changed by this proposal there may as well be no Open Meetings Law.

"Public. Private. We often associate the first word with "government," the second with "business."

But when it comes to "government business," the first word should always apply. That's why a proposal by the president of the Tennessee County Commissioners Association to weaken the state's 37-year-old sunshine law must be stopped in its tracks.

Williamson County Commissioner Bob Barnwell has cooked up a wrong-headed proposal under which any number of members of a county commission, school board, or city council — up to a quorum — could meet and discuss public business. Public notice would only be given if a quorum of the body was present.

Bad idea. Horrible idea.

The people's business should be public, with few very specific exceptions. Yet we continue to have elected officials — those who've been granted the honor of representing the citizenry — searching for ways around the sunshine law so that public business can be conducted in the shadows and behind closed doors.

Conducting government business out in the open benefits not only the public but elected officials as well. Records are kept and maintained to hold everyone accountable. It gives credibility to the workings of government because it ensures that decisions are being made in the light of day for taxpayers to see for themselves, then determine whether those decisions are right, wrong or indifferent.

According to Frank Gibson, executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, Barnwell is urging county commissions statewide to back his proposal with resolutions that ask their local state representatives and senators to support the measure when the General Assembly reconvenes in January. Barnwell has reportedly secured a sponsor.

Under the state's sunshine law, two or more members of a government body may not gather privately to "deliberate" toward a decision.

Contact your county commissioner today let them know that you want the public's business to remain just that."

Naming Bridges, Roads, Bridges and Buildings

What should be the criteria for naming Bridges, Roads, Ball fields and Buildings in the county?

This topic was first posted on 2/3/2006

Courthouse Hours Of Operation

Many complaints have been expressed about the difficulty of working citizens being able to get to the courthouse and conduct business with the current hours of operation. Current hours of operation are 8 to 4 with one hour for lunch, which means each employee is paid for forty hours while working only thirty-five hours each week. How does that serve the public and the taxpayers who fund the government?

This topic was first posted on 2/2/2006

Do You Believe That The City, County and School Board Are In Compliance With The State Open Meetings Laws?

This question was first posted on 2/6/2006.

Do you believe that since the State Open Meetings Law requires all meetings, including those with less than a full committee, be open to the public, that the law is being fully complied with?

Do you believe that the City, County and School Board is in compliance with the State Open Records Law?

Do you believe the local media is doing a good job in providing information about meetings and records such as the cost of lawsuits against the city, county or school system?

Are you satisfied with the level of information being provided about the actual cost of operations for the City, County and School System?

How Has The Increased Cost Of Utilities Impacted You?

How has the increases in electricity, water and sewage impacted you?

How do you feel about the Electric Company selling, Cable TV, Internet and Electricity?

If you knew that the electric rates were being used to subsidize the internet and cable operations would you feel different about Pulaski Electric providing those services?

Are Land Tax Appraisals Fair?

After having received your property tax notices, do you believe the assessments were fair and reasonable? With property values, especially in town, having decreased so greatly and the housing market suffering so greatly do you believe your assessment was fair and reasonable? Did your assessment go up or down in this time of recession and numerous foreclosures?

How Do Citizens Get Information About Local Issues?

How would you change the way citizens get information about the local issues that are important to our lives? This topic was first posted on 2/2/2006.

Presently there are only a few means by which information is shared with the general population; the weekly newspaper, WKSR AM & FM radio, WXXL radio, and this blog. A less general audience receives news from the PES cable channel, the Columbia newspaper and the Nashville and Huntsville stations, the latter two seem only interested when there is a murder involved.

Sen. Alexander Proposes New National Sales Tax

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R) Tennessee is currently writing a proposal for a new national sales tax. This would be a new tax charged on ALL online purchases.

To contact Sen. Alexander and express your thoughts on this new tax:

Washington Office 455 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Phone: (202) 224-4944 E-Mail -

http://www.alexander.senate.gov