A Taste of Robertson County

I thought I would pass this press release for ‘A Taste of Country’ sponsored by the Robertson County Chamber of Commerce.

Though this is generally outside my discussions regarding all things effecting RC government, I thought I would take a second to share this with you. Reason being, well, reasons…I am a member of the RCCoC, and I support their efforts in making this most attractive community in Middle Tennessee. But, more importantly, and to the point I would like to share. Any and all events that can help unify RC are important and should be supported.

As a commissioner, I am committed to overcome the sectionalism and self-interests prevalent throughout RC. This may be a bad example, but I think this presents a perfect example to showcase just how attractive this County is to Middle Tennessee, the State and beyond.

Here is a little more about the event:

We are proud to announce that a committee has been formed and plans are well underway for “A Taste of Country”, a festival designed to showcase all the best of Robertson County. The date has been set for Saturday, June 11, on and around our historic Court House Square in Springfield, and the day’s agenda will include music, food, arts and crafts and the agricultural heritage of which Robertson County is so proud. This date was chosen to coincide with downtown Nashville’s annual CMA Fest. This week-long event attract fans from all over the U.S. and beyond, and hoteliers tell us that many of these visitors are looking for a chance to get out of the city for a spell and experience the small-town, rural atmosphere of Nashville’s surrounding areas.

Check out the entire press release if you have a moment. The County needs more folks interested in these kinds of endeavors, and it needs folks like you.

UPDATE: Highland Crest College

It is always a pleasure to share an update on the Highland Crest College campus.

In the last two days, two stories. (Here & Here)

It looks like we, and I say “we” as in Robertson County, are on track for opening in August.

From NewsChannel5 –

SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. - Higher Education in Robertson County is closer than it has ever been in the past. After debates, votes and much planning, college level classes will soon be offered in a brand new facility in Springfield.

Getting a college education has been out of reach for many people in Robertson County for years, but now Volunteer State Community College is helping to change that.

"It was a tough decision," said first year Vol State Student Paul Farmer. "I'm married, have children and I have wanted to further my education for quite a few years now."

The 42-year-old husband and father has a 45 minute commute from Greenbrier to school, which is taking a toll on his family as gas prices get closer to $4 a gallon.

That all could be a thing of the past soon. The Highland Crests campus, also know as the Robertson County College, is set to open it's doors in the fall for students at both Vol State and Austin Peay State University.

After nearly three years, the 25,000 square foot building is near completion as the building is looking more like a school.

Classrooms are getting their final touches, stairs are built and dry erase boards are hanging up.

"We have put together a very comprehensive schedule from 8 a.m. until the evening," said Highland Crest campus director. "So, we're hoping to accommodate the needs of everyone."

Martin said the new building will bring education, the gift that keeps on giving.

"I'm really excited about it." said Farmer. "Not only that I get to take advantage of it, but my daughter starts college in the fall, so both of us will take advantage of a shorter commute to class."

The school is expected to be move-in ready by July, with the first day of classes starting August 29.

Highway 431 Expansion

Most everyone knows the expansion so far, but I wanted to pass this along nevertheless.

I will be interested to see what can be done with further expansion towards I-24. In conversations with our own Representative Evans, he has expressed before that more conversations are being had about that effort.

Here are some of the details (the rest of the story can be found here):

[Allan] Ellis said the widening of the road to William A. Batson Parkway is being referred to as Phase One, while Phase Two is expected to widen the road a little further south down 431.

“We know commuters are very interested in TDOT widening that road all the way down to Interstate 24, but TDOT hasn’t planned that yet. They are planning on, sometime in the future, continuing the divided four lane highway about 3-1/2 more miles to where Old Highway 431 comes into Highway 431.”

Ellis explained that there are several places where Old Highway 431 intersects with Highway 431. The one referenced is just south of the Coopertown border, near the Pebble Brook Golf Course.

MY Minutes: 2011.3.11 - Gorham-McBane Public Library Board of Directors Meeting

The Gorham-McBane Public Library Board of Directors met on Friday, March 11^th.

I was glad that I was able to attend this meeting. As you may or may not know, these board meetings are held every other month.

With that said, I do not want to belabor you with the month-to-month operations that were discussed. But, something of interest is that the Board will be expecting plans from the architects of KBJM in the next several weeks. Recall that these are the same plans discussed here. The plans are to take these plans to the City of Springfield, Robertson County and other entities for consideration of a funding request for the expansion project.

Electrolux: Tennessee, Memphis & Springfield

If you were like me over the last few weeks, Electrolux has been in the news quite a bit. (See here, here and here.)

It was interesting to see the banter around the move, and the new Memphis site. Like many in Robertson County, it spawned a few questions of what this means for the Springfield facility. It concerned me that if even with the new facility moving to Memphis that they would consolidate facilities in some form or fashion, but I have not seen one story to that effect. Further, I have heard that this will not be the case.

But, just what does it mean for Springfield and Robertson County? That, I could not answer at this point.

One thing, I do know: I agree with Margot Fosnes’s Op-Ed in The Tennesseean.

Memphis deal is a boost

The announcement of the expansion project in Memphis was greeted with smiles here in Springfield because we all knew that this investment is a vote of confidence for the Tennessee business environment, as well as an affirmation that company officials are pleased with the performance and work force at the Springfield operation.

In an environment where there is the constant threat that manufacturing jobs could easily be moved overseas, the Electrolux decision is a triumph for the competitiveness and competence of our local work force and the willingness of city, county and state officials to do what it takes to keep jobs here at home.

Springfield and Robertson County look forward to a long and productive future with Electrolux Home Products here in our community. We stand ready to work together with them to grow their operations here as business plans allow. We count our community fortunate to have Electrolux call Robertson County home.

MY Minutes: March Legislative Committee Meeting

At the last meeting, the RCC – Legislative Committee took up the following resolution:

We, the below-signed sitting Commission of Robertson County, in consideration of our great Biblical history of Tennessee, both in our Tennessee Constitution and devotional activities in ourheritage, hereby acknowledge the importance of the Ten Commandments of Almighty God and wish to go on record in support of this Magnificent Document and state that we will defend our right to its display to the limit of our ability, against all enemies, domestic and foreign, public and private.

In the enacting of this Resolution, we hereby petition the God of Heaven to preserve the peace which He has so graciously extended to us by our ancient acknowledgement of the Ten Commandments and beg His continued protection and alleviation of ills which come to those who forget Him and His Law.

It passed the RCCLC with “no recommendation” so that the entire commission can consider the adoption of this resolution. This resolution will be considered at the April Regular County Commission meeting.

Now, as a citizen, you should consider this resolution in two parts, because that is the way in which this is being advocated.

What I mean by this: there are two proponents with two very different objectives.

One proponent merely wants merely for us to adopt this resolution.

The second proponent desires to have the 10 Commandments placed in our Robertson County Courthouse, or other public venue.

The Week of March 14th

Here are the meeting scheduled for this coming week.

I will plan to attend the Legislative Committee Meeting on Thursday. I would hope to attend the EMS Committee Meeting, but it is my understanding that this may be postponed.

MEETINGS SCHEDULED WEEK OF:

March 14 - 18, 2011

Date & Committee/Board                     Time                          Location

Monday - March 14

Building and Grounds                                     5:00 P.M.                     County Mayor’s Office

EMS                                                                 5:00 P.M.                     County Office                               

Tuesday - March 15

911 Board                                                        9:00 A.M.                    ECC Building

Health and Safety                                            5:30 P.M.                    County Office Building

Wednesday - March 16

RTA                                                                  10:00 A.M.                  400 Charlotte, Nashville

GNRC                                                               11:00 A.M.                  400 Charlotte, Nashville

MCHRA                                                            Noon                           1100 Kermit Dr., Nashville

Thursday - March 17

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

Friday - March 18

Open

Congratulations to Roberts & Robertson County

This week the citizens of Robertson and Sumner counties elected a new senator for the 18^th District.

From The Tennessean

March 9, 2011 -- State Senator Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield) took the oath of office on Wednesday in Nashville to represent the 18th Senatorial District which includes Sumner and Robertson Counties. The oath was administered by Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey as the State Senate met in a Wednesday morning floor session.

“I am very honored to have the opportunity to represent the citizens of Sumner and Robertson Counties in the State Senate,” Senator Roberts said. “I will work very hard to represent the people of this district and honor the oath that I have taken today as I fulfill the duties of serving as their voice on Capitol Hill. I look forward to working on the issues we face in Tennessee, including providing more job opportunities for our citizens and improving education.

Senator Roberts won in a landslide victory in a special election on Tuesday, March 8. The election was called after the resignation of Congressman Diane Black who was elected to Congress in November.

Roberts, a small business owner, was joined by his wife, Dianne, who stood with him as he took the oath of office. The Roberts reside in Robertson County.

I have gotten to know Senator Roberts from his time on the trail and can share that we have someone that will share the concerns of Robertson County, and will provide this county with the representation it is owed in Nashville.

Join me in congratulating Senator Roberts.

County Population Estimates

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

Worth the Looking At

I wanted to pass along a note to go along with Jim Bellis’s reporting in his “County Commission to Examine Employee Policies”  

We will certainly being doing just that in the coming months. As this particular issue unraveled (w/EMS), more and more aspects of the Employee Handbook appear to be out-of-date and/or not a good fit for Robertson County.

The current Employee Handbook was last substantively updated back in the mid-1990s.

At the last RCC Personnel Committee Meeting,  the Committee asked that each department head submit issues they note for the Committee to consider. Further, the Committee has already begun the process of requesting and receiving Employee Handbooks from other counties to begin a process of comparing and contrasting handbooks.