There are 36 article(s) tagged Willie Brooks:

• June 2022

  • County weighs bonuses along with pay raise — again

    The June 28 Shelby County Commission session saw an attempt to bring back to life bonuses some elected countywide officials proposed three weeks ago. 

    By Bill Dries June 28, 2022

  • County Commission takes final vote on MATA funding

    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:

    County Commission goals include help for Regional One

    By Bill Dries June 27, 2022

  • Heated County Commission debate results in new voting system for November

    The commission voted to fund a new voting system with both touch-screen machines with a paper trail as well as hand-marked paper ballots. 

    By Bill Dries, Julia Baker June 09, 2022

• May 2022

  • County property tax rate set, but budgeting goes on

    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. 

    By Bill Dries May 24, 2022

  • Three Democratic clerks fall to rival Democrats in Tuesday primaries

    Only one of the incumbent Democratic clerks from 2018’s Democratic sweep of the offices was without a challenge from within the party. Three of the incumbents didn’t survive to advance to the August county general election.

    By Bill Dries May 04, 2022

• April 2022

  • As juvenile detention center doubles in cost, commissioner questions special meeting held to approve extra funding

    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. 

    By Bill Dries April 12, 2022

• March 2022

  • Election precinct changes met with accusations of disenfranchisement

    The county could see new voting machines by August of this year, but two issues indicate overall differences between the Shelby County Commission and the Election Commission. 

    By Bill Dries March 01, 2022

• January 2022

  • As criminal investigation continues, Ford challenges journalists, commission chair

    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. 

    By Bill Dries January 11, 2022

  • Miska Clay Bibbs, Willie Brooks target new jobs

    Shelby County Schools board member Bibbs is seeking a County Commission seat. Meanwhile Commission Chairman Brooks is aiming for the Shelby County Register’s job. 

    By Bill Dries January 07, 2022

  • County Commission Scorecard: Top 5 Votes of 2021

     The top five include property taxes, redistricting, pay raises, a takeback on critical race theory and the strategic battle for a new commission chairman.

    By Bill Dries January 06, 2022

• December 2021

  • Pay raises approved for next elected commission, mayor and sheriff

    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.

    By Bill Dries December 20, 2021

  • County Commission Scorecard: The pay raise votes

    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.

    By Bill Dries December 13, 2021

• November 2021

  • Ford tests new commission chairman with ARPA budget amendments

    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.

    By Bill Dries November 04, 2021

• September 2021

  • Ford out as County Commission budget committee chairman

    After two contentious budget seasons, commission chairman Willie Brooks has changed up what is the most critical committee assignment in county government. 

    By Bill Dries September 27, 2021

• August 2021

  • Commission’s veto override of ethics panel takes another turn

    Commissioners made changes Monday to the blue ribbon ethics panel it created despite a veto by county Mayor Lee Harris. The changes didn’t go down well with those who wanted the group to report directly to the commission and not the county Ethics Commission.

    By Bill Dries August 25, 2021

  • ‘I teared up when I saw someone share this on Facebook’

    A drive-thru backpack giveaway at Raleigh Springs Civic Center helps Shelby County Schools students prepare for the start of classes Monday.

    By Rob Moore August 07, 2021

• July 2021

  • County Commission keeps tax rate at $3.45, Brooks is new chairman

    The commission also delayed the second of three votes on the Byhalia Connection Pipeline ordinance after it was amended.

    By Bill Dries July 27, 2021

• February 2021

  • Bottled water goes quickly in city giveaway

    Long lines marked most of the eight sites the city operated Sunday, Feb. 21, to give families with no or slow-flowing water a case of bottled water per car. 

    By Bill Dries February 21, 2021

• September 2020

  • Committee fails to act on Shelby County’s hiring freeze revisions

    Shelby County commissioners will get opinions from the county’s other elected officials as they work through problems with the county’s hiring freeze resolution.

    By Linda A. Moore September 23, 2020

• May 2020

  • A summer like no other: coronavirus’ smackdown for Shelby County government’s summer jobs

    The fallout from COVID-19 means some young Shelby County residents will miss out on summer jobs programs.

    By Linda A. Moore May 31, 2020

• April 2020

  • Rules for residency passed by Shelby County Commission

    Shelby County's human resources officials now have tools to enforce the county's residency mandate for employees.

    By Linda A. Moore April 06, 2020

• March 2020

  • Paid parental leave now a reality for Shelby County employees

    The new policy launches July 1 and gives six weeks pay for county employees who have a baby or adopt.

    By Linda A. Moore March 09, 2020

• February 2020

  • Frayser could get new high school, Harris says in State of the County address

    Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris sees Frayser as a good place to start expanding educational opportunities for students.

    By Linda A. Moore February 21, 2020

  • County officials learn PILOTs won’t raise funds fast enough for MATA

    There are things the Shelby County can and can't do to raise $10 million for public transit.

    By Linda A. Moore February 18, 2020

• January 2020

  • Suburban opponents denounce MATA funding proposals

    Suburban leaders are raising the alarm over proposals to help fund Memphis Area Transit Authority improvements.

    By Michael Waddell January 30, 2020