Members of the Bradley County Commission were told Monday that election changes mandated by the state will be costly.
The commission heard a presentation about the potential for a change in voting machines in Bradley County.
According to Bradley County Election Commissioner Milan Blake, the state of Tennessee will require the county to begin using different machines “if something doesn’t happen in Nashville.” Mr. Blake stated that with the new machines, the cost of elections will go up, there will be an increase in contested elections and $380,000 invested in current machines will go to waste.
While the state will purchase machines for the county, the county will be responsible for printing ballots. Currently, it costs about $40,000 for a countywide election. With the new machines, the cost will jump to approximately $89,000 per election, he said.
“It’s going to cost us more, and it’s an inferior process,” Mr. Blake said.
Greg Rick Dale, of the planning consulting firm McBride Dale Clarion, was then given the floor to discuss the county’s strategic planning process. Mr. Dale has been working to determine the best way for Bradley County to prepare for the growth expected to occur.
“Change is coming, growth is coming as the result of some very exciting things,” Mr. Dale said. He went on to state that it is important for the county to prepare to maximize any positive benefits of the growth and diminish any potential negatives.
Working with other entities, McBride Dale Clarion is determining the cost of growth, transportation issues that come with growth, school planning and overall implementation issues. In order to prepare a growth plan, Mr. Dale stated that a systematic series of steps will be followed over a matter of six or seven months.
County Planner Corey Divel then stepped up to the microphone, stating that the Planning Commission discussed airport-zoning issues with regards to a previous request that residents whose airspace will be affected by the airport be compensated 2–4% each year for use of their air space. He stated that the commission had decided not to compensate residents annually.
Nathan Headrick, a member of Samples Memorial Baptist Road, stated that Ocoee Utilities has installed waterlines at the church’s soon-to-be-completed building. The project was partially funded by grant money from the sale of Bradley Memorial Hospital. Along with new water lines for the church, two fire hydrants were installed to service homes in the immediate area. “The project is good as gold,” Mr. Headrick said.
The Bradley County Commission will meet again Tuesday of next week at 10 a.m. in the courthouse.
daniel@danielkbrantley.com