Resolution Would Force Homeland Security Meetings

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While it doesn't require an Act of Congress to get a Cannon County Commission committee to meet, it apparently does require a resolution.

At Tuesday night's special session of the Cannon County Commission, to be held at the courthouse beginning at 7 p.m., one of the agenda items is a resolution to require meetings of the Cannon County Homeland Security Committee ("HSC").

The resolution reads as follows:

"WHEREAS, this County Legislative Body, same being the County Commission, has previously acted to designate current members of the HSC; and,

WHEREAS, for unknown reasons, the HSC has failed to meet; and,

WHEREAS, the failure of the HSC to meet obstructs and limits the ability of Cannon County to act upon matters relating to Homeland Security funding, the allocation of equipment, and eligibility for grants that could save local fiscal resources and advance public safety in Cannon County;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THIS COUNTY LEGISLATIVE BODY, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED:

That we do hereby require that the HSC hold quarterly public meetings with adequate public notice of the date, time, and location of each meeting to be provided by the County Executive, and notice hereby given to each HSC member; and, further, that the first meeting be held before October 1, 2011, and subsequent meetings to be held quarterly and the same meeting schedule to apply in following years; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the absence of the EMA (Emergency Management Agency) Director to attend any HSC meeting shall not limit the HSC from taking action deemed in the best interest of the County. In the event of the EMA Director's absence, all duties and authority of that office may be exercised by such other person as the County Executive may designate, which delegation of authority shall continue until the County Executive restores the authority of the EMA Director, in writing; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THIS RESOLUTION WILL TAKE EFFECT FROM AND AFTER ITS PASSAGE, THE PUBLIC WELFARE REQUIRING IT."

Faye Morse serves as Cannon County's EMA Director. The director receives no compensation.

The agency brought in $26,693 during the 2009-2010 fiscal year to the county via federal money through state grants. In 2010-2011 the grant amount totaled $495,302. According to the county budget $239,305 was spent on "Other Supplies and Materials" and $256,278 on "Motor Vehicles" during the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

The proposed budget for the current fiscal year (2011-2012) lists no revenue or expenses for Homeland Security,

The Cannon Courier has not yet been able to determine if there are any other county commission resolutions requiring one of its committees to meet. According to County Executive Mike Gannon, to his knowledge there are none.

Current members of the HSC are listed below:

Faye Morse
32 Gassaway School Road
Liberty, TN  37095
(615) 563-5455
ccema@dtccom.net

John Naylor
3961 Murfreesboro Road
Readyville, TN  37149
(615) 563-5521

Grady George, Jr.
2362 Short Mountain Road
Woodbury, TN  37190
(615) 563-4627

Jim Bush
187 Rogers Road
Bradyville, TN  37026
(615) 765-5885

Darrell Young
246 Chumbley Road        
Woodbury, TN  37190
683-1756 (pager)

Dr. Leon Reuhland
205 S. McCrary Street
Woodbury, TN  37190
(615) 563-2981

Mike Gannon
4782 McMinnville Hwy.    
Woodbury, TN  37190
(615) 563-5141
cannonex@dtccom.net

Howard Blair, Jr.
939 Blair Road
McMinnville, TN  37110
(615) 563-2564

Alan Paschal
234 Riverview Drive
Woodbury, TN  37190
(615) 563-6609

Kirk Bush
492 Dickens Hill Road
Bradyville, TN  37026
(615) 765-5093

Allen Morse
32 Gassaway School Road    
Liberty, TN  37095
(615) 563-5455

Wayne Hancock
97 J. Hancock Road
Woodbury, TN  37190
(615) 563-8726

Tim Bell    
439 Iconium Road
Woodbury, TN  37190
(615) 563-6148
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Members Opinions:
August 22, 2011 at 8:03pm
Well Kevin -- this is an interesting resolution. Who is sponsoring it and which commissioner had it placed on the agenda? Some if the wording sounds like it is laying the ground work to pull control of the committee and EMA from Faye Morse.
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August 22, 2011 at 9:37pm
Is this satire? One would certainly hope so since I'm laughing so hard.

You didn't mention who actually wrote this resolution. I especially like "THE PUBLIC WELFARE REQUIRING IT." In caps no less.

So am I getting this right? The federal 'stimulus' funds have dried up or have not been applied for so there is no income and therefore no expenses for this upcoming fiscal year? Is this a case of the feds dumping a lot of money locally for 'security' and then walking away saying "it's up to you now?"

All those vehicles but no money for gas? Maybe the HSC can have a yard sale using the "Other Supplies and Materials?"
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August 23, 2011 at 4:33am
jimgibbs, when I saw the item on the agenda when it was released a few weeks ago I think I was told it was requested by Commissioner Hollandsworth. However, yesterday was the first time I saw the actual resolution, so I'm not sure if anything changed in the interval.
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August 23, 2011 at 6:54am
The way I read this, this resolution is simply requiring the people who were appointed and agreed to be on the committee to provide adequate notice to the public and meet to make decisions that could affect the citizens of this county.

Why wouldn't you want something like this in place?

I could see the same resolution being made toward our county Commissioners meetings as well.

Does anyone think we have so little problems on a local level that we shouldn't meet at least once a month to try and figure them out?
August 23, 2011 at 11:59am
Cory -- I don’t disagree that committees should be required to meet regularly and to legally conform to the open meeting laws --- I just find it odd to single out this committee. Just recently I had to inform a member of the law enforcement committee that the committee was meeting because the member had not been advised of the meeting by the chair person --- AND --- I might note the law enforcement committee does not meet regularly either.

I did find the wording this wording interesting: “In the event of the EMA Director's absence, all duties and authority of that office may be exercised by such other person as the County Executive may designate, which delegation of authority shall continue until the County Executive restores the authority of the EMA Director, in writing.” My thoughts are: If there is an issue with the EMA Director regarding these meetings – then cut the chase and appoint another person to be director.

In fact, just pass a resolution that if ALL committees must meet at least quarterly and if ANY member has an unexcused absence, then they may be replaced on the committee by the County Exe. subject to approval of the county commission.
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August 23, 2011 at 2:12pm
Jim I think it is possible we do not have the full story. I think the resolution is something that has come about over things we are not privy to.

I am not going to debate the idea of who appoints who or why someone ever felt the need to create a resolution to require people to meet on a regular basis.

I do wish that much time and effort had been put in the idea of our Commissioners meeting every month instead of quarterly like we currently do.

I had much rather we (Cannon County) focused on the problems we face such as unemployment, taxes, schools, no industry, etc. etc. instead of arguing, which seems to be all we are doing of late.

Times are tough and there is not much hope of them getting better anytime soon. I believe if we truly focused and worked on accomplishing just small improvements in our county we would go a long way toward resolving some of the issues I stated above.

Solutions require effort and I wish we had more of it.
August 23, 2011 at 6:25pm
That must that high priced black ford truck running around town,some times I see it hauling house hold furniture with no signs on it ,Than later in the day see it parked in front of a restaurant with the signs back on the doors,magnetic signs serve a good purpose when using tax payer vehicle on private business
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August 24, 2011 at 7:34am
Fred I can honestly say that I have no idea what that means?

What does a black truck have to do with a resolution concerning Homeland Security Meetings?
August 24, 2011 at 8:56am
Corey that is what the director purchased with taxpayer money.an what she drives, you should see this vehicle what a waste off tax payer money.
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August 24, 2011 at 10:48am
OK I understand better now. I was in the dark on the truck.

Thanks!
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August 27, 2011 at 6:53pm
$256,278 on "Motor Vehicles"? What was bought with that kind of money?!?
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August 27, 2011 at 9:15pm
It's a good question, but one that is only secondary to the real question, which is why/how did the federal/state governments determine that Cannon County, which from what I view faces a minuscule risk of sustaining any type of attack, warrants over $600,000 in homeland security funding.
August 28, 2011 at 12:59pm
9/11: A Decade After
Is Homeland Security spending paying off?
A decade after the Sept. 11 attacks, federal and state governments are doling out about $75 billion a year on domestic security. Whether the spending spree has been worth it is the subject of increasing debate.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/september11/la-na-911-homeland-money-20110828,0,5318393.story
August 28, 2011 at 11:28pm
Asking for accountability is not out of the question. Public meetings allow for that. As far as the director being replaced ???? Sounds to me like all she has to do is show up once every 3 months and then it won't be an issue. How is that asking to much???
August 29, 2011 at 8:22am
Another question this morning...why has the committee allowed for this type of money to go uncontrolled? Seems to me that everybody wants to sit on every board and every comiittee for what ever reasons. (Notarity) If you don't really care or don't have the time for it then don't agree to participate.
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