Friday Recap for January 31, 2024
You may or may not know that when I first ran for County Commissioner of District 10, I had to win the nomination at the August 13th Williamson County Republican Party Convention. After I won, my opponent filed a complaint with the County District Attorney General that I had broken campaign finance law. The County Attorney saw no criminality and sent it to the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance Registry of Election Finance. On January 23rd, the Registry Committee met to hear my case and summarily dismissed it. It was a bogus complaint right from the start as we had checked with the Williamson County Election Commission and been given the green light to conduct my campaign the way we did. You can read the dismissal letter below.
I am sending on the 2024 Williamson, Inc. Office of Economic Development Annual Report. Williamson, Inc. is our county's Chamber of Commerce. The office of Economic Development is, as it name states, responsible for economic development in Williamson County. It works with leaders in the county, including representatives from all five cities in the following areas:
- Strengthening Local Businesses
- Preparing for the next Generation
- Fostering Inovation
- Collaboration through Three Star Program
Go to Williamson Inc. for the full report.
The life of a resolution
I know you all have been waiting, with bated breath, for this week's installment of what your county commissioners do.
The two main functions of the commission are to authorize expenses and receipts and set property tax rates. All of our decisions are codified by approving or disapproving resolutions. When we approve a resolution, it is binding and becomes law.
Key points about official resolutions:
- Formal document: It's a structured document that clearly states the decision and the reasoning behind it.
- Legally binding: Once approved, a resolution can be considered legally binding within the organization.
- Used for important decisions: Resolutions are typically used for significant actions like appointing executives, acquiring assets, or making major financial decisions.
- "Whereas" clauses: Often, resolutions start with "Whereas" statements that explain the background and reasons for the decision.
- Record-keeping: Resolutions are typically kept as part of official meeting minutes, creating a documented trail of decisions.
Last week, I gave you a list and the function of all 14 committees from whence come resolutions. Every resolution starts at the committee level and must be sponsored by a commissioner. Most resolutions get discussed in more than one committee.
Rule 6 of the Rules of Procedure for the Williamson County Board of commissioners states:
A good example is resolution 1-25-20 which was filed with the county clerk on 12/30/24 and sponsored by Commissioner Hayes. It was discussed by three committees and passed unanimously by the full board at the January 13th meeting.
The committee's responsibility is to discuss the resolution and vote on it. There are six possible outcomes for a resolution in a committee meeting:
- The majority votes for and it moves on to the next commission meeting.
- The majority votes against and it moves on to the next commission meeting.
- It is a tie, and it moves on to the next commission meeting.
- It is deferred to the next committee meeting and does not move on to the next commission meeting.
- It is withdrawn and dies in committee.
- It is amended by majority vote and is then voted on with the amendment and and no matter the vote, moves on to the next commission meeting.
The votes in committee are merely recommendations and are not binding. Even if all the committees where a resolution is discussed were to vote no, the full commission could still pass it.
During each of the committee meetings, representatives from the appropriate departments are present to answer any questions the commissioners might ask. By law, every committee meeting must have legal council in attendance. In this case of resolution 1-25-20, it went to three committees. Law enforcement and Public Safety, because the mobile home will be used by fire and rescue; Property, because we are giving and receiving property; and Budget, because it involves exchange of valuable property that must be accounted for.
This is enough for now. Next week I will talk about the conduct of our monthly commission meetings.
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Williamson County School District
On Friday the 24th, the school board met for their annual meeting with our state legislators. I am including a report from Cory Martin who lives in Williamson County and does a great job of reporting the school board meetings. In his section on the Voucher bill AKA The Education Freedom Act, he questions whether "hold Harmless" continues in perpetuity. I had a chance to ask Representative Bulso about that and he told me that it does continue in perpetuity. There has been a lot written about the Voucher Bill both pro and con. I understand the concerns of the cons and hope they do not come to pass; time will tell how it actually works out.
Next week, the Policy Committee will meet on Monday at 6:00pm at 1320 W. Main St. Agenda audio.(available at 6:00pm on Monday and thereafter). Of particular interest is item 4.a. 4.403 Library Materials and the Evaluation Rubric. This is a substantial re-write of the current library materials policy and I think it is well thought out.
Williamson County Commission
The Williamson County Opioid Abatement Task Force met on Tuesday. There is no agenda or video. It was a short meeting where they talked mostly about changes in reporting. There are no county commissioners on this task force and I hope to have more information on this in the coming months.
Next week, the Budget Committee will meet at 4:30pm in the executive conference room at the County Building at 1320 W. Main.
The Highway Commission will meet at 302 Beasley Drive, Franklin, TN 37064 Wednesday February 5, 2025 8:30 a.m. Agenda
On Wednesday, the Solid Waste Board will meet at 4:30am in the Executive Conference Room at the County Building at 1320 W. Main. There is no more information.
Board of Mayor and Aldermend
BOMA met for their work session of Tuesday Agenda Video
BOMA met for their Board Meeting on Tuesday Agenda Video
There are three meetings next week and you can check them out here.
Williamson County Election Commission
There were no meetings this week and non are scheduled for next week.
If not me, who?
If not now, when?
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1)
“We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer gently.” (1st Corinthians 4:12-13)
Blessings,
Bill
Community resources
If you like Friday Recap, check out these other grassroots conservative projects!
- Williamson County Citizens is a volunteer network of local voters that elect grassroots conservatives to public office.
- TruthWire News covers a broad spectrum of political and governmental issues, from the actions of your local school board and county commissioners to the machinations of city councils and state government officials.
- Tennessee Voters for Election Integrity is helping restore confidence in Tennessee Elections.
- Williamson County Republican Party is one of the most active parties in the state and captures the conservative heart of Tennessee.
- Mom's For Liberty Williamson County is dedicated to fighting for the American family by unifying, educating and empowering parents to defend their parental rights at all levels of government.
- Tennessee Stands produces video media, podcasts, and live events, and provides social commentary on relevant issues in our state.
- M4LU is a new site developed by the national Mom's for Liberty but generated right here in Williamson County. The mission of M4LU is to to inform, equip, and empower parents with knowledge, understanding and practical tools.
- WCSB Substack. This site reports on the Williamson County School Board meetings. It provides accurate summaries of all WCSB meetings.
Help educate citizens of Williamson County
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