Clarksville's Audit Committee

Here is a story on Clarksville’s Audit Committee.

Folks have asked me how vibrant Robertson County’s Audit Committee will be.

Folks automatically assumed that the Audit Committee will be somewhat reactionary just as the Ethics Committee tends to be. And, what I took from being ‘reactionary’ is that the Ethics Committee generally convenes when complaints and issues are brought to that committee’s attention. It is somewhat of a passive committee unless it has been charged with a task. I do not foresee our Audit Committee being that way.

Clarksville-Montgomery County [School] ReZoning

What our neighbor is doing.

Redistricting in Robertson County

I saw this article from the Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle about the status of Montgomery County’s re-districting status and process.
 

It looks as though a re-districting committee completed an evaluation, analysis and proposal as a proposal is moving forward to their county commission.

Where is Robertson County in the redistricting process?

In the past couple of weeks, a committee has been constituted. Members include:

Commissioners -

Bobby Jones (Chariman) – 10^th District

Carol Dugger (Secretary) – 5^th District

James Bowens  – 12^th District

Billy Vogle – 7^th District

Tommy Baggett – 9^th District

Ex-Officio / Non-Voting Members –

Cathy Hamsley, Administrator of Elections

Bob Hogue, Planning & Zoning

At our last Regular Commission Meeting, Chairman Bobby Jones gave a status report as to the committee’s progress.

The Committee has met with a representative of the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury’s office. An outline of objectives was presented to the Committee.

Chairman Jones advised that the Committee hopes to meet at least 2x a month until a proposal is formally submitted to the Robertson County Commission. Further, a proposal must be passed by year’s end.  

Different Perspective: Highland Crest College Ribbon Cutting

This was interesting to see from an “outsider’s” (someone outside of Robertson County) perspective.

Here is the Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle’s coverage of Highland Crest College’s ribbon-cutting ceremonies from this past Wednesday.

I completely agree with Warren Nichols of Vol State CC:

Morgan said Highland Crest "represents the best of local government and the private sector," while Nichols said Highland Crest "is a true college that is here to stay."

Highland Crest, located off William Batson Parkway one mile south of NorthCrest Medical Center, was the result of a contentious referendum in 2009 in which voters approved the construction of the facility. Landowners Billy and Jean Batson donated the property.

County-by-County: Comparing the Property Tax Rates

Many of you have asked me just what the tax rates are for our surrounding counties.

Of course, this question was sparked by the recent story in the Robertson County Times discussing the possible property tax increase.

The numbers I pulled below are the “base” property tax rates. I say “base” because they do not represent the entire tax rate. Municipalities within the respective counties have additional taxes on top of the respective county taxes. Some counties, such as Cheatam County have additional taxes for fire districts. I have not included those for comparison since it is hard to compare based on those separate taxes.

If you would like to investigate further, please follow this link to the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury – Division of Property Assessment. A link can be found here: 2010 PROPERTY TAX RATES:

County                      Property Tax Rate

North Middle Tennessee

Cheatam County              $              2.78                       

Sumner                               $             2.02.08 

Robertson                           $              2.61

Dickson                                $              2.85

Montgomery                     $              2.88

Trousdale                            $              3.00

Wilson                                 $              2.4327

Middle/Southern Middle Tennessee

Davidson                             $              3.56

Rutherford                         $              2.4652

Maury                                   $              2.59

Williamson                        $              2.26

Marshall                              $              3.09

Bedford                               $              2.27

Governmental Budgets: Frustration

This is an op-ed from Jimmy Settle of the Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle.

I know that he discusses a “Montgomery County” issue, but I wanted to point this out because his laments are the same laments we face here in Robertson County.

[T]his is the hand we've been dealt for now. It's a fact of life in private business as well. It's just that, in government, it's all public record so those in leadership roles have to openly share all the grim details.

County Health Rankings

If you are like me, you continued to hear about the county health rankings that were released this week.

But if you were like me, you may not have not known how they were compiled, or just what they meant in detail…

Robertson County’s own Scott Raynes (of NorthCrest Medical Center) has an op-ed in The Tennesseean that helps break these numbers down.

TCCA Executive Director David Connor shares some additional information, and also a link that has a county-by-county break down of the rankings themselves.

For those who are curious, Robertson County ranked 9^th.

Here’s how our neighbor counties fared:

Sumner                   - 2^nd

Wilson                   - 6^th

Montgomery         - 10^th

Davidson              - 13^th

Cheatam              - 21^st

Dickson               - 31^st

2010 Census: More Notes & Picture Graph

This post on the 2010 Census results last week was a very popular post here at ‘From the Blackpatch.’

More and more data continues to emerge as relates to population information. TCCA Executive Director David Connor had a follow-up post on more census data.

Check out the link to this picture-graph. It shows the percentage growth for counties in Tennessee. It is quite interesting to note the growth in and around Middle Tennessee. It is one of the first that I have seen to picture Robertson County’s growth.

I would expect the trends to do nothing but continue in the next ten years here in north middle Tennessee.

Will we plan for this growth, or will we react to this growth?

Montgomery County 28% Growth Rate

The headline says it all. I just thought this was a staggering rate for our neighbor.

County Population Estimates

TCCA Executive Director David Connor passes along “U.S. County Population Estimates.”

"Sell[ing] a tax increase..."

Our neighbor commission to the north and west is an unenviable position.

I do not envy commissioners in Commissioner Vellejos’s position:

The delay was proposed by District 14 Commissioner Tommy Vallejos, who said the commission would need more time to study the proposal and sell a tax increase to voters if one is needed.

But, watch out: You are about to hear the same rhetoric from those within the Robertson County Commission.

Economic Development: Us, Too.

Though this is a story regarding Clarksville, this segment caught my attention.

Companies, he said, are in a better capital position. They're erasing debt, and once times are better, he thinks there will be an investing spree.

The national figures seem to support his position.

Norbert J. Ore, chair of the Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing Business Survey Committee said in an official report that the manufacturing sector "continued its growth trend ...

Robertson County must be ready, too.     I am confident that our own Robertson County Economic Development Board is taking the necessary steps to prime Robertson County for position when the economic downturn begins to shift direction.

Economic development is pivotal for it permeates every aspect of the County.
Specifically, the RCEDB's focus has been on Maxey Road, an undeveloped interstate interchange. I anticipate that I will be able to share with you regarding developments regarding this project in the months ahead as they are currently "in the works."

Montgomery County: Unemployment Figures

The Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle takes a look at local employment/unemployment figures like we did a few days ago.

In taking a peek around to our neighbors, it looks like all our neighbors are backsliding so far as unemployment figures goes over the last couple of months.

Here is a breakdown of the surrounding counties that the article cites:

[Stewart County with 11.4 percent unemployment, up from 10 percent the previous month;

and 10 percent for the two neighboring Kentucky counties of Christian and Trigg — actually down 0.1 percentage point from the month before;

Houston County has 10.5 percent unemployment, up 0.4 from October;

Dickson County is at 9.9 percent, up 0.5;

Cheatham County's rate is 9.1, up 0.5;

Robertson County is at 8.5, also up 0.5.]

It would look as though that Clarksville's slide comes from a direct source or two, which has me somewhat curious regarding where our slide is coming from.

I know of no recent rounds of layoffs or cutbacks from any of our local, larger employers.