In a quarterly daytime meeting today, Anderson County Commission had yet another opportunity to drop their lawsuit against Clinton over a pending annexation issue. In my opinion, the lawsuit was ridiculous to begin with, given that the annexation request came from the property owners themselves… no one was being taken against their will.<\/p>\n
But, reaffirming my lack of confidence in most of them,they defeated the motion to dismiss by 10-6. Kudos to Oak Ridgers Robin Biloski and Scott Gillenwaters for being among the six — since the 5-year moratorium on annexation is either expired or nearly so, voting to keep the suit alive is simply wasteful.<\/p>\n
Also on today’s agenda was Judge Murch’s request to move the General Sessions Court, Division I, to Clinton (where the Division II court also meets). It has been passed on to the Operations Committee, of which Oak Ridge Commissioners Robin Biloski and Scott Gillenwaters are members.<\/p>\n
Early this morning, I wrote to my two commissioners asking that they oppose this move (which would cost Oak Ridge more, while reducing services). Also an early riser, our newest commission member, Whitey Hitchcock, responded with the following points that he planned to take to the meeting:<\/p>\n
Assisting law enforcement agencies and the community in addressing crime \u00e2\u20ac\u201c especially drug-related crime \u00e2\u20ac\u201c is extremely important to the residents of District 6 in Oak Ridge.<\/p>\n
The majority of arrests occur in Oak Ridge.<\/p>\n
Court involves more than perpetrators and police. It involves victims and the community. They must also travel or be left out of the justice process.<\/p>\n
Physical separation of the victims and the justice system lessens the potential for restorative justice; i.e. assisting the offended.
\nThe cost of moving Sessions Court may entail greater overall expense than finding a new and appropriate facility.<\/p>\nTherefore, I believe that it is in the best interest of the county, as a whole, to find and fund more suitable accommodations, within the City of Oak Ridge, rather than transfer court to Clinton.<\/p>\n
I urge the County Commission to make this option a priority and to include a detailed cost analysis as part of any decision.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Then after the meeting, he followed up and let me know that the matter had been assigned to committee, and which Oak Ridgers are on that committee. Thanks, Dr. Hitchcock.<\/p>\n
It seems that new commissioner (by one vote) John Shuey spent time huddled in the hallway with the Buildings & Grants director, Alan Beauchamp. Suppose he needed help figuring out how to vote? After all, he is the bailiff for the Div. I Sessions Court… seems like he might have some useful suggestions for improving security, if that is in fact the real reason for the suggested move.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In a quarterly daytime meeting today, Anderson County Commission had yet another opportunity to drop their lawsuit against Clinton over a pending annexation issue. In my opinion, the lawsuit was ridiculous to begin with, given that the annexation request came … Continue reading