UCHRA Executive Committee Reduces Number Of City Mayors On Governing Board

Fourteen county mayors and six city mayors will make up the UCHRA governing board.

The change enacted at a Wednesday meeting following new state legislation this session based on participation issues. Jackson County Mayor and Executive Committee Chair Randy Heady said the change was needed.

“This was not taken lightly,” Heady said. “There was a lot of discussion that went on, and there is no perfect way is the right word to say. The whole purpose to having to do this is quorums are hard to establish when you have as many on the board as we have now by our bylaws.”

UCHRA’s Steering Committee A recommended the Executive Board to approve three city mayors on the board. That changed after Carthage Mayor Sarah Marie Smith said she wanted more of a balance between counties and cities.

“The county has unique challenges and municipalities have unique challenges,” Smith said. “And, I don’t know if either of us can speak to those for the other.”

Overton County Executive Ben Danner was one of three mayors on the Steering Committee that voted against the recommendation. Danner said he also wanted more representation and made the motion to amend the suggestion.

According to the passed motion, the Upper Cumberland would be divided into three regions with two city mayors from each. A stipulation was added by Danner to only allow one city leader from each county.

Executive Director Mark Farley said before, all 31 city mayors in the region were included.

“Out of the 31 city mayors our estimate is we think there is only six maybe seven that are full-time,” Farley said. “All the others have full-time jobs, and it is hard for them to get off work and come.”

Changes of the policy and advisory council passed as the Steering Committee recommended.