....
The agenda was very short, relatively speaking.
The 1st two items on the agenda...
1.Special resolution recognizing the outstanding work of Dr. James Eason upon his receiving the outstanding physician award by the Tennessee Medical Association and promoting National Donate Life Month. Sponsored by Commissioner Mark Billingsley. (Interesting tidbit...this doctor performed the liver transplant for Steve Jobs. Also, there are currently 88,000 people on the transplant list and one donor can save 7 lives. Be an organ donor...you won't miss those organs when you are gone)
2.Special certificate of recognition for Zipporah Bunting and Caleb Fair for organization of the peaceful and orderly demonstration at Hamilton High School on Tuesday, April 21, 2015. Sponsored by Chairman Justin J. Ford. (This was a demonstration against the letting go of Hamilton's principle. not sure what that's about or why they let him go but the students didn't like it)
4.Resolution to amend the FY 2015 Operating Budget in the amount of $20,000.00 and to appropriate said funds for the completion of a Storm Water Quality Enhancement Grant Project...
hmmm Storm Water Quality Enhancement Grant Project...that has to be good right?
There was 586,000 approved for s roof replacement contract for 994 Bellevue which is a government building. More specifically a warehouse storage property. Is this is a good deal for a roof? I have no idea but since the government is funding it I'm somewhat sure it's not.
406,000.00 approved for
Resolution to approve a contract between Shelby County Government on behalf of the Public Defender's Office and the University of Memphis on behalf of its Law School for the provision of professional services to operate a specialized Juvenile Delinquency Law Clinic (Not sure what this is either but I'm somewhat confident this will be wasted money also. Could this be for more diversionary type punishments for juvenile delinquents? Just guessing....)
156,000.00 was approved for a "Summer Youth Program" which had the most debate. It would create job opportunities for about 65 teenagers that would pay 8.00 an hour for 37.5 hours per week. Apparently there is already a Shelby County summer jobs program and this would be in addition to that. Somewhere along the way government has forgotten it's true purpose and it is not creating jobs for people. If government wasn't so heavily involved with regulating and putting up barriers and making it more expensive for jobs to be created, we wouldn't need a "Summer Youth Program" but....I digress.
Oh, and Steve Basar sponsored an ordinance to update regulations concerning Pedestrian Safety Laws, definitions and violations. I wonder if the Bicycle and Pedestrain Safety Cooordinator helped with this? We are paying him thousands of dollars to do something. Still not sure what that something is...
Anyhow ...here is a brief description...
This ordinance would amend existing ordinances found in Chapter 24 of the Shelby County Code of Ordinances, setting out the duties and responsibilities of pedestrians, and vehicle operators toward pedestrians, in unincorporated Shelby County. It would continue to be enforced by the Sheriff’s Department. These amendments would establish several new sections to this chapter, including provisions that would:
a. Provide standards for the protection of visually impaired pedestrians.
b. Prohibit pedestrians from seeking payment for “watching or guarding” vehicles which are about to park on a public street.
c. Prohibit anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol so as to be a hazard, from walking in the street when a sidewalk is present.
In addition to these and other new requirements, a number of amendments are proposed that are intended to improve the wording of several existing sections and rearrange some existing provisions within the chapter to make the ordinances easier to understand and enforce.
OMG!!! Prohibit anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol so as to be a hazard, from walking in the street when a sidewalk is present. Good luck with that one guys!!!!
This was only the 2nd reading for that so there will be much fun at the next meeting! This is not a given as they will need a super majority to pass because there are fines involved. Thank heavens for small mercies...