MauryTHINKS

Too many generals with nothing to do but look forward to the next war can’t be good for Maury County.

Maybe we could convert this destructive force into something positive by having the historical society place a series of historical markers around the county to mark the numerous battlefields once littered with causalities and the lost opportunities of community progress.

Some of the more memorable nominations should include the many battles of the 20-year war with Spring Hill. Among these would be the water meter war, the water rate increase war, the Spring Hill High School war, the U.S. Highway 31 corridor annexation war, the 20-year growth plan war and the HCA hospital war. We shouldn’t overlook the 20 year school board-county commission budget wars, the Columbia-Maury County water system consolidation war, the landfill war, the privilege tax war, the anti-high density development wars, the Columbia narcotic-vice department war, the TVA lower pool war, the U.S. Highway 43 bypass war, the Columbia FNI Communications cable network war, the wheel tax war, the composting and recycle center war and the numerous battles to fire police chiefs, city managers and department heads, Now we can add to this impressive list the animal shelter war.

Like Nashville’s music row, maybe we could establish a guided bus tour to show off Maury County’s old south charm and new south progress we have made with these wars. Just think about the number of business prospects and tourists we could attract to Maury County if we had these historic designations to show people. Undoubtedly, these people will be greatly impressed by the numerous battles and conflicts here and use the most powerful marketing tool, word-of-mouth, to tell all near and far about our wars.

We might even consider recreating these experiences in our own community war theme park where re-enactors recreate the experiences of conflict for visitors to re-live. Like the proposed Bible park we could have a Disney-like Maury County fly-through, using the Imax screen to give visitors a overview of the Maury County conflicts, a theater for Broadway-type Maury County war musicals and replicas of the Maury County Courthouse and the three city halls where re-enactors demonstrate the finer points of power politics and making war.

Seriously, if it wasn’t for the pain of it all, one might laugh at the state of affairs in Maury County. When business prospects or potential relocating home-buyers consider Maury County, what do you suppose is the word-of-mouth reputation that precedes our formal sales pitch. What do people hear about Maury County? Could it possibly be that they like to make war? That they have the “good ol’ boy” political system? That the school system is average? That the recreational and entertainment opportunities are limited? For those working to sell Maury County as a destination, it makes it more difficult to convince people this is where they want to be.

It is not as if this war mentality hasn’t been brought up before. Numerous community leaders, The Daily Herald, and several consultants have pointed out that this behavior has a longterm harmful effect on Maury County’s image. Why does it continue to exist? One reason is that voters don’t hold these elected officials accountable for their behavior.

With 11 county districts and three municipalities of elected officials, there are too many officials willing to make war at the expense of community problem-solving and progress. With 22 county commissioners from each of the 11 districts, they more often than not vote opposite one another and leave their district with no real voice on any important issue.

In July 2006, in a Daily Herald questionnaire, the county commission candidates were asked if they supported a proposal to reduce the 22 commissioners to a lesser number. The majority of the incumbents, showing complete disrespect for the democratic process, did not answer the questionnaire. Of those new commissioners elected, Mr. Hasse and Mr. Cobb said they would support a reduction. Mr. Wolaver said he would let the people decide. Two years later the issue is all but forgotten and who controls the animal shelter war now takes priority.

Mr. Wolaver should keep his word and present a resolution for a referendum vote this fall to reduce the number of Maury county commissioners. Mr. Hasse and Mr. Cobb should keep their word and support it. As for the other commissioners who exhibited contempt for the democratic election process two years ago, they should now be made to stand up and be counted.

As for the animal shelter war, our elected county representatives should also pass a second referendum resolution that allows the people to decide if they want the animal shelter to operate under the National Animal Control Association guidelines or not. Of course, if they do that, there will be no war for the generals to fight.

In a democracy, it’s the people who are the highest authority and the people in this case need to be heard on these issues. This is how the people can end these endless and destructive wars. By holding our representatives accountable, the democratic process works better for us all.