Dickson Community

Is the library going to close? Is the building being sold? are just a few of the questions circulating through Dickson faster than the latest Twilight book. Someone even showed up at the library offering boxes for packing!

The subject was introduced by Benny Spencer a few weeks ago at a County Commissioners’ budget meeting. Although it was not on the agenda, the idea to close the library was unleashed while the commissioners were trying to come up with ways to cut the county’s budget. Kind of like when you have to broach the subject of cutting the TV cable to make your own budget work. It may not be popular, but it does have to be discussed as an option.

It is my hope that the discussion of closing the library gets tossed out like last week’s periodicals! Curious to find out what was fact and what was fiction, I spoke with my county commissioner, the Mayor’s office and employees of the library.

My district county commissioner assured me that he was against closing the library and that I could contact him for updates on the situation. The Mayor’s office confirmed that closing the library was one of many possibilities, and that various areas of government spending were being looked at to balance the budget. The ladies at the library are not only concerned about their jobs but are also concerned about the people of Dickson; 5 years ago the Summer Reading Program consisted of 125 children, this year they will surpass their goal of 1000 children being enrolled.

What would our community be like without a public library? When industries consider areas to relocate or build new businesses they check to see what a county would have to offer its potential employees. What does it say to outsiders if we can not sustain a library? What does it say to families who want to move here? Recently , I spoke with a woman who relocated here after hurricane Katrina in LA, she said she could have moved anywhere and she and her family chose Dickson; indicating they would have passed it by if it had not had a library. Growing kids need books. Inquiring minds need books. Students need books. What would we do without our books?

Even though the library was not on the agenda for the County Commissioners’ budget meeting Monday the 15th, there were several supporters of the library in attendance- just in case the subject was brought up in discussion again. You can imagine that there are a lot of people concerned about this topic and some vowed to be at the budget meetings each Monday night while closing the library is under consideration.

Since the issue of cutting our library funding has been raised as a very real possibility, it would benefit us all to exercise our civil obligations by becoming aware of and participating in the operation of our local government. Much like a good old fashion civics lesson.

Contact your district County Commissioner ( your district number is on your voter registration card; commissioner’s contact info http://www.dicksoncounty.net) to let him or her know how you feel about this issue. You may want to sit in on a budget meeting – currently being held at the Annex Courthouse on the square in Charlotte at 6:30 on Monday nights. I found the last meeting to be fascinating even if it was a little boring, but I can NOT complain about anything that may or may not happen to the library if I sit at home and do nothing. That is how these things happen, folks, one minute we have a library and the next we don’t – all while we were sitting at home watching TV.

Be civic minded and alert! Get involved in Dickson.

Thank you for allowing me a few minutes of your time and for your commitment as a public servant. My name is Linda Hayes and I am the Mayor of the Town of White Bluff. I am here to represent our citizens and discuss the recent decision against placing an ambulance in White Bluff.

During a recent county commission meeting, you deliberated the need for an ambulance in White Bluff. Arguments for and against were stated and when the vote was taken, a majority of the commission voted against an ambulance for the White Bluff community with a role of 6-5 against. When word of this was received, needless to say, everyone was shocked by the decision. General consensus and opinion is how could the commission deny an ambulance to the second largest and fastest growing area of Dickson County and how could the commission deny the White Bluff area when the communities of Dickson, Charlotte, Burns, and Vanleer are provided this valuable service?

As we discussed this decision with County Commissioners McMillen and Dawson, Mayor Stone, and EMS Director Steve Manley, your decision making process became clearer and more understandable. Due to the budget constraints that we are all feeling in this downturn of the economy, discussions and votes seemed to center on whether or not to move an existing ambulance from another community in the county – namely Vanleer or Burns – to White Bluff. While I believe that the county commission should always look at ways to provide maximum services in the least political and most cost-effective way to the citizens of our county, let me be the first to say that we in White Bluff do not support gaining ambulance service at the expense of another community until all options have been explored. We are not here to hurt our neighboring communities.

On Thursday, May 28th, White Bluff Vice Mayor Jeff Martin and I met with County Mayor Stone and EMS Director Steve Manley to discuss this situation. We were told the county currently has five ambulances on active duty across the county at any one time with three fully-stocked back-up ambulances in reserve. Each ambulance must be staffed with at least one EMT and one paramedic at all times. We understand that this issue is not about equipment, but about personnel.

We all understand budget shortfalls. We are currently working on our own budget and are having to come up with creative ways and make hard decisions to have a balanced budget. I would remind you that the citizens in the White Bluff area contribute their fair share of county taxes due to population and growth. We will be helping to fund the new jail in Charlotte, the new school in Burns, and reducing the deficit of the county. In return, we feel strongly that we should be provided the same services as the other communities in Dickson County. At this time, we can offer accommodations for an ambulance and personnel in the new Zollie Bibb, Jr Fire Hall at no cost to the county. Until September of 2008, we were unable to make this offer due to extreme space limitations. To remedy this situation the White Bluff council approved design, construction and funds of $652,000 for a building to be used as a fire hall and ambulance station.

During 2008, our fire department and first responders responded to 391 total incidents in the White Bluff area alone. Approximately 90-95% of these calls were medical related, which means they came through the 911 call center and required the service of an ambulance response also. So, I would estimate that an ambulance out of Burns or Charlotte responded to the 350 or so calls alone in our immediate area. This is the most viable number I can give you from any reports we have seen.

Campaign promises have been mentioned in this issue. I can safely say that any person running for office in our town during the past ten years or so have probably mentioned trying to work for an ambulance as well as any county official campaigning in our town. So, yes it has been always mentioned.

In closing, we would ask that the commission bring the issue back to the table for discussion and reconsideration before making any final decision on budget. In your deliberations, please remember that minutes matter in life and death situations for all county citizens.

Once again, thank you for your time and for your service to our county.