News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Clay County Commission is requesting the state to create a unique county seat on the Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation Board of Directors.
The resolution that passed Monday is in partnership with Pickett County. Mayor Dale Reagan said both counties want to create more spots on the board, so each of the 11 counties served have a representative.
“They’re chartered through the state, so we’re wanting them to change that to increase that membership up from nine to 11,” Reagan said. “That way it would increase that, and then, there would be somebody from each county.”
Reagan said it is rare for Clay County to have a member elected to serve. Clay and Pickett Counties make up the third district with Fentress and Overton Counties. Reagan said there is currently no law that stops all of the district’s members from being from one county.
“This resolution is just a carbon copy of what Pickett County is doing,” Reagan said.
Reagan said the resolution is not related to February’s ice storm and was first mentioned to him weeks beforehand. County Attorney James White said he is unsure if state legislature has authority to change corporation’s by-laws.
“Some of the people in Pickett County, and the east end of Clay County have sought out Representative Keisling and Representative Yager and are wanting to encourage them to pass something to get representation of each county,” White said. “I am sure the Attorney General will look at it once it gets to Nashville and see what authority the legislature has.”
Only the eastern part of Clay County is served by the Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation. Directors are elected to their positions on the board.
