Residents of Carter County’s 1st District will soon have the chance to make their voices heard during a special Town Hall meeting.
Carter County Commissioners Dr. Robert Acuff, Willie Campbell, and Buford Peters will host their first town hall meeting of the year on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 9 a.m. at Hunter Elementary School. Acuff, Campbell, and Peters all represent the 1st District — which includes the Hunter, Unaka, and Midway precincts — on the Carter County Commission.
The three commissioners hold an open meeting with their constituents quarterly as a means of staying in touch with residents regarding matters before the Commission and hearing concerns or questions from residents.
“The last one we had, there were maybe 20 or 25 people there,” Acuff said.
Since the most recent town hall meeting, Acuff has worked to create an e-mail and text alert list to help better notify residents of dates and times for the town hall meetings. So far, Acuff said, the list is up to 85 individuals.
Acuff has also worked with local schools to help get the word out in the Stoney Creek community.
“Principal (Mark) Revis at Hunter is going to do three telephone blasts for us before the event,” Acuff said. “I’m trusting we’re going to have a larger turnout for this one.”
Typically, Carter County Board of Education Member Craig Davis, who also represents Stoney Creek, and Carter County Director of Schools Dr. Kevin Ward also join the three County Commission members for these meetings. Acuff said it is his understanding that Carter County Sheriff Dexter Lunceford is also planning to attend the upcoming town hall meeting.
“I’m sure they will answer any questions the public has,” Acuff said.
During the town hall meeting, constituents are invited to ask questions on any and all matters before local government, Acuff said. In the past, budget issues, a new school for the Stoney Creek community, and funding for the Carter County Rescue Squad have been among the major issues brought up for discussion.
Leading up to this town hall meeting, Acuff said he has heard from constituents on a variety of matters he believes will be addressed during the meeting.
Though it is a state issue, Acuff said he expects to hear questions, comments, and concerns regarding Gov. Bill Haslam’s proposal to increase the tax on gasoline and diesel. The proposal is one that could have wide-reaching effects on the citizens of Tennessee, Acuff said.
“I know in rural counties such as ours, people travel further to work,” Acuff said, adding people in Carter County frequently drive to Johnson City, Bristol, Kingsport or even farther every day to their jobs. “We also have a number of veterans in our community who travel to the VA for health care, and those costs will increase.”
With the county slated to begin work on the 2017-18 fiscal year budget soon, Acuff said he and his colleagues will be discussing some budgetary issues with their constituents during the meeting.
As an example, Acuff pointed to a mandate recently handed down by the State that gives a 5 percent raise to the salary of all elected officials.
“Those are dollars we have to come up with,” Acuff said. “This is an unfunded mandate by the state.”
Acuff anticipates the subject of a new school for the Stoney Creek community will also be brought up for discussion. A couple of years ago, the Carter County School System attempted to obtain funding to construct a middle school in the Stoney Creek community, but those plans were put on an indefinite hold. He said he has also fielded lots of calls regarding the Elizabethton/Carter County Animal Shelter and its operations lately, so he feels that is another issue that could be brought up for discussion at the meeting.
“As always, people can ask anything they like about what the Commission is doing and how we are spending their money,” Acuff said.
As part of their duties on the Commission, each of the three commissioners sits on a variety of standing committees.
Acuff is a member of the Budget and Nominating Committees and was also tapped to lead the EMS Task Force created by the Commission. Campbell serves on the Law Enforcement, Rules and Bylaws, Buildings and Grounds, and Health and Welfare Committees.
Peters is a member of the Education, Highway, and Landfill Committees.