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.

Robertson County Schools: By the Numbers

Sometimes, you do not need hyperbole. Merely conveying something is all that you have to do.

Well, let me share with you some figures. Now, I feel as though you will have the same reaction that I did. I knew that these figures would reveal what they did, but until I saw them, I had no idea.

These are our Robertson County Schools:

Strategic Plan: Part 3 - Planning & Infrastructure

In follow-up to the previous posts (here and here)  regarding Robertson County's Strategic Plan, here is the 'Planning and Infrastructure' portion:

RTA: Re-Constituting & Re-Joining

At our last Legislative Committee meeting, the committee voted to re-join Regional Transportation Authority (RTA).  The RCC will consider a resolution on this at our April Regular Meeting.

The RTA is in the process of re-constituting itself at this time. Here is some information on this process from their press release:

EMS: Doors 1, 2, 3 & 4

You may have seen Jim Bellis’s article in the Robertson County Times (RCT) this past week related to the Robertson County Emergency Management Services (RCEMS) – “County Ambulances Could Go Private.”

This article has to do with the viable options that the RCC EMS Committee will be considering at their April 11, 2011 meeting.

I do not want to go through each of the four options that Jim Bellis discusses. What I would like to suggest is what I would like to see happen for RC EMS, but more importantly, for the citizens of Robertson County.

In RC, NorthCrest Medical Center (NMC) and RC EMS interact daily, if not hourly serving some of the most rudimentary and crucial services for this County. These two entities are separate, for sure, but there exists a de facto state of dependency on one another. RC EMS more dependent than the hospital since it serves such a specialized purpose.

Now, with all of that said, here is the point of which I want to focus on Jim Bellis’s article:

A second alternative presented for consideration would involve a partnership with NorthCrest Medical Center in a fashion to be determined through joint negotiations. In this scenario, it was suggested that NorthCrest would provide, operational “management,” in the form of one of their staff, who would oversee staffing , training, policies and procedures, and “medical directorship,” through their emergency medical staff.

Now, just think about this for a moment. What were some of the more disturbing and disappointing facets unfolding from our own EMS a few short months ago? (See here and here)

A consistent mantra I maintained was that we have some very good personnel - our “boots on the ground” were/are second to none. What we needed was leadership through administrative reform.

By now, you probably see where I am going with this….the above proposal would be exactly what NMC could offer the RC EMS. By letting the folks concentrate on what they already do best, this solution would free them up that much more. NMC could and would offer their expertise in items related to administration and leadership.

Moreover, there would be a relationship forged by agreement that would ensure that communications and cooperation could and would exist between two entities that by default work together already.

But, I am just one commissioner.

Ownership: County & City

I am so happy to see this project continue to gain momentum in our County. I say project, because this singular event was not completed by this singular event.

It is great to see folks from outside Robertson County and the City of Springfield take ownership in something such as this, but the time is ripe for all of us to take ownership in this endeavor.

I do not consider this to be solely a City of Springfield matter as I consider it to be a Robertson County matter.

Cheatam County Re-Districting

It looks like our neighbor, Cheatham County, has already initiated the process of re-districting.

I hope to personally initiate the discussion this Monday at our RCC Legislative Committee meeting.

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

The Week of April 4, 2011

MEETINGS SCHEDULED WEEK OF:

April 4 - 8, 2011

Date & Committee/Board Time                Location

Monday - April 4

Legislative 5:00 P.M.                                   County Mayor's Office

Tuesday - April 5

Open

Wednesday - April 6

Foster Care Review Board 9:00 A.M.           General Sessions

Thursday - April 7

Budget 5:00 P.M.                                          Finance Office

Planning and Zoning 7:00 P.M. County        Office Building

Friday - April 8

Open

Shannon Polen

It has been difficult to keep up with this story as it unfolds. It even crept into the national media.

And, to think, I did not even know of the arrest but for a telephone call I received from Jim Bellis of the Robertson County Times letting me know of the story he broke this morning:

Robertson County Commissioner Shannon Polen was arrested at his home Tuesday night by officials from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Office of Special Investigations with the Tennessee Attorney General.

Polen was charged with three felony counts of theft of property and taken to the Davidson County Jail for booking.

Held on a total of $400,000 bond, Polen made news recently after three civil lawsuits were filed against him for what has been described as a “Ponzi Scheme,” by some. He will now appear in court on April 4 to begin to answer his charges.

The Times will continue to update as further information becomes available .

Here are the other outlets that I have been keeping track throughout the day:

MSNBC here.

WTVF – Channel 5 here.

WSMV-TV - Channel 4 here & here.

As your RCC Ethics Committee Chairman, rest assured the RCC is keeping close track of these allegations as they unfold. Many have asked just what action the RCC will take in the days and weeks ahead.

We must remember that these allegations are unfolding at this point, and that this is an evolving process. The RCC Ethics Committee is keeping eyes and ears open monitoring this situation but due to the nature of these unfolding investigations, we cannot become another investigatory entity.

County, State and Federal officials are currently at work on their own investigations.

Of course, this investigation, and the connotations of this investigation do not cast Robertson County in a positive light. It is a dark day for everyone involved. It is our hope that the civil and criminal justice systems will bring Robertson County swift justice.

UPDATE - 4/4/2011: Check out the update to this post - "Commissioner Shannon Polen Resigns"