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I just got around to watching the 2/20/07 Florence City Council meeting. Councilwoman Pickens has demonstrated her total lack of knowledge with regard to educational funding. The roughly $2.5 million netted from the sale of the Brandon and Powell buildings cannot be used for curricular or educational programs. Those builds were built with capital funds; therefore, under law, any proceeds form a sale must be returned to the capital fund. That money is totally irrelevant to the discussion.

As Dr. Behrends quite accurately pointed out, sales tax funding is fickle at best. We (the city) had a great year this year; however, a bad year now and then is inevitable. It is very difficult to budget based on sales tax revenue.

Mrs. Pickens is also seemingly not aware that state funding is based on a formula called Average Daily Attendance (ADA). If she wants to help our schools, she'd already have her two children who are in various private schools enrolled in the Florence City Schools. That would be two more good students to add to our ADA numbers. (I'm not being sarcastic when I say that -- I've seen all of her children; all three are polite and well-raised. I'd vote for any of them before I'd vote for her!)

While she's in a learning mode, shemight also want to learn the difference between the words "moot" and "mute."

As far as the $96,000 goes, I'm really not worried about it either way. That amount is a drop in the bucket for either the school system or the city. It does annoy me, though, when a Councilwoman pretends to pontificate on a matter about which she obviously knows nothing.
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Thanks for the update falcon. I don't subscribe to COMONOPOLY and was wondering what happened (you really can't tell from the TD reports) All Angie Pickens knows to do is to champion her "NO SMOKING" campaign and sit there like an aged cheerleader for UNA. I was watching it a few meetings ago at a relatives house who is still a slave to Comonopoly and we were talking about how she actually makes us miss "RED"! I pity her district, but except District 2, we all bought "pigs in a poke"! THE DOG
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Originally posted by falcon1234:
Sorry to disagree, but I live in District 2 and am equally dissatisfied with my representation.



Why are you not satisfied with your representation in District 2? Please note that I'm genuinely curious, and I'm in no way suggesting that you should or should not be satisfied.
You've asked a valid question, and I'm happy to explain. I'm confident that our Councilman has the most pure of motives, but he's a total turn-off to me. What has been accomplished? Not much that I can see. This is true of the entire council and the Mayor. We waste time discussing things like second-hand smoke, which is a silly waste of time, and the Bliss Block loan. It has been pointed out by several attorneys and bankers that the loan is absolutely uncollectible. Get over it already. Stop posturing yourself for a political run for greater glory and do something now! Another source of annoyance is the SportsPlex. Either do the thing right or don't do it at all! They are going to strip the thing down so much that it will be an expensive joke. The only reason I'm singling out the man from District 2 is that he's the only one for whom I can vote.
Just an FYI, because I am sure some people in Florence don't even KNOW what district they are in: District 2 is basically downtown. Now MY HERO on this and all previous councils COMBINED: SCOTT CARRIER is representative for District 2. ANY citizen in District 2 who is unhappy about something, may I suggest you EMAIL or CALL SCOTT! I CAN ALMOST GAURAN****TEE YOU , if ANY councilperson will address your problem, IT WILL BE SCOTT! As for Bliss Block. Scott was making an attempt to get back the money stolen from ALL the citizens of Florence BUT the property WAS in District 2. THE DOG
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District voting is mandated by desegregation orders from the 1960's and is monitored by the U.S. Justice Department. I, too, think that it's silly.


The drawing of district lines is mandated by desegregation, it's to prevent a section of town divided off as the "black" section. Mufreesboro is at large, the 7 member city council answers to all of the citizens because all of the citizens have a say as to who serves.

The mayor and council members serve 4 year terms with elections every 2 years. 3 spots open for the council, the 3 with the most votes wins. It's a very simple and effective way of doing things, but I think Kindred was right. The reason it's divided into districts must come down to money & politics
I like that councilmen are voted on by districts, it makes the voting representative of areas of the city and not a bunch of uniformed people voting on councilmen for areas they don't live in. As someone alluded to, at large voting is also a tool of the mob to minimize the input of minorities and communities of different kinds. A system of intimidation then developes. Every area of town should be represented with some voice on the council. Even if their councilman is say a publicity seeking rabble rousing drunk. There's room for everybody.
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I like that councilmen are voted on by districts, it makes the voting representative of areas of the city and not a bunch of uniformed people voting on councilmen for areas they don't live in. As someone alluded to, at large voting is also a tool of the mob to minimize the input of minorities and communities of different kinds. A system of intimidation then developes. Every area of town should be represented with some voice on the council. Even if their councilman is say a publicity seeking rabble rousing drunk. There's room for everybody.


I disagree. I would rather have 7 voices representing me rather than 1 fighting against others over who gets what. They decide what's best for the city as a whole, not what's best for their district. For larger cities it would make sense, but for Florence it's not. I've lived in both cities and I can say from seeing things first hand at large for a mid size city is the best way for a city to grow.
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I disagree. I would rather have 7 voices representing me rather than 1 fighting against others over who gets what. They decide what's best for the city as a whole, not what's best for their district. For larger cities it would make sense, but for Florence it's not.


Well it would just make sense then to vote for a mayor and not have a council, that's basicly what you want is a dictatorship where everybody smiles and goes along with the influence and money people in town. We had that at one time with the 3 member commission. Dick Jordan and Bill Batson just ran everything and you liked it.
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Well it would just make sense then to vote for a mayor and not have a council, that's basicly what you want is a dictatorship where everybody smiles and goes along with the influence and money people in town. We had that at one time with the 3 member commission. Dick Jordan and Bill Batson just ran everything and you liked it.


I disagreed with your statement, not with what you like. The at large system is anything but a dictatorship. If they city as a whole doesn't like the direction they are going, it's easier to change the leadership. With districts, if there is one council member who you think is doing a poor job but is not in your district, you have no say. With at large, the council answers to every citizen and is involved with every area of town, not just theirs.
Scott Carrier is the only person on that council who will tell it how it realy is. It doesnt matter who doesnt like it. He knows what being a public servant is all about. But, it seems like people in this whole area like things growing and progressing at a snails pace. The retirement spirit is there, so lets fight it. And what about the entertainment district????
Carrier plays to the lowest common denominator. Sound politics agree with the loudest mouths in the room each meeting and get the rubes to clap for you. He is a good politician but has no courage and is not responsibile. I wish the man well but any alcoholic that runs for public office then goes off the wagon while in office is not to be trusted with the peoples business. Don't mean to be personal but he did run for office and should get no pass on this.

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