As a former alderman, I stongly support the efforts Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Dixon and Mr. Tingle are attempting. I truly believe they are dedicated men who are wanting the best for all citizens. As an alderman, I wanted to make a difference but was unable to. At one point, I had a speaker come in to address the BMA regarding grant applications and money available for small communities. After the speaker spoke, Mr. Buuck was asked to investigate this further. At the next BMA meeting, I asked him what he had discovered and the mayor told me she told him not to do anything regarding this matter. That was the beginning of a long line of disappointments I had as an alderman. Whether you as a citizen are involved in the meetings or not, please understand that the hostility demonstrated toward the above mentioned alderman is a result of their not being "good ole boys" and not maintaining status-quo. Perhaps the new town administrator can bring peace to a town that is so divided. Also, please be aware that the above mentioned aldermen are the ones that have encouraged the new position.
signed: Sandy
These opinions are my own.
Louisville Planning Commission Votes Unanimously to Hire Lawyers to Sue Town...
Board of Mayor and Alderman (BOMA) Wants Diversity...
Planning Commission’s 7 White Men and Mayor Want to Protect Seats
At the December BOMA meeting the Board voted to reduce the number of Planning Commission (PC) members from 7 to 5 to influence the PC and Mayor Anderson to create diversity including women on the PC. It also set the terms to two (2) years with terms beginning to expire in December of 2009. Voting “Yes” were Aldermen Tingle, Dixon and Gallagher. Voting “No” were Mayor Anderson and Vice Mayor Gormley. Alderman Tingle sponsored the ordinance. The PC voted to challenge that ordinance in court to protect their power base and ignore the State mandated diversity requirements.
The very political former Town Attorney David Buuck’s opinion was circulated at the PC meeting which said the Board acted unlawfully. Attorney Buuck’s resignation was accepted by the Board at the December meeting so his opinion was unofficial and was improperly presented to the PC by Vice Mayor Gormley. Vice Mayor Gormley is BOMA’ s representative on the Board. He seconded the motion to sue the Town to attempt to defeat the BOMA’s effort to create diversity which includes women.
WHY DID THE BOARD VOTE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS?
Tennessee Code Annotated 13-04-101 is the T.C.A. that is the enabling legislation for Municipal Planning and it gives the mayor authority to appoint the Planning Commission members except for one which is appointed by the Board from its membership. The mayor can serve or she can appoint someone to represent her --- Jere Ingram represents the Mayor and Vice Mayor Gormley represents the BOMA. The code also says the mayor must strive to appoint members to reflect the racial diversity, which includes women, of the community. The code further provides that the BOMA can set the number of members and the terms of the members. Aldermen Tingle, Gallagher and Dixon have said publicly they wish to use the BOMA’s authority to influence the PC regarding the following issues:
1. Racial composition, including women, of the PC is not in compliance with the T.C.A.
2. PC does not comply with the Zoning Ordinance in land use issues
3. PC membership does not turn over enough so that other citizens including women can serve
4. PC Chairman, John Loope, a land speculator and real estate developer, should not be on the PC
5. PC is stacked with the Mayor’s 7 white men, 6 appointed by her. The Mayor’s 7 white men include John Loope, Jere Ingram, Bob Gormley and Tom Bickers who all voted “Yes” to approve all of those metal buildings and they voted “Yes” for industrial uses in commercial zones that spoil the Louisville landscape. Incidentally, many of those buildings were built on land that John Loope and his family sold. (See the land owned and sold by John Loope according to the public record which is contained on this web site).
6. PC must recognize that the BOMA is the elected body and it is the chief legislative body of the Town of Louisville and the PC membership must cease its slanderous actions toward BOMA and its elected officials.
Examples:
a. Roadside hate signs by John Loope
b. Political hate signs at PC meetings provided by Mrs. John Loope
c. John Loope’s false petition aimed at Aldermen Tingle
d. Unauthorized investigations of Aldermen Tingle and Gallagher
e. Disrespectful behavior toward elected officials at PC meetings
f. Unauthorized expenditure of attorney fees
Mayor Geraldine Anderson refused to comply with PC diversity issues. After the 2006 election which the mayor won by a squeaker a group from the LCA went to the mayor and asked her to shake up the PC membership. The undersigned was included in that group. Some new PC members, including women, were suggested to the Mayor. She said she would consider that but never responded. Then, Earl Morgan resigned and the mayor appointed attorney, Tom Bickers, to fill that vacancy. Ann Bennett resigned and Nick Whitehead was appointed to fill that vacancy. (It was Nick who tried to pick a fight Alderman Tingle after the December BOMA meeting.) Now, diversity which includes women, is the goal the T.C.A. requires BUT --- the PC members are 7 white men!
In September Alderman Dixon raised the “diversity” issue by insisting that the Mayor bring the Town’s diversity into compliance. She responded by appointing another unqualified white male, and used car salesman, Nick Whitehead. (Nick’s father is Robin Whitehead, another used car salesman, who lately has become very vocal --- disruptive --- at the BOMA meetings. Some have suggested that Nick’s appointment to the PC was the pay-back to Robin for carrying the Mayor’s water at the meetings).
Aldermen Tingle and Dixon have said publicly they will welcome an increase in PC membership when the Mayor is willing to comply with diversity issues. When she offers to achieve diversity including women then the Board’s majority says it will increase the membership beyond the current 5 members. If you are interested in serving on the PC now is the time to make that known to an alderman. The LCA supports an increase in membership to 9 so 4 seats (we hope) will be available soon. Please offer to serve.
The LCA was formed to deal in part with these serious issues. Elections have consequences and now a majority of the BOMA’s member has said publicly they intend to see that the Mayor and the PC comply with state and local laws including the Louisville Code of Ethics. In fact, Aldermen Dixon has filed an ethics complaint against Mayor Geraldine Anderson.; and, Alderman Gallagher has filed an ethics complaint against the Mayor, Vice Mayor, PC Chairman , Tom Bickers, Jere Ingram and former Town Attorney, David Buuck. New Town Attorney, Chris Ralls, will begin to investigate soon.
The LCA strives to be fair and balanced. Anyone who wishes to offer another point- of –view is welcome to submit it to the undersigned. It must be signed and it must include your name, address and phone number.
Wayne Lance
Co- Founder, LCA , www.37777.info
email: www.waynelance@yahoo.com
(865) 405-4342
Click here to see video of the Planning Commission's investigation of an email with questions made by an elected official.***Be sure to watch the last 5 minutes when Jere Ingram says that the investigation is about Alderman Gallagher.
Elections have consequences. Your Louisville Citizens’ Association supported Alderman Steve Dixon and he got an amazing 866 votes. Alderman
These aldermen are getting MANY GOOD THINGS done and the MAJORITY encourages them to continue. These aldermen have a lot of goals to achieve and they could use your help. Here are areas where you can help. Steve Dixon has a Communications Committee that could use some help. He and Rob got an outstanding web site, louisville-tn.us, on-line and they are bringing our Town’s technology into this century. But there is still a lot of work to be done. The town's office needs to be brought into this century. Joe’s Parks and Recreation Committee has a lot going on and a lot to do including some Community Center duties. Katrina Blalock and Donielle Stone are working to restructure Poland Creek Campground and Boat Ramp into something to be proud of and make it cash flow. Steve is forming a Finance Committee and he is organizing a Town audit. All of these committees have lots of women serving and most are chaired by women leaders. Donielle Stone, Katrina Blalock and Sandy Murrin are chairs. Come serve your town and see what new citizens’ --- minorities, women --- participation in government is accomplishing. If you love
The town has lots of needs and it has $1.6 million in the bank. The
Thank you for your leadership Rob Tingle,
Wayne Lance
LCA Founder
Click here to learn more about the planning commission's chairman, John Loope.
