I have been called and contacted by several individuals since the special call meeting of the City Council on Friday, November 27th. Some have indicated that they felt the City Council should have voted to assume the responsibilities now held by the Utilities Board.
But by far and away, most have expressed the opinion that myself and the council took the right course of action in defeating that propsed action.
The Utilities Board is like any other organization in that it experiences problems. And the criticism has been leveled by many that there is not enough information about the Administration of the Utilities released to the public.
The Council, Utilities Board, Utilities Director and myself now all need to agree to work together to help insure that the best possible decisons are made for the good of our users as well as for the Utilities Department. And we have already begun that process. Councilman Jerry Neal, Representative from the Council serving on the Utilities Board, has furnished me with (1) A copy of the new Utilities budget, and (2) A copy of the employment contract between the Utilites Board and the Utilities Director including the director's salary. Both items are on my desk and are available for public inspection.
We also plan to periodically schedule workshops (open to the public) involving all of the above to better maintain communication between the Council and the Board.
Mr. Ronald Perkins has presented the City Council with a proposal to locate a machine shop in the city owned building next to the municipal building (old Jellico Apparel building). The shop would begin with about eighteen employees and level off at twenty-five to thirty in the second year.
Mr. Perkins has indicated that he will need a $ 25,000.00 loan from the city as well as free building rental for a period of three years. Repayment of the loan would begin after six (6) months followed by fifty-four (54) monthly payments of $ 529.47 with 6% interest. Equipment purchased with the funds would serve as the city's collateral.
We certainly want to attract every job to our area that we possibly can and we hope that we can work out something with Mr. Perkins. We do not currently have the money available but I have asked Councilman Allen McClary, Finance Director, to explore every avenue to see if the funds can be located without any increase in taxes or other city fees.
This week I want to address a situation that affects not only Jellico but the people and children of the Fifth District and all of Campbell County.
At the last meeting of the Campbell County Board of Education, four members voted to appoint Country Heatherly to a four-years term as Superintendent of Schools without the consent, or knowledge, of the people of Campbell County. The planned appointment was not announced to the public in any media; or placed on the agenda for the meeting; or even added to the addendum after the meeting was convened. No applications were taken for the position. In fact no announcement was even made concerning applications.
Only James L. Davis, our Fifth District Representative, voted against the high-handed action of the board. But other members are said to be having second thoughts about their votes now since there has been such a public outcry against the action.
Although Davis stood alone at the meeting, he certainly is not alone at the present time. Most if not all Campbell County Commissioners have condemned the Board's action and several possible options are being considered by the Commision's Education Committee. As stated by one member of the Education Committee, "The entire thing stinks to high heaven.".
I could not agree more!!!
Mr. Oscar Watkins told me recently that he enjoys reading my column each week and that no one has ever done anything like making regular reports in the newpaper before.
I am glad that he reads and enjoys what I write each week and I hope that others do also. Writing the articles requires both time and effort but if people enjoy reading them, they are worth the time I spend.
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