Metropolitan Government for Sullivan County Tennessee only makes sense.  The county has several duplicate government entities capable of being streamlined.  Here are a few that could be consolidated:

 

º   Five (5) competing governments: Kingsport, Johnson City, Bristol, Bluff City and Sullivan County

º   Four (4) School Systems

º   Six (6) Divisions of Police Protection

º   Three (3) 911 Emergency Dispatchers

º   Four (4) Planning Commissions

º   Six (6) Planning Departments

 

It would be hard to guess the amount of waste this generates because of the overlap of services.  A Metropolitan Government could consolidate all these, making Sullivan County work as one efficient group.  Kingsport is increasing its population through annexation.  Once reaching a bench mark of 50,000, the city has more bargaining power at the private and legislative levels.  As a whole, consolidation will give the entire region three times the menial 50,000 population goal that Kingsport has in mind.

 

Metropolitan Government has been proposed by Sullivan County Commissioners more than once, but Kingsport’s leaders turn down these requests.  There is, however, an option for citizens of Sullivan County to implement this by petition.  The petition will require election of a ten-member commission to form the charter for a new government.  The charter must address how the Government will conduct its business as a whole for Sullivan County.  After formulation of the document, the citizens of Sullivan County will vote to accept or reject the charter.

 

The petition for election of the charter commission members can only be signed by registered voters of Sullivan County*.  Print the petition (see links below) and pass it around to your neighbors for signature or just sign the petition and return it to:

 

ProTNMetro

4128 Fort Henry Drive

Suite D; Box 123

Kingsport, TN  37663

 

 

Electronic signatures are not allowed.  There must be original handwritten signatures in ink along with legible printed names and addresses. 

 

Petition in PDF Format

 

Send any comments or questions to email address ProTNMetro@gmail.com.  

 

 * If you are not registered to vote, you can download the Voter Registration Form (pdf) and mail it to the proper commission address that is in the downloaded file.  After, you receive your voter card, then sign the petition and mail to the above address.  

Registration forms may also be completed by visiting the local county election commission office, Department of Safety (motor vehicles division), Department of Health (WIC program), Department of Human Services, Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Department of Veteran's Affairs, public libraries, county clerk's offices, and register of deeds offices."

 

 Let’s unite our local governments