by Heather Graf
COLUMBIA, Tenn. - When you hear the term "metro government," your mind probably goes instantly to Nashville. In just a few weeks, though, Maury County could convert to a similar set-up.
It's something that was first talked about more than a decade ago, but didn't have enough support to get the issue on a ballot until now.
"We believe that if you're going to live in a community, it ought to be united. Everyone ought to be working together," said Hoyt Gardner, who is one of several people leading the push to get the meto proposal approved.
It was Maury County commissioner Glen Hasse who fought successfully to give voters the chance to weigh in, and that will happen on the day of the March 6 primary. Hasse won't get to see it happen, though, because he passed away unexpectedly last May.
Supporters like Gardner said Hasse was one of the main reasons they joined the cause.
"It would allow one stop shopping, instead of having to deal with local government in three different places as far as building permits, all the other administrative type things, you'd just have one location to go to," he said.
Several Maury County leaders disagree. County Mayor Jim Bailey, Spring Hill Mayor Michael Dinwiddie, Columbia Mayor Dean Dickey, and Maury County Sheriff Enoch George have all expressed opposition to the idea.
Dinwiddie has taken that opposition to a whole new level.
"I just have a suspicion that people are going to stay home on it, and the entire government could change on just a few hundred votes, and I don't think that's fair," he said.
To prevent that from happening, he's going door-to-door to spread his message. Already, he's delivered flyers to 2,000 homes on the Maury County side of Spring Hill.
"So that our residents are at least notified about it," he said.
He's worried the metro proposal would negatively affect Spring Hill's urban growth boundary, and make it almost impossible for the city to expand.
"We will lose that urban growth boundary," he said. "Also, right now, the government has 22 commissioners. That will shrink to 11 commissioners. I'm really not in favor of having the power held in fewer hands."
Dinwiddie's plan is to put flyers on the door of every single home on the Maury County side of Spring Hill. When he's done there, he'll do the very same thing in Mount Pleasant, to try to get people to the polls.
"The purpose of this is not to hinder Spring Hill," said Gardner. "We want Spring Hill to be a part of this."
Early voting on the issue begins February 15th. The primary is March 6th.
Those for and against have set up websites to help spread their message. You can view them by clicking here:
http://unitemauryvoteyes.com/
http://www.votenotometro.com/
Email: hgraf@newschannel5.com
