Somebody dropped the ball when it came to explaining the ins and outs of redistricting. After several meetings over several months, the committee finally came up with a plan that addresses the declining population in East Polk without shifting West Polk voters to the other side of the county. A new district in West Polk with one representative solved the problem.
Then, two months from the deadline, the committee learned last week that the plan works for the commission but not the school board, based on a 2002 Attorney General’s opinion. As it thus turns out, all previous discussions were a waste of time.
It seems that under Tennessee law there are different requirements for school boards and legislative bodies – different limits on how many members and, apparently, different rules for how districts are set up even if they comply with federal law.
The state Comptrollers Office developed a detailed Guide to Local Redistricting in Tennessee. Through 36 pages, it discusses the redistricting law, federal requirements for one-person/one-vole equal representation, the shape of districts, how to move Census tracts around, and the number of districts and representatives allowed for legislative bodies.
Nowhere does it mention the law regarding School Boards. Not even once.
Nowhere does it point out that there are different requirements for legislative bodies and school boards. In fact, the only mention of school boards states that they are subject to the federal requirement of one person – one vote. It goes on to say, “Historically, these districts coincide or share the boundaries with the county commission districts.”
Nor did anyone else provide information about this apparent anomaly in state law: While county commission districts can have a differing number of commissioners as long as the representation is equal, that’s not the case for schools boards, according to the 2002 opinion.
That forces the commission to come up with a whole new set of districts unless it wants to ignore the 2002 opinion (and risk not getting a Private Act passed for new School Board membership), ignore federal law and allow the Third District to be over-represented (and face the risk of a lawsuit), or move voters from West Polk precincts into East Polk (and face the wrath of voters who don’t want to be shifted).
It would have been nice if the commission had been given all the ground rules when it started this effort.
Polk County Planners approved multiple plats during the April meeting and discussed permitting staff approval on plats that meet all necessary qualifications.
A handicapped-complaint building for concessions and restrooms will be built at the Benton ball fields following action by the county commission April 19.
The governor’s recently released three-year transportation program does not include any Polk County projects, although current projects are continuing.
Questions have been raised about the cost of a precinct rental and the decision to put the sample ballot in the Fannin County, GA newspaper rather than the Polk County newspaper.
Diane Wilson said she was more upset by the response of Election Administrator Steve Gaddis when she reported the incident than she was by the incident itself.
A Special Master’s Hearing was held last Wednesday to take an accounting of the Home Owners Association for Ocoee Mountain Club in preparation for an upcoming trial.
Paul Hunter has asked the U.S. District Court to award him at least $169,920 in “front pay” following last month’s verdict that his firing from Copperhill was due to age discrimination.
If 20 or 30 people had turned up for opening night, we would have breathed a big sigh of relief and considered the evening a success.
The final head count was 82 people, from three states
Talley recommended to the congressional delegation new statewide incentives for solar energy development, cellulosic ethanol production, biomass gasification and waste to energy.
Photo from 1910 provided by Bill Lillard shows the family of Calvin Higdon, who built the Higdon Hotel in Reliance. Calvin (1836-1919) and Amanda Linderman Higdon (1845-1926) were married in 1860.
From Polk County News, 9/13/34
Famous Monroe County Hotel Is Now No More
People from All Over South Visited the “Saratoga of the South” in the Good Old Days.
Walking the Line, a series of drawings inspired by 16 years of attendance at the John C. Campbell Folk School’s Friday Night Concert series, is now on display at the Folk School’s History Center.
On May 19th at 5pm there will be a Walk-A-Thon to raise awareness for Domestic Violence. The event will be held at the Park by the Greenway on Raider Drive in Cleveland.
The Overhill Shutterbugs, a regional photography club, present their 2nd Annual Photography Exhibit through June 1, 2012 at the Etowah Arts Commission,
“The Journey of the Lost Boys of Sudan” will be held on Monday, March 19, 2012 at 7 p.m. in the George R. Johnson Cultural Heritage Center Theater on CSCC’s campus.
Cleveland State Community College and Chattanooga State Community College will be co-hosting information sessions about the Veterinary Technology Program at Chattanooga State.
Miss Misty Brooke Hill and Mr. Mason Ray Cross, both of Cleveland, exchanged marriage vows on Saturday, January 14th at the Kingdom Hall of Jehova’s Witnesses in Cleveland.
The Copper Basin Medical Center’s District Board honored Dr. William E. Lee last week. Dr. Lee, 85, has spent a lifetime in service, not only to the community but to the world through his medical mission trips.
Scott Jones and daughter Abby recently enjoyed a backpacking trip on the John Muir Trail, starting at the Hwy. 68 and making their way down to the lower section
Beginning in mid-January culverts will be replaced on Sina Branch Road where it crosses Sawmill Branch in the Ocoee Ranger District in Polk County, TN.
Fall trips on the Hiwassee River Rail Adventure are quickly selling out. On Oct. 22, the train traveling along the Old Line took 210 passengers to Copperhill for a two-hour layover. (Photo by Robert J. Duncan Sr.)
Drawdown is underway at Apalachia Lake, according to David Bowling with River Operations at TVA. He said the lake will drop 18-20 feet for routine maintenance work.
Trout stocking will be reduced about 20% in the coming fiscal year and could be reduced 85% after that, according to Frank Fiss, Assistant Chief of Fisheries at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
TVA has created a smartphone app for those wanting to check on reservoir elevations, water release schedules and more. The information has been available online, but the new app will allow access by cell phone.
Unseasonably high temperatures -- in the 90s -- are sending folks to the water. The Ocoee Whitewater Center is a popular place when the river isn't flowing, and the Hiwassee and Ocoee are popular when it is.
VEC was recently notified by a neighboring utility that they have been receiving complaints from customers who have been visited by scam artists posing as energy evaluators.
The Tennessee Historical Commission is now accepting nominations for its Certificate of Merit Awards to honor individuals or groups that have worked to preserve Tennessee’s cultural heritage during 2011.
The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine offers personalized support for Tennessee residents who want to quit smoking by connecting them with trained quit coaches to guide them through the quitting process.
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) Consumer Affairs division is urging consumers to be wary of emails that request participation in a survey and that promise a gift card in return.
While many job placement firms may be legitimate and helpful, others may misrepresent their services, promote outdated or fictitious job offerings and charge high fees in advance for services that may not lead to a job.
The annual campaign has enrolled tens of thousands of children in the low-cost health insurance plan, which provides coverage for everything from physician visits to hospitalization to dental and vision care.
“Kids Fishing Day” event in Cherokee National Forest’s Ocoee/Hiwassee Ranger District is scheduled for May 21, 2011 at McCamy Lake. Anglers 15 years and under are invited to try their luck.
Ducktown resident Jack Suites and his partner Bitt Ledford of Murphy, N.C. took home the $700 second place prize at the Tri-County Community College Foundation Fishing for Scholarships Bass tournament on April 2.
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