Crossville CIty Council says "No" to 7 members unless public approves via referendum

Expansion of Crossville City Council to 7 members turned down by the council as the majority want to see the matter decided by public referendum.

Council member Pamala Harris, who originally proposed the change that would increase the number of council members from the current 5 to 7 mad the motion to approve the matter after it was approved by the Tennessee General Assembly earlier this year. Mayor Jame Mayberry gave a second on the motion to allow for discussion.

Council discusses the possible expansion of the council from

5 to 7 members.  L-R J.H. Graham, Danny Wyatt,

Mayor James Mayberry, Pam Harris, and Scot Shanks.

Councilman Danny Wyatt said he did not plan to support the motion but added, “I would support this on a referendum to let the people decide.”

Councilman J. H. Graham advised that a majority of his constituents felt the city did not need 7 council members because of the expense and he added that there was concern about more members creating civility problems within the council.

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Comments by council member Scot Shanks indicated he had originally supported the idea but after hearing some of the concerns shared by Mr. Wyatt, Shanks said he tended to agree. Shanks added that the current ratio is one council member per 2500 citizens and most other cities the size of Crossville have 5 members of council too. The contacts that Shanks said he had received indicated the city should stay with 5 council members.

Mayor Mayberry explained that his plan was that if the expansion was approved that the city looks at setting up districts similar to how the county commission and school board are elected. He suggested there could be four council districts with 2 members elected at large for the entire city. Mayberry concluded that he agreed with Mr. Wyatt in the need for putting the change on a referendum.

To make the changes discussed or to put the matter on a referendum would require the matter to be voted on by the council and then sent back to the legislature for approval during next year's session.

The motion on the expansion to 7 members failed with 4 votes opposed and council member Harris the lone aye vote.  

Council to meet in work session on emergency radios and indoor recreation facility

The Crossville city council holds a work session Thursday evening June 16 to discuss two items of business.  The meeting will be in the third floor conference room 317 and starts at 5 PM.

The council is considering the purchase of new radios for police fire and city employee use that would allow them to access the county's current radio system.  Currently the city has separate VHF radio system and according to Police Chief Rod Shoap and Fire Chief  Mike Turner at previous meetings they have tested the new county digital radio system and found it to be superior to the system they currently use.

In addition to better coverage, the system will allow the city to communicate directly with county units, something difficult to do with the current system.  Chief Turner said FCC regulation changes have dropped the power out put from 100 watts down to 15 watts on portable radios.

During the work session, there will be both types of radios at the meeting and council will be able to see the difference between the two systems.  The cost of the change over is estimated to be $1,135,000.

Estimated costs for an indoor recreation facility similar to the one at Manchester TN will be presented to the council.  The council will discuss the type of facility and costs that might be put on the ballot as a referendum for city voters in November.