News
UCHRA and UCDD Adopts Shared Management Plan
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An agreement designed to better serve the recipients of resources offered by the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency and Upper Cumberland Development District was approved Tuesday during the agencies’ Executive Committee meetings.
A shared management plan was agreed upon by the boards of both agencies. Over time, cost-saving measures outlined in the agreement stand to save the Agency more than $550,000 in costs by consolidating the administrative, finance, and management pools with those of the Upper Cumberland Development District.
Under the agreement, each entity will remain separate and will continue to be controlled by their respective bylaws and governing boards. No programs would be eliminated as a result of entering into the shared services agreement, according to Executive Director Mark Farley.
UCHRA’s Executive Committee and UCDD’s Executive Committee each approved the measure unanimously; solidifying the commitment to ensure each entity continues to serve the needs of the region.
Farley’s vision includes UCHRA shifting more of its focus on county-specific needs and ensuring county offices have the tools and resources necessary to help residents in need.
“I think we need to make the county offices the central focus of UCHRA,” Farley told members of the Agency’s Executive Committee Tuesday. “That’s where the service meets the clients and [the county coordinators] understand the needs of the clients.”
Farley is confident that the alignment will make a positive impact on the region. “Both agencies have dedicated staff, who when given the resources and direction they need, can make a substantial impact on the direction of the region as a whole.”
UCDD took on the management of UCHRA in March 2018. Following Tuesday’s decision, Farley, who has been serving as the interim director of UCHRA, will move into the permanent role of Executive Director for both agencies. Ginger Stout, UCDD’s Finance Director and interim Finance Director for UCHRA, will lead the Finance Department of both agencies as the Finance Director. A Deputy Director of Finance would be added to the finance team serving both entities.
Deputy Directors of each entity were also designated. Rebecca Harris, UCHRA’s Transportation Director,will serve as the Agency’s Deputy Director while Tommy Lee, UCDD’s Director of Economic and Community Development/Local Planning, will serve as the District’s Deputy Director.
Farley says any changes to existing programs would be for the better; providing the opportunity to grow new programs and ensure that there are no gaps in services and that all residents are able to receive the services they need.
“I would like to thank the board members for entrusting me with both agencies. The last several years have been very trying for the Board Members as they juggled their community responsibilities with the obligations of the region. This decision was not made lightly, but with great consideration for the citizens of the Upper Cumberland region. I appreciate the ongoing dedication of our board members who madethis alignment possible.”
To commemorate the occasion, members of UCHRA’s and UCDD’s executive committees signed a resolution recognizing the shared services agreement between the two entities.
Squirrel Season Set to Open; Tennessee’s 2018 Free Hunting Day Is August 25
August 23, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
Tennessee residents are allowed to hunt without a license on Saturday, Aug. 25 which coincides with the opening day of squirrel season.
In addition to the opening of squirrel season, it will be the middle day of the statewide three-day archery private lands only/antlered only deer season. This is the first year for this type of deer season.
Free Hunting Day is an event the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency annually provides in hopes of increasing interest in hunting. Squirrel hunting is one of Tennessee’s oldest and favorite traditions. The day serves as an excellent opportunity for persons to experience the enjoyment of the sport.
The TWRA encourages regular hunters to introduce friends and family members (young and old) to the outdoors sport. It is also an excellent opportunity for persons who have not tried hunting in a while to be reintroduced to the sport.
On Free Hunting Day, state resident hunters are exempt from hunting licenses and WMA permit requirements. Many of the WMAs are open to hunters seeking public access on Aug. 25. Hunters are asked to check the information for particular WMAs in the newly-published 2018-19 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide which is available online at www.tnwildlife.org or copies are available at any TWRA regional office or at most outlets where licenses are sold.
The TWRA offers a reminder that hunter education requirements are not waived for Free Hunting Day. Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1969 is required to have successfully completed a hunter education course. An apprentice license is required for those born on or after Jan. 1, 1969 if the hunter education course has not been completed. This license exempts the hunter from the mandatory hunter education law for one year from the date of purchase, but may only be purchased for up to three consecutive years during the lifetime of the hunter.
Hunters are allowed to harvest up to 10 squirrels a day from the opening day of squirrel season through Feb. 28, 2019 with each hunting day beginning a half-hour before sunrise and ending a half-hour after sunset.
In addition to squirrels, those species that have a year-round season will be open as well. The year-round species include armadillos, beavers, coyotes, groundhogs, and striped skunks.
For the archery, private lands only/antlered only deer season, sportsmen are reminded to ask for permission to hunt on private lands.
For more information about hunting in Tennessee, visit TWRA’s website at www.tnwildlife.org or contact your nearest TWRA regional office.
Katherine Pack Says Thank You DeKalb County
August 22, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
Katherine Pack has been one of the longest serving Circuit Court Clerks in DeKalb County history but her tenure which has spanned sixteen years will be ending next Friday, August 31.
Pack was first elected in 2002 and re-elected without opposition in 2006, 2010, and 2014. She shares the distinction with the late Jack S. Allen and the late Hobson Reynolds as the longest serving circuit court clerks in DeKalb County history dating back to 1838. Allen served from 1910 to 1926 and Reynolds held the office from 1954 to 1970.
A retirement party was held for Katherine last Friday and many family members and friends turned out to say thanks for her service to the county and to wish her well.
“We had a tremendous amount of people to come out and it was a humbling experience for me,” said Katherine.
“I was thankful and glad to see all the judges who came to the retirement party including the retired judges that came back who I haven’t seen in a while. My fellow elected officials were all there too. They have been very supportive of me over the years. We have become very close and I am thankful for their friendship and especially thankful for all they did for me during this retirement time,” she said.
“I had a lot of friends and family who helped in my party. My children were the back bone of it and a lot of my church family and the girls that work here for me helped in the party and I just want to say a special thank you to them. We couldn’t have done it without them. It was truly a success. It was everything I wanted,” Katherine continued.
“I would just like to say thank you to DeKalb County. The people of DeKalb County have been so kind and good to me over the last 16 years that I have been clerk and I just want to say thank you very much to them. I will miss being around the people and the judges and those I see every day here,” added Katherine.
As for her retirement plans, Katherine said “I don’t have a lot of plans right now. I will play it by ear and wait and see what God has in store for me in the next chapter of my life”.
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