Regional Cooperation
Last Friday (3/10/06), the Catoosa Chamber of Commerce hosted the first "Community Roundtable," where city and county elected officials and leaders, along with several business biggies (about 40 people in all) hopped on a bus to tour the Chattanooga Business Development Center (the incubator), Enterprise South (the mega-certified industrial park), and finally lunch and talk with Chattanooga/Hamilton County leaders.
Here's an article from the Catoosa County News about the event.
Very impressive was how receptive Chattanooga was to the event. Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey and Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield, as well as Chamber President Tom Edd Wilson and Chamber Board Chairman and TN Aquarium CEO
, were among several other Chattanooga economic development and business leaders present.
I think the most important aspect of this meeting was the fact that (a) it happened; and (b) Catoosa County leaders took it seriously enough to participate en masse. Kudos to all who participated (on both sides of the state line)!
The big question remaining now is... What next? Where do we go from here? We've all agreed publicly that we need to cooperate regionally for a better and brighter tomorrow.
But, to cooperate on what, precisely? What's the vision? What's the goal?
That's the next challenge.
Oversight Commitee
I wasn't at this week's (3/7/06) County Commission meeting, but here's what I'm told happened.
Chairman Clark started the meeting by announcing that he's looked into it and the rules allow him, as Chairman, to create an oversight committee completely appointed by him. So, he's created a Citizen's Oversight Committee that, he says, will review ALL personnel hires, and ALL county expenditures. The committee consists of Roger Nelson, Phyllis and one or two more I don't remember right off hand.
Other Commissioners asked "Why wouldn't each Commissioner have one appointment?" Clark just told them "Nope. No discussion is needed. I can do this and that's that." (paraphrase)
Now, I have to assume that the committee will be advisory only -- meaning they have no real power other than to voice their gripes about each and every thing that the county spends money on. So what purpose does it serve, when the other four commissioners don't respect it?
"Good question, Self!" I say. "Grandstanding... that's the purpose."
It's not like we don't already hear from Phyllis, Roger and the other budget hawks on a regular basis... like at every Commission meeting. I respect everyone's right to watch over their government... In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's our duty as democratic citizens to do precisely that.
But, Clark's method in how he's formed and will use this committee is petty, self-serving and divisive.
It's all very "Jerry Springer" meets "Beverly Hillbillies."
