Shelby County Charter Amendments

Plan now to attend the Public Hearings on the Shelby County Charter Amendments at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at Arlington High School and at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, February 11 at the Bartlett Performing Arts Center. (Times and dates were changed from the original post).

Detailed information is available at www.shelbycountytn.gov. I urge all residents to visit this site and read the detailed information and take advantage of the opportunity to comment directly to the Shelby County Commission.

Chairman David Lillard has been very active in publicizing the activities of the Shelby County Commission and providing an opportunity for all Shelby County residents to review actions by the County Commission and comment.

I cannot overemphasize the importance to Lakeland (and any City in Shelby County other than Memphis) of the Shelby County Charter Amendments reading as follows:

-Sheriff and other “Constitutional Officers” (Trustee, Register, County Clerk, Assessor) be ELECTED with the SAME title and duties and current constitutional officers.

This is also an opportunity to suggest other amendments to the Shelby County Charter.

The Ah Hoc Committee on Law Enforcement Consolidation (which has ended) recently adopted a recommendation to the Shelby County Commission basically providing for the Sheriff (or the “Chief Law Enforcement Officer” of the County) to be appointed by the MEMPHIS MAYOR meaning that Lakeland residents would have a Sheriff without any say in who it is!