I hope that everyone read the article in the Knoxville News-Sentinel edition of April 4th as well as some earlier stories. It seems that the very popular and regularly elected mayor of Oliver Springs, Stanley Justice, had recently had opposition to his efforts to improve that town - even attracting the filming of the very successful movie, "October Sky" to Oliver Springs which contributed greatly to the town's economy. And those who visit Oliver Springs on a regular basis can easily see the progress that has been made. After enduring the constant opposition of some councilmen until he could endure no more, Stanley reportedly resigned his mayor's position during the middle of a city council meeting stating that he "had had enough".
As I understand the story, some angry citizens immediately called for the resignation of the three councilmen who apparently had led the opposition to the mayor's recommendations. The councilmen did not resign so the citizens prepared recall petitions, proceeded to meet the legal requirements for a recall election and according to the News-Sentinel story, the names of the three councilmen will be placed on ballot for the upcoming August 3rd election for possible removal from office.
Recall elections are being utilized more and more and the idea of recall is a good one. The provisions for recall elections are included in every municipal charter of which I am aware. Several years ago a small town in Illinois removed the mayor and the entire board of aldermen for failing to carry out their responsibilities. And there are examples all over the country where individuals have been recalled for a multitude of reasons.
It is a sad fact of life that situations often develop when mayors and councils cannot function together or where councilmen simply cannot or will not, agree among themselves on important issues arising within their municipality. In those cases, recall elections where the citizens can make the decision may be the only answer. Elected officials cannot please everyone but they have the obligation to attempt to abide by the desires of the majority of their constituents.
I have been asked what would happen if the state election commission rejects the proposed petitions for a recall election in our town. The petitions could be completed anyway and if the 232 signatures are obtained, then the signed petitions could be resubmitted to the state office along with an appeal. It would be hard for the state office to deny the request from so many citizens.
I have also been asked what would happen in Jellico if several individuals (mayor and/or councilmen) were to be removed from office by a recall election this August. If the mayor were to be recalled, he would be succeeded by the vice-mayor unless of course, the vice-mayor too, should be removed. If enough councilmen were left in their seats, they would then appoint individuals to fill the vacancies and to serve until the next election. If too many officials were to be removed, the city attorney could petition the court system with jurisdiction (probably the chancellor) to call for a special election to coincide with the regular November election - again at little or no expense to the city.
During our special call meeting ofthe council on Thursday, March 30th, the council voted to: (1) pass a resolution required for final financing of the new fire engine, (2) delay a proposed ordinance changing a zoned area, (3) grant approval for Kohner Properties to continue to maintain the park between the elderly building and Towers-B, (4) accept the Campbell County Committee's recommendation for meeting the requirements of Public Law 1101, (5) Hire Stephanie Cantu to begin training in the office of the city recorder at $8.00 per hour, (6) to have the city attorney to draw up a resolution declaring a vacancy on the city council, and (7) to have the city attorney to start the process of having the city owned building on South Main Street declared as surplus property.
In the future I am going to strongly suggest that we have special call meetings of the council only in cases of emergencies. Our citizens are accustomed to the traditional monthly meeting at 7:30 PM on the third Thursday of each month and those meetings are generally sufficient to handle our city's business. Special situations do arise on occasion requiring immediate action but those are rare. And it is my feeling that only the emergency items specifically cited on the special call agenda should be discussed. The provision for "anything to properly come before the council" on the special call is a "catch-all" phrase that can lead to some critical decisions without the presence of many of our citizens who might otherwise be present during the discussions.
City recorder Betty Hurst is diligent in making sure that special call notices are published and I generally announce them in this column and during my radio program if time allows. But regardless, some citizens still do not become aware of the meetings and that is not a good situation. And the fact that special call meetings start at 7:00 PM further serves to confuse people who may desire to attend.
Our next regular meeting of the council is scheduled for Thursday, April 20th (7:30 PM). The agenda had not yet been prepared at the time this article was written but issues that might arise include naming someone to fill the vacancy on the council formerly held by Mr. Allen McClary and whether to return to the old mayor/council form of government. Virtually everyone who talks with me now concerning that subject favors such a return including some who formerly advocated hiring a city administrator. One individual who originally pushed for a city administrator told me some time ago that he now no longer favors a city adminsitrator because much of the progress that he had hoped would be brought about by hiring someone for that position has already been accomplished during the past two years or is presently in progress.
And last week, one of those who helped to build public support for a city administrator told me virtually the same thing. And he not only wants now to return to the old mayor/council form of government but he also would like for us to return to the two-years terms of office that we had for so many years.
At least three members of the Jellico Tourism Commission have told me that they did not help to compose the add run by the Commission in the lcoal papers (one member was not even present for the meeting) and that their names were added to the list only as members of the Commission.
And more than one member told me that they are 100% behind my efforts to improve our town. I certainly appreciate their comments. I have also been told that at least one other member privately feels basically the same way).
But I certainly hope that the Commission members are successful in arranging activities for every Friday and Saturday night. Some members often attended the activities last year. But for some who were never there for even a single night although serving on the Commission, it will be very good experience.
And it will free Councilman Jim Dobson and myself for attending a lot of other events that we missed last summer since all of our weekend nights were required in the park.
Sue Timmins has taken me to task in local papers for inaccurately reporting the events of the March meeting of the city council.
However we had a big audience at that meeting and all that I have talked to who were there said that my report was very accurate. In fact most insisted that I was very kind in my article toward some of the councilmen for leaving out the accounts of their outbursts of opposition against the badly needed blacktopping of Veterans Park Annex and the citizens' requests for council approval to continue the Friday and Saturday night activities free of charge to the city.
And they all insisted that Sue Timmins was not even at the meeting. (I sure do not recall having seen her there.) And they all ask how can she possibly know whether or not my account was accurate or inaccurate?
Regardless, Sue should feel free to write her own account of the meetings if she does not want me to do it. I have no objection whatsoever against her writing them up and publishing them each week. But her reports do need to be just like mine that are always in agreement with the tapes that are made during each meeting. I have never yet had a single challenge of any of my accounts that were not verified by the tapes.
Jellico resident Mike Smith, an official with Walmart in Lafollette, has always been extremely good to help with our community development project because he sees real effort being made. Mike called me recently to inform me that he has been able to obtain $1,500.00 to be donated to our Jellico Rescue Squad. His help is greatly appreciated.
I was ill and unable to attend the recent stage production at the Jellico Elementary School. ("Princess Night" directed and produced by Stacey Edwards). But from all accounts, it was truly an outstanding production. I have heard nothing but compliments from those who were in attendance. One lady told me that it bordered on "professional" and that's heady stuff for elementary school students.
Another community activity that no one should miss is the passion play, "View of the Cross" presented each year by the Church of God, Mountain Assembly on South Main Street and directed by Pam Weaver. It is truly one of the most impressive live presentations of the Easter story that I have ever personally witnessed. Dates this year are Friday, April 21, Saturday, April 22, and Sunday, April 23 (7:00 PM). Get there early for good parking and seating. The crowds are large.
I often write of my desire to attract tourists (and especially groups) to Jellico for the increased business that they bring to our local merchants, etc. A good example of what I have in mind is the "Bushtec Homecoming Event" to be held in Caryville on May 25-27. That activity is expected to draw 800-1000 motorcycle riders with a median age of 47-52 and a median income of $50,000 - $65,000 who ride motorcycles at least 10,000 miles annually.
The three day event is expected to have great impact upon the local economy of that area.
I want to thank the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) at both Jellico High School and Whitley County High School. Both invite me each year to their military balls and the Jellico High JROTC a few years ago presented me with a "plaque of appreciation" for my support of that program.
I received a great surprise two weeks ago when some Whitley County High JROTC students met me wearing formal dress blues and presented me with a similar plaque for my support of that program. I was honored along with Whitley County Executive Mike Patrick.
The award has great meaning to me since the JROTC program is one that still emphasizes discipline, character and leadership. Few qualities are more desirable in today's culture.
Another very worthy organization is scouting for both girls and boys. Our local boy scout troop #456 is currently asking for donations to help finance several of the troop's summer activities. Some of the scouts simply cannot afford to participate without financial assistance and I hope that our citizens will help with their drive to raise the necessary funds. Please send donations to LeeAnn Bowlin Mozingo, Debra Lemons Owens or give them to a scout who is soliciting for that purpose.
Final note:
I recently heard from a lady in Detroit, Michigan who takes this column from the Internet. Her father, Roosevelt Hubbard, grew up in "Yellow Row" very close to our family but he now lives in another part of Michigan. He too has purchased a computer and looks forward each week to receiving this column after it is placed on line by Interstate 2000.
The thing I remember most about Roosevelt is that his parents were very strong Democrats and named him for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. (A second son soon followed and they named him Franklin Delano. Honestly!!!) But in a real twist of fate, Roosevelt's friends in Michigan began calling him "Teddy" after President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt - a staunch Republican. I have not seen Roosevelt in many years but would love to do so.
I also received word from the Gault family now living in Cincinnati that they appreciate the article I wrote several weeks ago concerning "Yellow Row" that included their late parents, Jesse and Roussia Belle Gault. I don't know if they read the article in the Advance-Sentinel or received it on the Internet site.
Jennifer Wilson now living in Florida, found the recent article on the Internet that I wrote mentioning her late father, Jack "Bus" Wilson and she wrote to express her appreciation for my including his name. Bus was always active in community affairs and he has been greatly missed during the past several years.
And Mr. Herschel Gilbert of Stockbridge, Georgia who sent me the photo of the old Gay Theatre on North Main Street, has also furnished me with a photo of the Jellico Methodist Church choir taken in 1940. (I have given it to Joe Brown for possible placement in the church archives). Mr. Gilbert was in Jellico last summer and he was highly complimentary of the stage constructed in Veterans Park Annex and felt that the weekend music was one of the best developments here in several years. Mr. Gilbert is a musician himself and has appeared in all types of musical shows ranging from "pop" to grand opera.
Johnny and Marie Wilson Jackson have informed me that they now look forward to my column on the Internet each week and that they are making the web site known to other former Jellico residents living in the Lakeland, Florida area. Johnny reminded me that I once paddled him in school but I assured him that if I had known then that he would make such a big man, that I would not have done that for any reason.
Those and many, many other replies that I have received personally and on the two web sites "guestbooks" from all over the country clearly demonstrate both the love and interest that former Jellicoans maintain toward their hometown. (I hope those who have computers on line will call up those "guestbooks" and read all of the comments). And they further illustrate the popularity that this column has gained since its inclusion on site www.jellico.com/jellico/jellico.htm in addition to its publication in the Advance-Sentinel.
The last time I checked with Lisa Casey at Interstate 2000, there had been somewhere around 12,500 accesses on the web site. I am sure that that number would now be approaching something like 15,000 - 20,000 accesses had I not missed writing this column for several weeks.
And I recently had a local merchant to tell me that he actually believes that this article helps his business. According to that individual, people who stop by specifically to pick up a copy of the paper and this column, occasionally look around and end up purchasing other items from his store. That is certainly a great compliment and I hope that it is true all over our area.
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