Lee Erwin Reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett and the County Commission presented its 2015 Legislative Agenda to the local Tennessee state delegation at a reception Thursday, December 11. Each year the Legislative Liaison Committee of the commission makes recommendations to state lawmakers for their consideration.
State Senator Mark Green, Representative Joe Pitts, Representative Curtis Johnson and Representative-Elect Jay Reedy listened as members of the commission outlined a list of legislative issues they hope lawmakers will work to bring before the Tennessee General Assembly which convenes in January.
Commissioner Jason Hodges spoke about the issue of making ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, key ingredients in making meth, available only through prescription and subject to state prescription monitoring programs. Tennessee has one of the highest numbers of meth lab incidents in the nation. Representative Johnson stated that it seems meth labs and use of prescription drugs in Tennessee is dropping but heroin use is on the rise.
Hodges added that the state legislature consider fully funding the Tennessee Methamphetamine and Pharmaceutical Task Force (TMPTF). With a drop in federal funding for the program, state funding is needed to help communities clean up meth labs as well as assist local law enforcement agencies.
Mayor Durrett talked about state funding being made available for local highway projects in the county. Commissioner Mark Riggins discussed a change in the state formulas that determine a counties ability to credit the county for the share of property tax for new schools and school renovations.
Chairman of the commission’s legislative committee, Robert Nichols, discussed asking state government to support a Montgomery County resolution requesting legislation to stop Department of Defense sequestration cuts to the military.
Increasing the reimbursement rate for Tennessee Department of Corrections inmates held in the Montgomery County Jail and funding for a Montgomery County Teen Learning Center was also proposed. Commissioner Tommy Vallejos addressed the issue of the importance of continued state funding for local government to benefit Montgomery County and its citizens.