Urgent Issues Needing Your Attention

Hello, everyone-

There are three things I'd like you to know about.

1. Judicial Appointment Process

On Thursday evening, while attending the first meeting of the Smoky Mountain Animal Care Advisory Board, I learned that there would be a Special Called Meeting of the County Commission on Tuesday, September 9 to elect the commission chair and other positions as we normally do in September. I asked Commissioner Samples at the time whether we would also be dealing with the replacement appointments for General Sessions Judge or Dr. Ramsey's commission seat at that meeting. He said he didn't know.

On Friday, I asked Rhonda Pitts, administrative assistant to the commission, to add the following item to the commission agenda, which she did.

Item L. 7. Discussion and possible action regarding appointment process by County Commission for vacancies.

I also hastily put together a Resolution with a proposed process for handling those appointments. It needs a few adjustments, but I had to get it out there and in the commission packet as soon as possible. If we don't discuss this at Thursday's commission meeting- there will be no opportunity to do so at all before we're faced with handling the critical responsibility of choosing your General Sessions Court judge for the next 2 years. There may be some who are quite comfortable with that idea, but I'm not.

Then, in Saturday's mail, I received the following from the county clerk's office:

"Dear Commissioner Reeves:

Pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated 5-5-113, notice is hereby given that the Blount County Board of Commissioners will hold an election as authorized by Tennessee Code Annotated 5-1-104 at 6:00 p.m. at the Blount County Courthouse in Maryville, Tennessee, on September 9, 2008, to fill the anticipated vacancy in the office of General Sessions Judge, Division IV. "

You need to know that you have the right to submit names (including your own) for consideration for this position. If you submit a name for someone who cannot be present on September 9th, you must bring a legal affidavit from that person stating that they would be willing to serve if so chosen. And if you have comments or opinions on how this process should be handled, I urge you to come to the Commission Meeting this Thursday, 8/21/08, at 7 p.m. at the Courthouse.


2. School Resource Officer Funding

Also on the agenda for Thursday evening is this item.

Item I. 1. c. Budget increases/decreases:
 General County Fund - $125,570.00.

This is a request from Blount County Sheriff James L. Berrong for an additional $125,570.00 added to his budget for the creation of 3 new SRO positions. I would like to hear from you. Is this something you would like to see the Commission support?

3. Constituent Coffee- Your Chance to Share Your Thoughts

On Monday evening, 8/18/08, I'll be hosting a

Constituent Coffee at

FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Old Niles Ferry, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Anyone interested in discussing and learning more about local government issues is welcome to attend. In particular, however, I'd like to invite those of you who live in District 4. (You're in District 4 if you vote at Chilhowee View, Montvale Elementary, Fairview Elementary, or the Blount County Board of Education on Grandview.) If you'd like to come, you can just show up, or call me at 865-207-4305.

In view of the extremely important decisions your commission will be making over the next few months, I would especially appreciate your input.


Thank you!

~Wendy