Suburbs

The suburbs have long thought they deserved a voting voice on the Memphis Light, Gas and Water board, and perhaps that representation will move somewhat closer to a possibility.

Through the state Legislature.

Suburban reporter Abigail Warren wrote a story this week that a measure up in Nashville could eventually help provide voting members from Shelby County cities outside of Memphis on the MLGW body.

Let me make this point very early on — I am probably going to oversimplify the matter for opponents to such representation. There will be plenty of other factors about ownership, agreements and issues with the Memphis City Council. There are variables about matters used by opponents against having members outside of Memphis helping make decisions for the utility.

Heck, there’s even a question of whether for the suburbs, the name should be amended to Memphis Light and Gas since — in most cases — the other cities handle their own water.

Not to mention the political aspect of Republicans carrying the bill in Nashville. Quite often, that doesn’t sit well in our extreme southwest corner of the state and is the first strike against any such idea.

But if a third of your universe is made up of others, shouldn’t that segment have a voice in all this? Not at all a majority vote. Not a controlling interest. Not enough influence to carry the day. I would even say add the two suburban members to the current makeup of five Memphians.

Two of seven.

Just enough to have an input.

Again, I can hear the gnashing of teeth from those opposed to the idea. The screams that it is not that simple. That it is more complex. I can even imagine the arms raised and rolling of eyes in disgust at the idea.

I can also hear the same reaction from those outside of Memphis who pay for the service just like everyone in the major city. But they have little say in how the utility operates.

I should note that there are two suburban people connected to the board. James Lewellen, the former town administrator in Collierville, and John Butler, the president of Agricenter International, are non-voting, advisory folks. So, the two are kind of a suburban voice to the board.

Still, the lack of participation has bothered Shelby County non-Memphians for some time. For the very reasons cited above. Based on Warren’s reporting of the situation, those outside of Memphis would have two voting seats on the MLGW board. That is because the number of customers outside of the city is above the 130,000-customers threshold cited in the legislation to get two members.

There was some thought about all this a couple of years ago, and the utility’s board even endorsed the idea of adding suburban members. But, alas, the Memphis City Council stopped it short of even getting to a city referendum.

And, frankly, Memphis voters approving a measure that would add suburban members to the MLGW board would have about as much chance of passing in Memphis as consolidation would ever have of getting suburban approval.

Yes, yes, yes. I realize that the more intelligent out there are looking at this as an oversimplification of a complex problem. I know there are plenty of authorities more well-versed in all the details, nuances and tentacles of specifics regarding this matter and can poke holes in the proposal.

I am sure the experts will note plenty of fine points that are missing from this position.

Those are the same group of people who think the suburbs are not worthy of having someone involved, even if the two members would represent a significant number of MLGW customers.

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