Friday, November 30, 2012

Robertson County Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

Here is just another quick reminder about tonight’s tree lighting ceremony in Springfield at the Courthouse Square – we will look forward to seeing you there this evening!

The county is scheduled to light up a Christmas tree at the county courthouse in Springfield at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 30.
This year, a permanent Christmas tree – a blue spruce – is being planted at the corner of the courthouse building nearest to the red light at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Main Street.

The Week of December 3, 2012

MEETINGS SCHEDULED WEEK OF

December 3, 2012 – December 7, 2012  

Date & Committee/Board           Time                    Location

Monday – Dec. 3

Buildings and Grounds                  5:00 p.m.                     RCOB

County Growth Plan workshop     5:30-7:30 p.m.             First Presbyterian

School Board                                 7:00 p.m.                     Central Office

Tuesday – Dec. 4

County Growth Plan workshop     5:30-7:30 p.m.             Cross Plains City Hall

Wednesday – Dec. 5

County Growth Plan workshop      11:30 a.m.-1:30p.m.    Adams Clubhouse 
 
Thursday – Dec. 6  

County Growth Plan workshop      5:30-7:30 p.m.             Coopertown ES                        

Friday – Dec. 7

OPEN

Red River Preserve: Business Feasibility Study

It is great to see this project being discussed in the news – these next couple of months will be critical for the project’s moving forward. The culmination of over two years work will likely be at a pivot point over the next two to three months.

Cheatham County mayor David McCullough said officials should have the study sometime next month.
He said it will first be reviewed by the industrial development boards and Chamber of Commerce and ECD representatives in both counties as well as himself and Robertson County mayor Howard Bradley.
If officials believe the park is financially feasible, the goal is to get a copy of the study to county commissioners the first week of January.
McCullough said a joint meeting will be held the second week in January for Cheatham and Robertson officials, pending a decision to move forward on the park. The meeting would be held in Robertson County as Cheatham County previously hosted a similar meeting in July.
I really do not think folks grasp just what this projects means for Robertson County, but not just for Robertson County and Cheatham County – the entirety of Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Robertson County Food Banks Need YOUR Help

Just thought I would pass this along due to the circumstances -
Food banks throughout Robertson County are facing supply shortages as the winter months and holidays approach.
Mary Jackson, with United Ministries, said the shelves get pretty low each year between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“This is our most dire time of year,” Jackson said. “We’re in need of non-perishable foods, canned meats, vegetables, peanut butter and cereal.”
It is a blessing to be apart of so many civic groups that contribute to these ministries, and Jillian and I try each year to participate with our church, Springfield Baptist Church. I am not saying this to tout what we do, but I am saying this as someone who believes in these ministries, and what they do for our community.

If you have an oppurtunity, follow the links that I have embedded in the "sidebar" and find out a way that you can contribute and help!

The Week of November 26, 2012

MEETINGS SCHEDULED
November 26, 2012 – November 30, 2012

Date & Committee/Board           Time                    Location

Monday – Nov. 26
EMS                                              5:00 p.m.              EMS Building

Tuesday – Nov. 27
Highway Commission                     7:00 p.m.              Highway offices
                                   
Wednesday – Nov. 28
Safety                                            8:30 a.m.              Co. Mayor’s Office    

Thursday – Nov.29
OPEN
                                                           
Friday – Nov. 30
OPEN

White House Library Expansion

I try to keep up with our neighbors in Montgomery, Cheatham and Sumner Counties - it is always a good method to assess where we are in Robertson County. Not to mention, in Sumner County, we share municipalities.

This story has to do with the City of White House, and the Sumner County Commission's allocating funds for a library expansion project.
Raising the funds for a library in White House has already began. Mayor Mike Arnold said a bond issuance would likely be taken out for the project, which is expected to break ground in the summer of 2013. While the city’s current 4,000-square-foot library is located on the Robertson County side of White House, the proposed new 25,000-square-foot facility would be in Sumner County.

“We are estimating it would cost about $3 million,” said Elizabeth Kozlowski, director of the White House Library. “We are going to be putting it in front of city hall, because the city already owns that land.”

The excitement for residents, said Kozlowski, is the additional 21,000 square feet of space for new and expanded programs the new facility would have, which would include a second floor for meeting space.

2012 Election Season Coming to a Close

Well, and I should be a little reserved when saying this, this most recent election season is finally coming to a close - pending any action taken by some of these candidates.

The votes in alderperson's race in the City of Springfield and the city commissioner's race in the City of Cedar Hill have been tallied.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Comprehensive Growth Plan & Cumberland Region Tormmorow


Here is yet another reference to our Robertson County Growth Plan (“CGP”) OUTSIDE of Robertson County – this article from Cumberland RegionTomorrow (“CRT”).

Many, many thanks to Bridget Jones of CRT for passing this article along to me. Robertson County can look forward to being publicized in a forthcoming newsletter discussing our efforts with the CGP.
Here is a blurb from the article describing Robertson County,

....a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!


Words that were applicable 30 years ago, 150 years ago, and 300 years ago....and, even  today. 
Since the Pilgrims observed the initial Thanksgiving holiday in 1621, this
occasion has served as a singular expression of the transcending spiritual
values that played an instrumental part in the founding of our country.
One hundred and twenty years ago, in the midst of a great and terrible civil
conflict, President Lincoln formally proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving
to remind those “insensible to the ever watchful providence of almighty God” of
this Nation’s bounty and greatness. Several days after the dedication of the
Gettysburg battlefield, the United States celebrated its first national  
Thanksgiving. Every year since then, our Nation has faithfully continued this
tradition. The time has come once again to proclaim a day of thanksgiving, an
occasion for Americans to express gratitude to their God and their country.
In his remarks at Gettysburg, President Lincoln referred to ours as a Nation
“under God.” We rejoice in the fact that, while we have maintained separate
institutions of church and state over our 200 years of freedom, we have at the
same time preserved reverence for spiritual beliefs. Although we are a
pluralistic society, the giving of thanks can be a true bond of unity among our
people. We can unite in gratitude for our individual freedoms and individual
faiths. We can be united in gratitude for our Nation’s peace and prosperity when
so many in this world have neither. 
As was written in the first Thanksgiving Proclamation 120 years ago, “No human
counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things.
They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God.” God has blessed America and
her people, and it is appropriate we recognize this bounty. 
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, in
the spirit of the Pilgrims, President Lincoln, and all succeeding Presidents, do
hereby proclaim Thursday, November 24, 1983, as a National Day of Thanksgiving,
and I call upon Americans to affirm this day of thanks by their prayers and
their gratitude for the many blessings upon this land and its people. 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of
September, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-three, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and eighth.
Happy Thanksgiving, to you and yours! Count your Blessings, one by one, not just today, but  each and every day!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Robertson County Director of Schools Search: Timeline

The Robertson County School Board has recently released a timeline for the ongoing Director of Schools search.

The board decided at the Nov. 5 school board meeting to bring in candidates to be interviewed the third week in March, following the system’s spring break. Interviews of the five semi-finalists will be conducted in one day, Saturday, March 23, with plans to choose the new director by the following Monday, March 25.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

The State of [Robertson County] Schools

I was able to attend this event hosted by The Robertson County Chamber of Commerce and Robertson County Schools(“RCS”). This article was written in advance of the event.

The State of the Schools event organized in conjunction with the Robertson County Chamber of Commerce will be held Thursday, Nov. 15 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Springfield High School. Topics include accountability, local school scores and their trends, school building plans for the county and an update on the search for the next schools director. A question-and-answer session is reportedly planned.
I appreciate RCS having a frank discussion with members of the community with regard to the “state” of the school system.
Overall, at times, it was readily apparently that RCS was defensive about the scores. I can certainly understand that posture with the discussions being held in our communities. Just imagine what RCS would be like if we could address the issues we have with the Springfield cluster….
Here is a previous article by the Robertson County Times related to the system-wide scores. Apparently, this article was the source for the angst expressed continuously by RCS.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Comprehensive Growth Plan: Online Surveys

The following in announcement/press release regarding online surveys that can be completed in order to assist in the Comprehensive Growth Plan effort.

It is a way that you can help with Robertson County’s Comprehensive Growth Plan without leaving your home! Follow the link below to complete the online survey.
Though, I certainly encourage you to attend the upcoming Community Workshops, please take a couple of moments to assist Robertson County in this effort.

Comprehensive Growth Plan: Community Workshops (December 3rd - 6th)

Here is an announcement/press release regarding the upcoming Community Workshops that are coming up in December (12/3-6). Please mark your calendars to attend. The workshops will be conducted in Springfield, Adams, Coopertown and Cross Plains.

We hope to see you there!
Residents Are Encouraged to Attend Community Workshops and Provide Input for the Comprehensive Growth and Development Plan for Robertson County and the cities of Adams, Coopertown and Cross Plains
Workshops are in Adams, Coopertown, Cross Plains, and Springfield, December 3-6
Springfield, TN – Residents are encouraged to attend Community Workshops to learn about the  Comprehensive Growth and Development Plan for Robertson County and the cities of Adams, Coopertown and Cross Plains. The workshops are scheduled for Monday, December 3 through Thursday, December 6.  The workshops will be led by consultants with Littlejohn Engineering Associates, Inc.
The Comprehensive Growth and Development Plan will give officials a roadmap to guide future growth and development, accommodate change, and maintain the unique character of Robertson County.  “Every resident or business in Robertson County will be affected by this project in some way,” said Jonathan Garner, chair of the project’s steering committee. “Roads, housing, parks, schools, and even historic landmarks are under discussion. Public input on this project is crucial to its success.”

Gorham-MacBane Public Library: Director Resignation

In the event that you have not heard this by now, please allow me to pass along that Mary Schmidt, Library Director for our Gorham-MacBane Public Library has resigned.

Here is message from the Library Board of Trustees representative, James Marshall:

The Week of November 19, 2012

Here is a list of Robertson County Commission meetings for the Week of November 19, 2012:

Date & Committee/Board                                             Time                    Location

Monday – Nov. 19
Ceremony - honoring Meggs/Walton                           10:00 a.m.                           Courthouse
Audit Committee                                                              5:30 p.m.                             RCOB
Budget Committee                                                           6:00 p.m.                             RCOB
County Commission                                                         7:00 p.m.                             RCOB
Tuesday – Nov. 20
911 Board                                                                           9:00 a.m.                              ECC Building                      
Wednesday – Nov. 21
RTA                                                                                      10:00 a.m.                           Nashville                             
GNRC                                                                                   11:00 a.m.                           Nashville
MCHRA                                                                               12:00 p.m.                           Nashville
Thursday – Nov. 22 
COUNTY OFFICES CLOSED/HOLIDAY                                                                                                                                 
Friday – Nov. 23
COUNTY OFFICES CLOSED/HOLIDAY

Comprehensive Growth Plan: Being Discussed Throughout Middle Tennessee

These are several articles that I have posted on Facebook, but I wanted to share them here on “From the Blackpatch.”

It certainly seems that our Comprehensive Growth Plan is being discussed throughout Middle Tennessee.
Check out these two articles:
Residents are encouraged to attend Community Workshops to learn about the Comprehensive Growth and Development Plan for Robertson County and the cities of Adams, Coopertown and Cross Plains. The workshops will be led by consultants with Littlejohn Engineering Associates, Inc. The Comprehensive Growth and Development Plan will give officials a roadmap to guide future growth and development, accommodate change, and maintain the unique character of Robertson County.

RC Comprehensive Growth Plan in the Nashville Post

Friends of mine on Facebook undoubtedly saw where I had posted this a couple of weeks ago, but I wanted to share this post here on “From the Blackpatch.”

The Nashville Post covered our Comprehensive Growth Plan in a quick article. It is always great to see Robertson County being showcased for the rest of Middle Tennessee.

Robertson County Growth Plan: EXPLAINED

Many of you have asked me what the Comprehensive Growth Plan “is” and what it will mean for Robertson County since I had previously discussed it back in October.  It is a project that cannot be easily reduced to a sound bite or a blurb, but my quick two-second response is that it is an “assessment of where we are, and where we would like to be.” Here is a much more thorough explanation of what this project encompasses –

“The Robertson County Comprehensive Growth and Development Plan is an intergovernmental initiative of the County and the Cities of Adams, Cross Plains and Coopertown to create a long-term vision and strategic plan for the County’s residents. Based on a comprehensive and inclusive community outreach process, the 2040 Vision Plan will be created for this county located north of Nashville. Citizens in the County desire to retain the rural, farmland economy that is unique to this region, while managing encroaching growth from the Nashville metropolitan area and capitalizing on opportunities for economic development. This effort includes engaging a broad and diverse population in a variety of formats including one-on-one interviews, community meetings, web-based consensus-building tools and workshops. A final comprehensive plan and strategic plan is the product of this effort.”
As you can see, this project is critical for Robertson County.
Please take a minute to go to the Comprehensive Growth Plan website found here (simply go to the Robertson County Chamber of Commerce website – www.robertsonchamber.org and add “/growth”
In following posts, I will let you know how you can provide input towards this effort. Your input is critical!