Residents of Carter County’s First District soon will get the chance to make their voices heard and have their questions answered during a pair of town hall meetings.
The three Carter County Commissioners who represent the First District ­— Robert Acuff, Willie Campbell and Buford Peters — will host the meetings in the cafeteria at Hunter Elementary School. The first will take place at 6 p.m. Friday, with the second happening at 9 a.m. Saturday.
“We thought some folks might not be able to make it to the one on Friday evening due to other obligations, or work, or whatever,” Acuff said. “So we thought we would hold one on Saturday morning as well.”
This will give residents of the district two chances to meet with their elected representatives to ask questions and voice their opinions on current events in the county.
“The purpose of the meetings is to give voters and citizens of the District an opportunity to voice their opinions relating to the County Commission and issues that are in deliberation,” Acuff said. “These include the status of the Carter County EMS and Rescue Squad, budget issues, and other items folks want to talk about or gain information. We will be there to listen and answer questions.”
In addition to questions regarding the Rescue Squad and budget issues, Acuff also expects some of the discussion to focus around the county’s recent decision to file a lawsuit against its economic development branch, Carter County Tomorrow.
When Acuff approached Campbell and Peters with the idea of holding the town hall meetings, he said his colleagues supported the idea whole-heartedly.
“I just felt, and Willie and Buford agreed, that we should give people a chance to share their opinions and ask questions about their county government,” Acuff said. “I think it’s been disappointing to me that not many people attend the meetings, either of the full commission or the committee meetings.”
“Hopefully this will spark some interest,” he added.
The three commissioners have been busy spreading the word about the meetings throughout the community, including an announcement on the sign at Hunter Elementary School and announcements at some churches in the community, Acuff said, and they are hoping for a good turn out at both meetings.
“I have talked with a number of folks in my neighborhood who have said they are going to come,” Acuff said.