August Races for County Commission and BOE Set as Deadline Passes for Candidates to Run

With the deadline now passed, the following candidates for Cumberland County Commission and odd-numbered districts of the Board of Education have qualified to have their name included on the ballot for the August 2^nd county election.

Qualified candidates have until noon Thursday April 12 to withdraw their names in writing or they will appear on the ballot.

In the August 2^nd Cumberland County election eighteen seats on the Cumberland County Commission and the odd number districts of the Board of Education are up for election.

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Two commissioners from each district and one BOE member from the odd number districts 1,3,5,7 and 9 will be elected in the August balloting. Candidates who have qualified are marked.

In the Second, Fifth and Ninth district County Commission races only two candidates qualified meaning that they will get seats on the commission. Also, in the First and Fifth district BOE race only one candidate qualified so Jim Inman and Tony Brock will both get a seat on the BOE with no opposition.

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Federal and State race primaries will also be held on August 2 as well. July 3 is the final day to register and be eligible to vote in the August elections. Visit http://www.govotetn.com/ and register to VOTE Online.

Early voting for the August 2 election and Primaries will be July 13 through July 28, 2018

Candidates for First District Commissioner

Christopher D. Coleman

R. J. Crawford

Chad Norris

Sue Ann York (incumbent)

Second District Co. Commissioner

Kyle Davis

Nancy Hyder (incumbent)

(Current Commissioner Tom Isham did not return qualifying papers.)

Third District Co. Commissioner

Mitchell L Jenkins

John Peaslee

Rebecca H.Stone (incumbent)

Darrell G. Threet

Fourth District Co. Commissioner

Gary L. Adams

Joe Dunn

Jane Franklin

David H. Gibson (incumbent)

Charles Seiber

Fifth District Co. Commissioner

Jack Davis (incumbent)

Terry Lowe (incumbent)

Sixth District Co. Commissioner

Clifford H. Segar

Michael E. Speich

Wendell W. Wilson (Incumbent)

Seventh District Co. Commissioner

Mark Baldwin

Jerry Cooper

Elbert Farley (incumbent)

Michael J. Hamby

Roy Turner (incumbent)

Eighth District Co. Commissioner

Jim Blalock

Deborah Holbrook

Darrell Wyatt

Ninth District Co. Commissioner

Carl MacLeod

John L. Patterson Jr. (incumbent)

BOE First District

Jim Inman

BOE Third District

Shirley French Parris (incumbent)

Jay Wright

BOE Fifth District

Tony Brock

BOE Seventh District

James Davis

Tom Delk

Rebecca Hamby

BOE Ninth District

Stace Karge

Aretie G. Patterson (incumbent)  

A few races still short of candidates for the August County election for County Commission and BOE

Updated list of nominating petitions for candidates in the August County Election for County Commission and Board of Education (BOE).

Two commissioners from each district will be elected and one BOE member for each odd-numbered district will be elected in August 2018 voting. Most of these candidates have taken out papers but not yet returned them. The deadline for qualification petitions to be turned in to the Election Commission office is April 5 at noon.

New additions to the list are marked with an asterisk.

Candidates for First District Commissioner Include:

Christopher D. Coleman

R. J. Crawford

Chad Norris

Sue Ann York (incumbent)

Second District Co. Commissioner

Nancy Hyder (incumbent)

Third District Co. Commissioner

Mitchell L Jenkins *

John Peaslee

Fourth District Co. Commissioner

Gary L. Adams

Joe Dunn

Jane Franklin (qualified)

David H. Gibson (incumbent)

Fifth District Co. Commissioner

Jack Davis (incumbent)

Terry Lowe (incumbent)

Toshia Phillips Powers

Tony Soriano

Machelle S. Tenbroeck

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Sixth District Co. Commissioner

No candidates yet

Seventh District Co. Commissioner

Mark Baldwin (Qualified)

Elbert Farley (incumbent)

Michael J. Hamby

Roy Turner (incumbent)

Eighth District Co. Commissioner

Jim Blalock

Deborah Holbrook (qualified)

Jesse Iles *

Chris Singer

Darrell Wyatt

Ninth District Co. Commissioner

Carl MacLeod

John L. Patterson Jr. (incumbent)

BOE First District

No candidate

BOE Third District 

 Shirley French Parris (incumbent)

Jay Wright (qualified)

BOE Fifth District

No candidate

BOE Seventh District

Rebecca Hamby

BOE Ninth District

Stace Karge

Aretie G. Patterson (incumbent)

http://www.govotetn.com/ Register to VOTE Online

Candidates for the August County Races for Co. Commission and BOE Taking Shape with Some New Additions

Nominating petitions for candidates in the August County Election for County Commission and Board of Education (BOE) have also started to come in. Two commissioners from each district and one BOE member will be elected in August voting. Most of these candidates have taken out papers but not yet returned them. The deadline for qualification petitions to be turned in to the Election Commission office is April 5 at noon.

All new candidates since the last update are marked with an asterisk. *  Those who are officially qualified and any incumbents are also indicated.

Candidates for First District Commissioner Include:

Christopher D. Coleman

R. J. Crawford

Chad Norris

Sue Ann York (incumbent)

Second District Co. Commissioner

Nancy Hyder (incumbent)

Third District Co. Commissioner

John Peaslee *

Fourth District Co. Commissioner

Gary L. Adams

Joe Dunn

Jane Franklin (qualified)

David H. Gibson (incumbent)

Fifth District Co. Commissioner

Jack Davis * (incumbent)

Terry Lowe (incumbent)

Toshia Phillips Powers

Tony Soriano

Machelle S. Tenbroeck *

Sixth District Co. Commissioner

No Candidates yet

Seventh District Co. Commissioner

Wm. Mark Baldwin

Elbert Farley (incumbent)

Michael J. Hamby

Roy Turner (incumbent)

Eighth District Co. Commissioner
Jim Blalock

Deborah Holbrook (qualified)

Chris Singer

Darrell Wyatt

Ninth District Co. Commissioner

Carl MacLeod *

John L. Patterson Jr. (incumbent)

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BOE Third District 

Shirley French Parris (incumbent)

Jay Wright (qualified)

BOE Seventh District

Rebecca Hamby

BOE Ninth District

Stace Karge *

Aretie G. Patterson (incumbent)

http://www.govotetn.com/ Register to Vote Online

Uncertain future--Co. commission looks to surplus Youth Center property.

Cumberland County Commission voted to begin the process of cancelling the lease with the Youth Center and declaring the property surplus to sell.

While the Youth Center has long served the community, the organization has all but shut down though recent efforts to restart the operation included a proposal seeking funding from the city of Crossville.

There is a loan against the property with Highland Federal Savings and Loan that will have to be handled in the sale.  It is unclear how long the process will take to sell the property. 

Cumberland County Youth Center property off of Dayton Avenue and Hayes St. 

Windfarm opposition group angry over action of County Commission-withVideos

We will have video of the discussion to add to this post a bit later, but the county commission soundly defeated a resolution that some called zoning that would have given the county the right "to regulate the use of property where such is found to be detrimental to the health, morals, comfort, safety, convenience or welfare of the residents.

This resolution was put forth by 9th district commissioner Sandra Dutcher.  After some heated public comment at the start of the meeting and discussion about the resolution it was soundly defeated with only three commissioners voting in favor.  Those included Dutcher and 9th district commissioner Woody Geisler and 3rd district commissioner Rebecca Stone.

Video of resolution on proposed land use regulation.

A second resolution also failed that was a non-binding resolution that had been previously passed by the Farifield Glade Community Club and the Crossville city council.  It failed in a vote of 6 commissioners in favor and 10 opposed.  Commissioners voting for the resolution included Rebecca Stone, Allen Foster, Terry Carter, Tim Claflin, Sandra Dutcher and Woody Geisler.  Sonya Rimmer and Elbery Farley were absent.  Other members voted against the resolution.

 As the group opposed to the windfarm left the meeting following the second vote a shouting match broke out and required Cumberland County Sheriff Casey Cox to go into the audience to try and calm things down.

Video of resolution opposing windfarm and aftermath.

 

Opponents of the Crab Orchard Windfarm filled the courtroom as the county commission met to consider two resolutions on the windfarm.  Both resolutions failed

 

Wearing "Stop the Turbines" shirts, some of those who attended the meeting discussed what they could do next after the meeting.  

Co. Commission turns down county wide referendum-with video

In a 12 to 4 vote, the Cumberland Co. Commission turned down the agreement with the city of Crossville to put a bond referendum on the Nov election ballot.  Commissioner Harry Sabine moved to turn down the deal that would let county voters approve or not the referendum that would increase the county tax rate by about 9 cents.

There were a few questions from the commission on the deal and what the county and city were responsible for.  Sabine commented that the county should have been consultTheed before the last minute.

 

The vote by the commission was:

Voted to oppose rec center referendum

Sabine

Isham

Hassler

Stone

Foster

Gibson

Lowe

Wilson (School funding first)

Turner

Clafin

Dutcher

Geisler

Voted to support the referendum

Scarborough

Hyder

Davis

Carter

Absent

Farley

Rimmer

Early Voting continues through July 30 for August 4 election--Sample Ballots included

Early voting continues through noon on Saturday July 30 at the Milo Lemmert building across from the Cumberland County Courthouse at the Election Commission offices.

The Milo Lemmert Building is the location for early voting through July 30.  Hours are 8 to 5 Monday through Friday and 8 to Noon on Saturday. 

In addition to the Democrat and Republican primaries on State and Congressional Races there are county elections for the office of Property Assessor, several board of education seats and seats on the county commission.  

Democratic Primary sample ballot

Republican Primary sample Ballot

School Board races sample ballot

Property Assessor and County Commission sample ballot

In addition there are the names of 11 sitting justices and judges that votes can choose either to retain or replace on the ballot for appellate and supreme court seats. Those up for voter decisions include three Supreme Court at large justices Jeffery S. Bivins, Holly Kirby and Roger A. Page.  Appellate judges on the ballot include Kenny Armstrong, Brandon O. Gibson, Arnold B. Goldin, Robert H. Montgomery, Timothy L. Easter, Robert L. Holloway and J. Ross Dyer

Reception cool to city indoor rec center proposal at county buildings and grounds committee

Cumberland Co. mayor Kenny Carey address the county commission buildings and grounds committee during a discussion of a countywide referendum for an indoor recreation center. 

The plan the Crossville city council had to put the indoor recreation facility on a countywide bond referendum appears that it may not be approved by the full commission.  The problem is lack of adequate information for the comfort level of commission members.

Questions from the county committee included how would operations and maintenance be funded, how would the land be paid for and who would oversee management of the building.  Engineers from Hart Freeland and Roberts that designed the facility at Manchester Tennessee that the city has looked at as a possible model and said the type of facility and amenities would determine the population that was attracted to the facility.  Generally what has been discussed is a multi-purpose gym, and indoor pool area plus other possible classrooms, a wellness center area and more.  Depending on the cost an outdoor water activity area may be considered.

Crossville councilman Pete Souza said that to get the matter ready for the referendum, and the deadline is short, the city and county need to agree on the funding mechanism in order to move forward.  Said Souza, the questions now is, "Does the city and county want to do this, what are the parameters and responsibilities and are we going to do it by August?"

Souza said his personal view was he didn't feel it should be done without a referendum because it was a lot of money and he felt the people should have a say in it.

The referendum wording must be approved by the state election commission and then turned in to the local election commission by August 25 for it to be on the November 8 ballot.
Should the deadline be missed, the next opportunity for the referendum would not be for another two years.

Crossville city attorney Will Ridley said that he hoped to get a definite offer to the county approved by the council at their July 14 meeting that would include the basic details of land donated, operations and funding.  Ridley said he hoped the commission would be willing to consider that offer at thier regular July Meeting on July 18.

County commissioner Harry Sabine had strong comments saying the matter was "completely premature. I don't see anything succeeding and my plan is to vote 'no' to anything coming in front of county commission."  Sabine, a city resident and city voter said, "I think the city ought to do it.  For any referendum to succeed, who ever is doing it, whether city or county or both, they've got to be behind it 100 percent, tell everybody what you're doing and support it. It is almost like, from what I've heard and seen, the city doesn't know what they're doing.  They haven't done anything."

Sabine said he felt the commission would almost unanimously vote the proposal down. "I'm a city resident," explained Sabine, "and I would love to see this.  I will support it and I will be delighted to pay extra taxes for the city to do it."  Sabine continued saying that he wasn't sure the city could even get the necessary package put together to get the referendum on the ballot by August either.

Councilman Souza responded, "Thank you Harry for your candid opinion."

The meeting ended without much consensus other than what Sabine said.

Councilman Jesse Kerley said if the city alone took on the project the tax increase on city residents was estimated at a 35 cent tax increase.  Kerley said the city pays about $6 million a year to the county and added that he doesn't really know what he gets from the county for the taxes he pays.  Kerley continued, "I came up with this idea.  All you are doing is giving people the chance to vote."

Kerley said if the city does it he and his neighbors will have to "pay $20 million so county residents can use this for a smaller fee and I don't think that's fair."  He added that if the project is put off another two years it could be $5 million more.

The item will be on the city agenda for July 14 and the following information was released with the agenda today:

The Cumberland County Buildings and Grounds Committee has requested a proposal from the City Council regarding the potential county-wide referendum on an indoor recreation facility. In order for them to pass a resolution calling for the referendum, they need a proposal from the City Council that addresses the following:
1. What size facility is proposed and what would it include?
2. What is the maximum amount to be spent? (Range)
3. Who would own the facility?
4. Who would operate the facility?
5. Who would provide the land and how much land will be provided?
6. How would the capital costs be funded?
7. How would the operational costs be funded?

This basic framework would be contained in the resolution adopted by both the City and Council so that, if the referendum is approved by the voters, both the City and County know how to proceed. Without these basic questions agreed on in advance, an adopted county-wide referendum would make it totally a County facility and responsibility, with no involvement by the City. The County Commission meets on July 18. Their next meeting would be August 15, which leaves little time to get the proposed referendum question to the State Election Commission for approval to submit to the Cumberland County Election Commission by August 25.

The City Council has previously discussed a $20M referendum and an approximate 66,000 sf facility (similar to Manchester) that would include:
* 16,000 sf gym with two high-school-size courts and one college-size court
* Walking track measuring 1/12 mile
* Competition swimming pool with eight, 25-yard lanes
* Warm water pool
* Outdoor leisure pool with deck and water park-type amenities
* Wellness center
* Martial arts/gymnastics room
* Dance and aerobics exercise room
* Locker rooms

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Long Planned Indoor Water Rec Center Referendum Expected on November Ballot

Crossville city council has studied an indoor recreation center with a swimming pool off and on for 15 years.  As the years have passed, the estimated cost has increased.  The total now expected to be between $19 and $20 million. 

The city council discussed the matter in a work session June 16 and it came before the county commission at their regular meeting on June 20 to ask that the referendum be put to citizens countywide.

The proposal is to put the matter before voters and give them a chance to decide if they are willing to support a bond issue to borrow the money necessary to build the project with the tax increase that would be required to fund the payments for the community amenity. Previous surveys and public meeting have shown a high level of support by citizens for such a facility but when the question becomes approval of a tax rate increase, officials are unsure if such a measure would continue to still have that level of support. 

The referendum  would be capped at a maximum of $20 million expenditure for construction and, if approved countywide, the expected property tax increase would be about 10 cents.  If the referendum is put just before city voters, the city tax rate would increase by about 38 cents and residents out side the city would then be required to pay a higher fee to use the facility.  Neither of these amounts includes the funding necessary for operation of the facility estimated to be $1.3 million.  A portion of that cost would be offset by membership and use fees while the balance would come from tax funds.

City council discussed a project that would be similar to a facility at Manchester Tennessee to include a 16,000 sq. ft. gymnasium with a second level for a walking track, locker rooms, classrooms, racquet ball courts and a full size competition indoor pool.  In addition to the 66,000 square foot building, the Manchester facility also has an outdoor water park feature with slides, a lazy river and splash pads.  The outdoor water feature may or may not be included in the Crossville facility as it would add another $3 million to the total cost.  

Crossville city councilman Jesse Kerley said it was time for the people to decide if they wanted it or not.  Cumberland county agreed and gave permission for the matter to be put before countywide voters with approval to come on the actual language of the ballot question to come back before the county commission for final approval.  

One possible location for the facility is next door to City Hall on Main Street on the site of the current Villager Inn.  City officials say the property is available for sale but no price has been quoted and it would also require additional parking.  The photo below shows a footprint of how a facility similar to Manchester would fit on the property.  

The deadline to have the matter turned into the election commission for inclusion on the November ballot is August 25.