Taking A Stand: Citizens can’t cut commission’s size

OK, it’s time to hold the Warren County Commission’s feet to the fire seeing most of the voters of this county believe the size of the county commission should be cut in half.

Never, in my almost 16 years of writing this column, have I received so much feedback on an issue than I did on cutting the commission size from 24 to 12. It’s overwhelming. The people of Warren County want a smaller representative body instead of this over-inflated jumbled mess which couldn’t agree on where to eat lunch, let alone how to run this county.

Folks, Jesus Christ himself had just 12 disciples, and even then they bickered back and forth and one ended up betraying him. I don’t care if you put 24 of the most brilliant minds in the world on the commission, there would still be gridlock given the fact two people represent each district, many of whom have separate agendas.

In this time where jobs are disappearing, we need a panel which can make up their minds within a short amount of time as to business decisions. It took this dinosaur of a commission years to vote to build a new jail and to get the ball rolling at Centertown School.

This isn’t taking into consideration we’re paying each commissioner over $3,000 a year, not counting extra meetings. Hey, take that $36,000 we’re wasting on an extra commissioner in each district and apply it toward insurance for county employees so they can actually afford insurance.

Unfortunately, we can’t directly make them cut their number. My research has shown we cannot have a referendum to make the county commission change. The law requires they vote the change themselves. But I’ll bet you the farm it’d be an 80-20 county vote to reduce the size and that’s being generous.

However, it is my understanding a couple of commissioners will be putting a measure before the commission in the next few days asking the number be cut, or that at least there be a difference in how commissioners are elected.

The idea of cutting seats is always voted down. However, this time the commission has a clear mandate from the voters to cut it’s number. If they fail to vote the cut, they are either voting against the will of the people or they are just ignoring what their electorate is telling them.

I don’t think for a minute any commissioner actually believes the people of Warren County want to continue this system. If they do, then I have questions whether they should be serving at all since they obviously don’t get it.

The voters would do themselves well to take note of which commissioners vote against cutting the commission when the vote is next held.

Now, before feelings get all hurt, let me point out I appreciate those who are willing to serve their county in a leadership role. It’s tough to put your name out there and to sacrifice your time. However, by the same token, I think some commissioners want to stubbornly hold on to that second spot because they like feeling important and in control. Plus, I think some are worried they are only the second most popular person in their district.

One district, one voice is what I say. Hamilton County, which is home to the city of Chattanooga and some 325,000 resident, can get by with nine county commissioners. Warren County can surely make do with 12.

Duane Sherrill is a reporter for the Standard. He can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at [email protected].