Consolidated government: This topic has been beat around in Clarksville for longer than the 25+ years I have lived here. It only makes sense that a county with only one municipal city that comprises 80 percent of the county’s total population find a way to consolidate into one local government. Metro Nashville did and never looked back. Really, why have two local governments when you could just have one?
Tennessee law requires a majority of both city residents (who are also county residents) and county-only residents (the under 20 percent out on the edges) vote in favor of consolidation. Twenty percent having veto power over 80 percent doesn’t seem democratic, but this is Tennessee, so you have to move past that.
I say we can have consolidated government, and we can do it relatively quickly and painlessly. It is a little over two years until the next city mayoral election. Now is the time to start work on dissolving the city government. Then we have just one government left standing. Bam, we are consolidated.
I have thought about this. Does the city have something the county doesn’t? Just go down the list. Law Enforcement – Check, Highway Department – Check, Codes Department – Check, Parks Department – Check, Finance Department – Check, a Mayor – Check. The Fire Department is the only crucial service the city has that the county does not. Ok, the county can have the City Fire Department as part of the deal. The county actually has services that the city does not but are required such as the Tax Assessor, Register of Deeds, Health Department, Election Commission, Industrial Development Board and Animal Control.
I don’t say this tongue in cheek or in jest. I say this in all seriousness. The city should turn in its charter and merge its services into the county government. All employees should be kept on in the new merged departments until they move on or retire and over a fairly short period of time we would see the savings.
Anybody who really questions just why the city should dissolve into the county, I suggest you attend a City Council meeting, then attend a County Commission meeting. The City Council Meeting is held in an embarrassing little room that looks like a worn out high school debate facility. The County Commission Meeting is held in a stately room that befits the actions of government in a community our size. The County Government even looks the part.
Just think of the progress this community could make with one unified government. Come on City Council, you have devolved into managing the practice hours on soccer fields; show some vision and look at the big picture. Merge the city into the county and accomplish what many say could never be done.
Jeff Robinson is a local businessman and volunteer. He served on the Boards of the Two Rivers Company, Main Street Clarksville, Parking Authority, Housing Authority, and was Chairman of the River District Commission. He is currently the President of the Fort Campbell Snipers AAU Basketball organization.