Published: May 05, 2008 02:31 pm         

Citizen suggest changes in the way county government is operated

If Jewell Kesterson has her way, county government will be changed drastically and nearly every decision made will be done by a referendum of the people.

Kesterson rose to address the commission during last month's meeting and was granted a wide berth by County Mayor and Commission Chairman Brock Hill and for 30 minutes or so, expounded on what her perceptions of county government are, and what they should be.

What sparked her interest was the recent buildings and grounds committee vote banning all expressions of art from the courthouse lawn with only a limited exception. The action was in response to federal court rulings that basically state either all or none when it comes to expressions of religious beliefs on taxpayer property.

Kesterson took exception to the committee's action and said such a decision should have been placed on the ballot so all Cumberland Countians could decide the fate of expressive art as it relates to courthouse property displays.

"Common sense does not prevail," she told the commission. "I think all or none is rather drastic ... there are a lot of options, like limiting how many or the time frame they can stay up."

Among her other suggestions was the installation of a facsimile machine in the courthouse so citizens can send their suggestions and opinions on issues. She also suggested that the county install in each commissioner's home two telephones with one number representing no and the other yes. Citizens could call the line they support and express their opinion, she said.

Commissioners listened for a while but when she suggested that county commissioners are out of touch with the will of their constituents, she was met with a chorus of protests from the local representatives.

Carmin Lynch noted that he publishes a weekly column in the Glade Vista that discusses county business, and always lists his e-mail and home phone number to get feedback from Fairfield Glade area residents, the district he represents. "And they call," he said.

Commissioner Lynn Tollett said he receives numerous phone calls at home and that constituents in his district are not shy about letting him know how they feel.

"I feel I am well informed on how people in my district think," said Commissioner Mike Harville. "I talk to people (about county business) at home on the phone, e-mail, at church, at Wal-Mart, wherever I go."

No action was taken on her suggestions but the commission did take action on the following:

•APPROVED the quarterly report from Cumberland County Trustee Carolyn Turner as mandated by law. The report shows a beginning balance of $4,531,368.16 and an ending balance as of March 31 of $5,455,359.25 in the county general fund. The county bond and interest fund showed an ending balance of $21,056,285.34. Total balance for the ending quarter was $38,483,101.04, which includes all funds invested and generating interest for the county. It does not reflect the county indebtedness.

•APPROVED a resolution appointing Earl Reynolds Jr., Joe E. Reynolds, Clara Curtis, Willie Hargis and Bennie A. Brown to two-year terms on the Cumberland County Equalization Board.

•APPROVED the appointment of Peter Martin to the Cumberland County Library Board, replacing Pete Stubbs who resigned, to a three-year term.

•APPROVED a budget committee action appropriating $5,050 to the Crossville Arts Council to help with costs of the painting of a mural on the side of the Jane Powers' law office building located at Main St. and Fifth St. The mural is to remain in place for a minimum of five years.

•APPROVED receipt of a 100 percent state-funded grant in the amount of $5,000, called a Community Enhancement grant, for improvements at the county's museum.

•APPROVED receipt of a $1,000 grant from Middle Tennessee Natural Gas and $500 grant from Volunteer Energy Cooperative Customers Shares Program give to the Cumberland County Emergency Medical Services to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training to the public.

•APPROVED receipt of $200,000 in grant money to the Railroad Authority to be used for engineering and construction related expenses for the line of track from Crab Orchard to the Roane County line.

•APPROVED receipt of federal funds in the amount of $1,545.17 for the Special Education Department of the county school system.

•HEARD a complaint from Lantana Rd. resident Rich Nedabylek about neighbors opening up a dirt track on adjacent property. The complaint centered around the noise the bikes make and the fact that racing takes place most of the day on weekends and holidays and after school until dark on other days. He said the existence of the track, located across from old Lantana school, has "grossly affected" the value of his property and diminished the retirement lifestyle of he and his wife. In the absence of zoning in the county, there is nothing known that the county commission can do about the issue.

•APPROVED the following list of notary publics. NEW: Kathy Ashburn, Kathryn M. Bowers, Brandi M. Cravens, Carole Gentry, Molly Rutherford and Marsha R. Wilson. RENEWAL: Bernice Beaty, Kay Blalock, Sandra H. Brewer, Deborah N. Cecil, Wanda Dingess, Alice Edinger, Norma J. Emerson, Tammy M. Freitag, Valerie Hale, Tammie Houston, Vicky Lay, Angela Page, Dawn C. Robb, Susan Marie Parsons, Rintha L. Pugh and Vicky Scarlett.