Commissioners Form Long Range Planning Committee, Seek To Expand Law Enforcement Committee

JACKSON Tenn (March 17, 2015) — Commissioners say they think about the future of the county and they need to do something about planning for it. On Monday Madison County commissioners created the Long Range Planning Committee.

Commissioner Arthur Johnson recommended the committee structure. Like all other county committees, the group will be made up of 7 members. Johnson recommended 1 member each from the Finance, Budget, and Capital committees, along with the county mayor, finance director, and 2 members at-large.

Commissioner Gary Deaton nominated Commissioner Jerry Bastin, and Commissioner Luther Mercer.

Deaton said the committee is needed to begin looking at where the county will be in the next three to five years.

Currently the Madison County Commission has 25 committees, plus other boards and liasons.

CLICK HERE TO READ A LIST OF THE MADISON COUNTY COMMISSION COMMITTEES

Judge Christy Little told county commissioners she is not interested in her Juvenile Court Services director Amy Jones having committee oversight from a county committee.

Commissioners want Little and Jones to meet with the county law enforcement committee on a regular schedule.

During the committee reports, Commissioner Gerry Neese said that all the departments of county government were included in the commission’s committee structure except the office of Juvenile Court Services.

Neese said the most recent Education Vision committee had been well received by the school board and was seen as being useful.

Commissioner Neese asked Commissioner Jerry Bastin, chair of the Law Enforcement committee if he saw a place for Juvenile Court Services.

Before Bastin spoke, Juvenile Judge Christy Little told the commissioners told the commissioners, thanks, but no thanks.

Little said that her court already has a functioning oversight committee in place.

Judge Little said she has complete confidence in her director, Amy Jones, and respect for her board.

Neese again reiterated that the committees were not for oversight but gave departments representation on the commission floor and were beneficial in other ways.

Judge Little said the commissioners were welcomed to send a representative to one of their Juvenile Court Board meetings but said she was not interested in her director a being the subject of the oversight of a the county committee.