Proposed Brownsville And Haywood County Merger
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According to Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith, there are three metro governments in Tennessee, and Haywood County is looking to become the fourth. Brownsville, Stanton, and Haywood County governments could all become one. Haywood County commissioners recently signed off on Mayor Smith’s request to look in to consolidating three separate governments in Haywood County. “I think anytime you have one government rather than three governments will be more efficient,” said Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith. Smith said in 1993, the county researched having a metropolitan government, but officials never followed through to combine all three governments. Last month, the county commission approved Mayor Franklin Smith’s proposal to create a study group to look in to the pros and cons of a metro government. The members of the group range from city and county officials, and residents from each area. They can divide in sub-committee to discuss things like taxes, law enforcement, public works, the things that would be consolidated,” said Smith. “We need to know the good, bad, the ugly. There will be controversial components to this, I’m sure, “said Brownsville Mayor Jo Matherne. Some controversy includes what could be cut. According to Mayor Smith, city jobs from Brownsville would be cut, and officials would have to sort out how to handle law enforcement concerning the police department and the sheriff’s departments. Officials said they will not form an opinion until the research is complete. “We need to wait until we see the results are of what will be I’m sure and intense and complete assessment,” said Matherne. If the study group finds a metro government is best for the area, the next step would be to create a charter. Citizens would be able to vote for a representative from their area to create the charter. Mayor Franklin Smith will announce the members appointed for the group Monday.
