There are 163 article(s) tagged Edmund Ford Jr.:
The agenda also includes $300,000 in funding for the Greater Whitehaven Economic Redevelopment Corp. Additionally, commissioners will consider a resolution urging the Tennessee General Assembly to change redistricting maps to reflect an accurate county line between Shelby County and Fayette County.Related story:
Republican-controlled county commissions in other parts of Tennessee have moved fast when state legislative seats open up, appointing replacements in less than a month.
But the Shelby County Commission still has some dollar figures to crunch and some conflicting calculations to resolve before it can close the books on another budget season.
There were seven votes on the county commission for the first of three readings on creating the first dedicated source of recurring local funding for the city-owned bus system. But there are amendments ahead. Related story:
The $70 million skilled nursing facility will benefit the estimated 65,000 to 75,000 veterans living in Shelby, Fayette and Tipton counties.
The rate of $3.399 advanced Monday, May 9, on first reading with uncertainty ahead for the second of three votes on May 23. Barretville General Store gets green light for expansion despite ‘family squabble' County Commission debates filling open State House District 91 seatRelated stories:
County Commission Chair Willie Brooks denied that the meeting was called to try to hide the 8-0 vote on emergency funding for the project.
The MATA funding has also become an issue in the May Republican primary for commission District 4.
Four of the six applicants have pulled and/or filed petitions to run for a full 4-year term in the Senate seat. In other action, the commission approved funding for juvenile counselors in police precincts.
The commission delayed votes to receive and file two financial reports from Memphis Shelby County Schools until it gets dollar figures on the rebrand.Related story:
The commission set the schedules Wednesday, Feb. 23, for taking applications, interviewing candidates and making the picks.
Three county commissioners voted against the $1.44 million purchase of 180,000 tests in 90 kits with two tests a piece. One cited comments by Dr. Ben Carson on Fox News earlier this week complaining that more tests would mean a rise in COVID cases.
Edmund Ford Jr. said he was “sort of offended” after an executive from The Commercial Appeal complained to the commission over Ford’s treatment of a reporter.
The top five include property taxes, redistricting, pay raises, a takeback on critical race theory and the strategic battle for a new commission chairman.
The commission being elected in August with at least six new members will get a 19.9% pay raise. The mayor and sheriff elected on the same August ballot will get 21% raises.
The County Commission Scorecard looks at the second- reading vote on pay raises for some of the county’s top elected officials and the political perils of raising your own pay while preparing to run for re-election.
On “Behind The Headlines,” the bus transit system’s CEO and its new chief of staff say the ride-share service in the Whitehaven, Boxtown and Westwood areas is being used much more than the bus route system in the area was.
While punting on the gas station, the Shelby County Commission did approve an appeal for a gated community on Forest Hill Irene. Also, Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. defended his father against criticism of his behavior at a Memphis City Council meeting last month.
If approved on three votes, the raises would apply to the next term of office that begins Sept. 1, 2022, after next year’s county primaries and general elections. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris says he doesn’t support it.
The 21% raises garnered only two yes votes and two no votes in the first of three readings with seven county commissioners abstaining. The final vote is set for Dec. 20 and will take nine votes to be approved.
The commissioner’s attempt to reopen the county’s ARPA budget ran aground when Chairman Willie Brooks and others said he is abusing the process.
The ad hoc group, made up mostly of county commissioners, included in its top 3 a map that drew the ire of commissioner Brandon Morrison last week for endangering her re-election prospects last year.
Commissioners approved the plans for using $58 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding, but several challenged Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris’ plans for the remaining $10 million.
Mathilde Crosby is leaving county government to return to the private financial sector.
When chairman Willie Brooks created a study group Monday on possible local government changes without a vote, some commissioners call it a consolidation committee in all but name, causing chairman Reginald Milton to quit.