CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) The Clarksville Rotary Club heard an update Wednesday on the work of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Charter Commission as they prepare a proposed charter for consolidated government of the city and county.
Chairman of the commission Katie Gambill and secretary Katy Olita both emphasized that the 15-member group has been working very hard to put together a document that they hope will represent the interests of the majority of citizens of Clarksville-Montgomery County.
What started as monthly meetings for the commission have now moved to weekly sessions to meet their self-imposed deadline of the end of June to have a charter to present to their attorneys for review and approval before it is filed with the Montgomery County Clerk’s office August 9.
Olita talked about the commission’s Facebook page. “Each time we finish a section of the charter we put that there and it’s on the city and county websites as well,” said Olita. She encouraged everyone to go and read those sections to see the progress of the commission.
Olita added that one of the things they keep hearing when they meet with the public is to allow more power into the hands of the people and less control by the government.
Gambill said they will have the proposed new charter filed and on the ballot for the November election. “The only way it passes is it has to pass by 50 percent in the county and 50 percent in the city,” said Gambill.
She added one item being discussed at this time is a transition committee which would be put together once consolidation passes. It would include both city and county mayors, chief of police, sheriff and citizens whose job is to interpret and figure out the best way to transition into the new government.