Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis on Monday informed the County Commission of a resignation letter from Bradley County Road Superintendent Tom Collins during the panel's regular voting meeting. According to County Attorney Crystal Freiberg, the statute allows Mr. Collins to appoint an interim successor until the vacancy can be filled as required by law. Then, the commission is to appoint someone to fill the position until the next general election. The interim successor is supposed to be the administrative assistant or highest ranking member.
According to County Mayor Davis, the resignation is not effective until June 28. Commissioner Robert Rominger requested the commission give formal recognition to Tom Collins and his time served. A copy of the resignation letter was not immediately available.
In reports from committees and/or districts, Commissioner Jeff Morelock shared a followup on last week’s joint meeting. He said, “I am convinced in order for the wheel tax to pass, we need to clarify for the voters exactly what the money will be used for, when the collection starts, when the borrowing takes place and as soon as possible we need the exact wording that’s going to be on the ballot in August. In order to pass this, we need to let people know exactly what it is going to be used for.”
He went on to say, “It’s the responsibility of this body to fund appropriate needs for schools. We can certainly have honest differences of opinion on what these needs are. Taxes are the only choice to do this. So that there will not be any misunderstanding, I favor a property tax increase to fund the schools. Since this appears to have little chance of passing, I favor the wheel tax. I made a motion for $37, but the will of the body was $32 so I will work to get this passed. I encourage my fellow commissioners to take a stand on this wheel tax. If you don’t think it’s a good idea, then take a stand and oppose it. If you think it’s a good idea, then support it. I request the approval of the budget for 2012-13 be delayed until after the election. If the wheel tax does not pass, this will give this body an opportunity to pass a property tax increase for schools.”
Commissioner Jeff Yarber said, “I’m not in favor of postponing the budget. I want the media to know that Mr. Morelock was speaking for himself and not for the commission.”
In unfinished business, local historian Debbie Moore addressed the commissioners. She has been working for the past two years as the chairwoman of the cabin committee for the log cabin located on the farm once owned by Cherokee Principal Chief John Ross in the Flint Springs Community. She informed commissioners on the progress of the preservation of the cabin.
She said, “I went to the Eastern Band of Cherokees and asked for a $15,000 donation to help. I was told to write a report to the chief on the history of the area and of the cabin which was given to Bradley County in 1981. He was real impressed with the report and liked the fact the Ruritan Club would help to maintain it and keep a careful eye on it and that the county would mow the land. The chief asked a couple of things of Bradley County. He wants to join in an agreement that states that if the county decides to one day abandon the property, he requests that the cabin not be destroyed. He also wants proof of insurance on the property. In case something happens to the cabin, we could put a marker stating the history of the area that was once the farm of John Ross. He also wants to have a sayso in how the land is interpreted. Basically, I would present to them what the sign would say on the property and work with them so that it tells the right story. I would like approval from the commission to proceed with this.”
Chairman Louie Alford appointed a committee with Mrs. Moore, County Mayor Davis, the county attorney and the two commissioners from that district to set up a meeting and draw up a proper agreement and present the commission with a resolution.
Vice President of the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau of the Bradley County Chamber of Commerce Melissa Woody addressed the commission on the importance of the Cherokee Heritage project in Charleston. She stated Bradley County tourists brought in a combined state and local sales tax of $8.5 million last year. Mrs. Woody has been working on the product development project in which the main focus has been Cherokee Heritage.
She said, “We want to show how important the story is in Charleston, but there is nothing there that interprets that story. Imagine areas with national significance with no signage or markers. It’s sad to have that history completely unshared. Present day Charleston was once the headquarters for the Trail of Tears removal. It was the epicenter for every order that came down about the Trail of Tears. Charleston’s story will be lost if we don’t save it. It’s important to me to attract a portion of those 60,000 cars passing Exit 33 every day. That’s one side of the purpose of this.”
She continued, “Preserving this story is one of the most important things I will ever be a part of. It won’t happen overnight, but I’m very patient. It’s got to be the residents of Charleston that share this story. It’s not a happy story and it’s not something pleasant to share, but it’s important. We have developed a plan to share it properly. We came up with a three-fold plan which includes a heritage center, a river park and a greenway to connect them with signs along the greenway with stories that put you in the footsteps of the Cherokee so you can learn as you walk along the greenway. The Bradley County Greenway Board wanted to partner with us and has assigned planning money to the Charleston project that this commission matched with $5,000. This has helped us with fundraising, especially when there is now a plan we have developed that they can see.”
Mrs. Woody explained the passage would start from the newly-renovated Heritage Center. The greenway winds around Charleston and connects to a river park that pays homage to the Hiwassee River. It then goes from the river park to the Charleston public park with a recreation trails grant to fund that portion of the project. Caldwell Paving committed to building the trail's first phase. The second phase is on TVA land that goes through a cyprus grove with observation decks. The third phase goes to the spring area and the Henegar House, the oldest brick residence in Bradley County. Phase four goes along Hiwassee River to the Charleston boat ramp where the river park would be.
Mrs. Woody explained, “TVA was excited about this project. A local architect did the drawings for renovation of the Heritage Center. We have approved phase one and hope to open it in August. We are still raising money and applying for grants. Industries can choose to move away but not our stories, beauty and waterfalls. You can’t move those overseas.”
The commission unanimously approved the consent agenda and new business items which included the following:
-A resolution to adopt a revised harassment policy.
-A resolution to establish a five-member oversight committee for farmers market north.
-A motion to establish a deadline of April 16, 2012 on wheel tax exemptions/reimbursements.
-A resolution to rescind the resolution authorizing a settlement with Dr. Jerry DeVane and accept his offer.
Committee Appointments to the Industrial Development Board: Ross Tarver 3/2016 and Tony Young 3/2018.
The Amazon grand opening ceremony will take place next Monday, at 8:30 a.m. The Bradley County Commission will hold its next work session meeting on Monday at 7 p.m.