Several topics were discussed by invited local, state and federal leaders during the annual Legislative Luncheon held Friday at Tusculum University.
LEGISLATIVE LUNCHEON
Around 100 persons were in attendance for the event sponsored by the Greene County Partnership. Partnership President and CEO Jeff Taylor moderated the annual event.
INVITED GUESTS
Invited guests who spoke were Greene County Mayor Kevin Morrison, Tusculum Mayor Alan Corley, State Representative David Hawk, State Senator Steve Southerland and US Congressman John Rose. Greeneville Mayor Cal Doty was unable to attend. Baileyton Mayor Jamie Tilson was also in attendance.
NICKEL PRODUCTION
State Senator Steve Southerland and Congressman John Rose both discussed the possibility of the nickel being produced locally by Artazan. While production of the penny was discontinued due to the cost, both men spoke of the need for production of the nickel, which reportedly cost 13.8 cents to produce. Rose says Artazan can do produce nickels for less than their worth. In the finance services committee on which he serves, Rose says he is pushing to clear the federal bureaucracy and clear the way for Artazan to take over those operations. Southerland says discussion about the nickel production is also scheduled for this week in Nashville in the Commerce Committee on which he serves.
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
The third government shutdown, Rose reports is only a partial shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security. Mayor Morrison, in answer to a question later in the luncheon, said the shutdown has largely frozen reimbursements from the federal government for Hurricane Helene relief for the time being.
TCAT
Development of the Greene Valley site, specifically the TCAT (Tennessee Center for Applied Technology), was discussed by several of those involved in the event.
Tusculum Mayor Alan Corley updated the gathering on construction at the site of the TCAT and Regional Office of the Department of Disability and Aging on the front side of the property and well as the Health Department and Eternal Water on the Edens Road side of the property. As earlier reported, Tusculum has also received a Master Planning grant to finish the development, as well as a TDOT grant for growing concerns with traffic.
