Back on the main association webpage http://www.tncountycommissioners.org/ we have added some new material to the Legal Issues section of the website. Click on the tab for "Legal Issues" to access this information or use the links below.
One item is a flow chart of the procedure for adoption of a resolution of the county legislative body. This chart covers the basics and gives citations to the Tennessee Code provisions related to the approval and veto process. Depending on your local rules, there may be some additional steps or details in your county. The chart can be found here: http://www.tncountycommissioners.org/files/resolution_flowchart.pdf
The second item is a set of Samples Rules of Procedure. These sample rules for a county legislative body were drafted by the County Technical Assistance Service. Many counties operate in accordance with Robert Rules of Order. But if you are interested in a set of rules more specifically designed for the functions of a county commission, you may want to consider these rules. These rules also appear in the appendices of the County Government Handbook, one of the many CTAS publications. A direct link to these rules is here:
http://www.tncountycommissioners.org/files/sample_rules_county_commission.pdf
I hope these materials are useful to you. If you know of resources or items that would help you in your service as a county commissioner, do not hesitate to ask. Send me an e-mail or post a comment and I'll see what I can do.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Mutual Aid: The Next Step in Coordinating Disaster Response
The University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service is offering a course entitled "Improving Mutual Aid in Tennessee" on several dates in the month of September. Their brochure describes the class as follows:
"No community, regardless of size, can handle a huge disaster without help. Working together in disasters will result in significant cost savings for government entities. In 2004, Tennessee passed the "Mutual Aid and Emergency and Disaster Assistance Agreement Act" which allowed all government agencies to participate in statewide mutual aid during disasters. Most local government entities are aware of the "Act" but not aware that UT is working with the International Fire Chief's Association to achieve "The Next Step." This next step involves an organized way to inventory, track and deploy resources when a disaster occurs. This course will introduce the concept, demonstrate how it works and offer important information that can be used by all local departments within city and county government including police, fire, EMS, public works, schools, utilities, finance and management. As the federal government improves the national response process, states and local agencies need to be prepared to effectively deploy or even receive mutual aid resources. Regardless of the type of agency, this program works and is the "next step" in Improving Mutual Aid in Tennessee."
If you or someone in your county could benefit from this class, contact CTAS at (615) 532-3555 or on the web at www.ctas.tennessee.edu. for more information. The scheduled dates and locations are as follows:
"No community, regardless of size, can handle a huge disaster without help. Working together in disasters will result in significant cost savings for government entities. In 2004, Tennessee passed the "Mutual Aid and Emergency and Disaster Assistance Agreement Act" which allowed all government agencies to participate in statewide mutual aid during disasters. Most local government entities are aware of the "Act" but not aware that UT is working with the International Fire Chief's Association to achieve "The Next Step." This next step involves an organized way to inventory, track and deploy resources when a disaster occurs. This course will introduce the concept, demonstrate how it works and offer important information that can be used by all local departments within city and county government including police, fire, EMS, public works, schools, utilities, finance and management. As the federal government improves the national response process, states and local agencies need to be prepared to effectively deploy or even receive mutual aid resources. Regardless of the type of agency, this program works and is the "next step" in Improving Mutual Aid in Tennessee."
If you or someone in your county could benefit from this class, contact CTAS at (615) 532-3555 or on the web at www.ctas.tennessee.edu. for more information. The scheduled dates and locations are as follows:
- Sept 4 Collegedale
- Sept 8 Franklin
- Sept 9 Jackson
- Sept 10 Bartlett
- Sept 17 Johnson City
- Sept 18 Knoxville
Friday, August 22, 2008
New AG Opinion on Filling a Vacancy on the County Commission
Below you will find a link to an Attorney General opinion that was issued August 19, 2008. It relates to the proper method for filling a vacancy on a county commission when the vacancy occurs after the regular August election, but more than 60 days before the November election. The short answer is that the vacancy is filled in a special election held in conjunction with the November 4th state and federal general election. Political parties may choose nominees for the position by way of a countywide nomination convention. The county commission in these circumstances may appoint a temporary successor to fill the vacancy until the November election, but is not required to do so.
http://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/op/2008/OP/OP138.pdf
http://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/op/2008/OP/OP138.pdf
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Excellent Source for Environmental News and Information
Another resource in the myriad of services provided by CTAS is the CTAS "Environmental Blog." This website, found at http://ctasenvblog.tennessee.edu/ has been up and running for a little over a year. You can find up to the minute information on environmental issues affecting county government that is useful both for county officials and employees and the citizens in the communities you serve. For example, the most recent post from August 19 lists details for household hazardous waste collection events for Maury and Sequatchie Counties. Other topics covered on the site include landfill management, fuel conservation and renewable energy, recycling, waste collection and transfer, grants and loans for environmental programs and more. If you are concerned about environmental issues and how they affect your county's operations and your community, I strongly recommend you visit this site regularly. It is updated frequently and you can post comments and ask questions if you need more information on a topic.
Training Opportunities for County Commissioners
Education and training resources can help us all do our jobs better, help us make more informed decisions and give us a broader understanding of the context and environment in which we live and work. In Tennessee, there is a nationally recognized training program for county officials. It is the County Officials Certificate Training Program or COCTP.
The COCTP is a comprehensive training program administered by the University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS). The COCTP is designed to provide specialized, office-specific, technical, administrative, managerial, and leadership training to elected officials and their employees in order to help county government run more effectively. Training is offered in the classroom setting, through on-line courses and through correspondence courses. Often, classroom training courses are offered in conjunction with TCSA conferences and meetings. In addition, many of the lectures and breakout sessions at TCSA meetings count for credit hours in the COCTP.
If you are interested in this program, you can find a brochure about COCTP here:
http://www.tncountycommissioners.org/coctp_brochure.pdf
and you can find much more information about educational opportunities on the training portion of the CTAS website here:
http://www.ctas.tennessee.edu/PUBLIC/web/ctas.nsf/COCTP?readform
The COCTP is a comprehensive training program administered by the University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS). The COCTP is designed to provide specialized, office-specific, technical, administrative, managerial, and leadership training to elected officials and their employees in order to help county government run more effectively. Training is offered in the classroom setting, through on-line courses and through correspondence courses. Often, classroom training courses are offered in conjunction with TCSA conferences and meetings. In addition, many of the lectures and breakout sessions at TCSA meetings count for credit hours in the COCTP.
If you are interested in this program, you can find a brochure about COCTP here:
http://www.tncountycommissioners.org/coctp_brochure.pdf
and you can find much more information about educational opportunities on the training portion of the CTAS website here:
http://www.ctas.tennessee.edu/PUBLIC/web/ctas.nsf/COCTP?readform
Monday, August 18, 2008
Status of Planning in TN Communities
If your county is considering adoption or revision of zoning, building codes or subdivision regulations, there is a report available through the Department of Economic and Community Development (EC&D) which may be of interest to you. The annual Status of Planning and Land Use Controls report is produced by the Local Planning Assistance Office within EC&D each year. The report for 2008 can be found here:
http://tennessee.gov/ecd/pdf/status_of_planning08.pdf
This report is approximately 80 pages long and includes maps and charts identifying which counties and municipalities have subdivision regulations, building codes, zoning, active planning commissions and building inspection programs. The report also indicates which counties participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, the Tennessee 3-Star Program and the Retire Tennessee Program.
To find out more about these programs and others administered by the Local Planning Assistance Office, visit their website here: http://tennessee.gov/ecd/locplan.htm
http://tennessee.gov/ecd/pdf/status_of_planning08.pdf
This report is approximately 80 pages long and includes maps and charts identifying which counties and municipalities have subdivision regulations, building codes, zoning, active planning commissions and building inspection programs. The report also indicates which counties participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, the Tennessee 3-Star Program and the Retire Tennessee Program.
To find out more about these programs and others administered by the Local Planning Assistance Office, visit their website here: http://tennessee.gov/ecd/locplan.htm
Friday, August 15, 2008
Public Records Access Forms Available
With the passage of 2008 Public Chapter 1179, the Office of Open Records Counsel was created to answer questions and provide information to records custodians and citizens regarding public records requests. The Office of Open Records Counsel has prepared three forms for records custodians that are now available on its website at http://www.comptroller.state.tn.us/openrecords/forms.htm
The first form is an Inspection/Duplication of Records Request form to be used by both the records requestor and records custodian when someone requests a record. The second form is a Records Request Denial Letter to be used by a records custodian when denying a records request. This form lists reasons why a request may be denied and provides a place for communicating why the information cannot be provided. Finally, the third form is a Records Production Letter to be used by a records custodian when a record cannot be made available within seven (7) business days. Detailed instructions on the use of these forms can also be found at the above-referenced website address. Should you have any questions regarding the use of these forms you may contact the Office of Open Records Counsel at (615) 401-7891, toll free 1-(866) 831-3750 or by e-mail at open.records@state.tn.us.
The first form is an Inspection/Duplication of Records Request form to be used by both the records requestor and records custodian when someone requests a record. The second form is a Records Request Denial Letter to be used by a records custodian when denying a records request. This form lists reasons why a request may be denied and provides a place for communicating why the information cannot be provided. Finally, the third form is a Records Production Letter to be used by a records custodian when a record cannot be made available within seven (7) business days. Detailed instructions on the use of these forms can also be found at the above-referenced website address. Should you have any questions regarding the use of these forms you may contact the Office of Open Records Counsel at (615) 401-7891, toll free 1-(866) 831-3750 or by e-mail at open.records@state.tn.us.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
County Profiles and Census Data
Ever wanted to find basic information about the demographics and statistics for your county? One source you may find useful is on the Internet site for the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations. www.state.tn.us/tacir
Consisting of public officials from state and local government and private citizen members, the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) "serves as a forum for the discussion and resolution of intergovernmental problems." The commission and its staff research and examine a multitude of public policy issues related to government in Tennessee.
At their Internet home page, you may want to browse the catalog of publications available or look at the profile for your county or other counties. To view the profiles, click on the tab for "County Profiles," then either click on a county on the map or enter the county name in the appropriate blank and then choose the format for viewing the data.
The profile includes:
Consisting of public officials from state and local government and private citizen members, the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) "serves as a forum for the discussion and resolution of intergovernmental problems." The commission and its staff research and examine a multitude of public policy issues related to government in Tennessee.
At their Internet home page, you may want to browse the catalog of publications available or look at the profile for your county or other counties. To view the profiles, click on the tab for "County Profiles," then either click on a county on the map or enter the county name in the appropriate blank and then choose the format for viewing the data.
The profile includes:
- Basic population data
- Income and poverty information
- Health and healthcare statistics
- Employment and wage data
- County finance and budget information
- Results of the TACIR public infrastructure needs survey
- Statistical information about educational attainment, and
- Statistics on the county public school system.
This information may be helpful to you or useful to share with community groups and organizations to help them understand and learn more about your community.
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