article in paper today-guess Crosbyites will ruin city too bad, things were just getting to normal.

Coopertown ouster proposed

Mayor Sam Childs presented with petition
ByJimBellis
STAFF WRITER
Coopertown Mayor Sam Childs has been formally asked to resign or defend his one-year tenure in an official ouster procedure.
An ouster petition was hand-delivered to Childs on Friday, Feb. 26 by Springfield attorney Fletcher Long.
The petition demands that Childs be ousted from office by the State Attorney General in compli¬ance with TCA Title 8-47-101 through 108.
Reasons given for an ouster include:
Violation of Civil Rights
Misuse of City funds
Mismanagement of City funds thus bringing the City to the brink of bankruptcy
Verbal abuse of citizens
Police interference
Improper disposition of City property
Dereliction of Duty
Coopertown resident Charles Carney is one of the principals behind the petition to remove Childs. Carney cites the deteriora¬tion in city services as just one of the reasons he believes Cooper-town is jeopardized by the current mayor.
"The police force has gone to nothing," said Carney. "He took it


to four, and now it's just two. Roads are no longer being
looked after, and people feel unsafe. We were not told the truth."
When asked about
his involvement, Carney replied, "Somebody's got to do it."
Carney said that supporters have already begun canvassing Coopertown door-to-door for sig¬natures.
"About 14 are out right now," he said. "We won't be leaving peti¬tions at any business locations because I'd rather not get the busi¬nesses involved. This is more a pri¬vate and residential thing."
Childs was instrumental in the collection of signatures for the ouster procedures of previous mayor, Danny Crosby. In that process, signatures were collected and turned over to District Attor¬ney John Carney (no relation). Charles Carney said they will do the same with the signatures that are collected now.
According to the petition, "Mayor Childs has intentionally, and with malice, violated the civil rights of many citizens of Cooper-

town who are prepared to te to all charges mentioned above He has violated City ordinances, misused City funding, interfered in police activities and misinformed the public, thus causing a loss of confidence in the management of the affairs of the Town of Cooper-town."
Childs said he has no intention of responding to the petition unless signatures are forthcoming.
"I'm just taken back by it," he said. "I can't see a whole lot on it that's even factual, to tell you the truth. Unless there are some sig¬natures, though, I don't intend to do anything with this.
"I've put up with a lot of pain trying to do for the citizens, and if the citizens don't want me in here ... and want to bounce me to the road, fine. I don't have a problem with it.
"I thought I had some skills I could use to try to get us back on a firm foundation, but if they're not happy with what I'm doing, I'll go. I haven't got a problem with it. I really don't. I'd like to know that it's the will of the people, though. If it's the will of the people, I'll pack up in the morning. I won't take me 30 minutes to get out of here.
The full version of the ouster petition can be found on the Robertson County News Web site: www.rctimes.com.

Personally I think the citizens of Coopertown should surrender the charter. Let the county take back control. Then the citizens of Coopertown could unite and direct all their bitching toward the county. Seem to work for years and years under the county control. With all this constant trash talking at least the trash in the dump will be confined to a smaller out of public view area.

The Mayor's Corner
State of the Town Report - March 5, 2010

At the November 4, 2008 election, the voters elected Aldermen Peggy Ruth and Linda Lee, and Mayor Sam Childs. The three of us shared the same vision for the Town and developed and ran on the same platform. In it we promised to do the following:

•stop patrolling the interstate
•return fiscal responsibility to the management of City government
•handle the existing lawsuits and attempt to avoid more
•be transparent in the operation of the Town’s government
•promote development at the I-24/Hwy 49 interstate intersection
•improve our Town’s reputation, and
•keep the trash dump out.
The new administration took office November 17, 2008. Our start was problem filled and in some aspects is still fairly tough. However, your elected representatives are fully committed to our campaign promises.

Stop patrolling the interstate:
This was stopped on November 18th, 2008. Coopertown is no longer writing citations on I-24. However, authority was requested and granted by the State for our officers to assist on the interstate for accidents and other calls from the State Highway Patrol. To date, Coopertown officers have been asked and have responded to such calls about six times.

The speed limits on the back roads that were lowered by the previous administration have not yet been addressed. TDOT has been consulted about the method to be used to evaluate and reset the speed limits on these roads. A State advisor helped establish the original speed limits when Coopertown was first incorporated. To correct all the problems left behind by the past administration takes a priority list and time. It was felt that handling the lawsuits against the Town, stabilizing finances and working to develop the I-24/Hwy 49 properties would take priority over correcting the speed limit issue.

Return fiscal responsibility to the management of City government:
We are still fully committed to this promise and without a City property tax.

When Aldermen Ruth and Lee, and I took office, the financial situation of the Town was worse than we had expected. After the outstanding bills were paid, there was less than $35,000 to carry forward into the new budget year. A viable budget could not be developed or controlled based on the way the financial records were being kept. Receipts and expenses were being double posted and cross charges were the norm instead of the exception. Straightening out the system has taken much more time and effort than anticipated. However, with the development of this year’s budget most of the problems discovered will have been corrected.

Living within our means has not been easy. Defending the Town against lawsuits filed against former Mayor Danny Crosby and the Town of Coopertown has removed close to $100,000 from the budget that could have been spent on roads and police. Many of the financial decisions that had to be made have caused much concern among the elected officials and financial pain for the employees laid off. At one point, revenues and expenses were so close, it appeared that if several of the large lawsuit co-pays ($10,000 each suit) came in at the same time, the Town might not have money enough to cover the bills. As a ‘safety net’ the Board approved obtaining a Line of Credit from our bank to help bridge the gap if necessary. The legal bills did not come in at the same time and they were paid out of the General Fund. Using the Line of Credit never became an issue.

Prior years financial audits contained several major defects. This year, administrative controls are in place and we fully expect a clean audit.

Handle the existing lawsuits and attempt to avoid more:
Seven of the major lawsuits against former Mayor Danny Crosby and the Town that were active when this administration took office have been closed. Four cases were filed by former police officers. Of those, the Town lost one case and the other three were settled. Since the election there have been three additional lawsuits filed against the Town: two by former Alderman Jack Long, Jr. and one by former Mayor Danny Crosby. The Crosby case was settled for $10,000 and the two Long cases are still in court. Due to the number and size of the lawsuits filed against the Town, the co-pay (deductible) to the legal insurance carrier is the highest the carrier can charge without dropping the Town’s coverage. The deductible is $10,000 per case. Lawsuits and the threat of lawsuits have been a tremendous drain on your elected officials (and City Hall employee’s) time and the Town’s money.

Be transparent in the operation of government:
Your elected officials are still fully committed to this promise and conduct all operations of the Town’s government in an open manner. Currently, all meetings are announced in the news paper, on the town website, and posted in other public places a minimum of one week in advance so that interested citizens can make their feelings known to their representatives. All committee meetings and meetings of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen are open to the public. “For the people and by the people” is fully endorsed by your representatives.

Minutes of all meetings are posted on the Town’s website as soon as they are approved. An overhead screen projector was installed so that citizens can be more fully informed during business meetings.

Promote development at the I-24 Interstate exit:
This administration has reestablished a working partnership with Robertson County, Pleasant View and Cheatham County. All four governments came to an agreement with the State on the design, funding and maintenance of the lighting at Exit 24. The lights are scheduled to be installed this fall on the ramps and overpass.

Coopertown has hosted several meetings of the I-24/Hwy 49 property owners. The Town is currently obtaining marketing agreements from the owners so that the Town can help market the property. The Town has contracted with The Shopping Center Group to develop a demographics package to be used as a marketing tool for the properties. Coopertown has joined with the Robertson County Chamber of Commerce to represent the interstate properties later this year at the Las Vegas Developer’s Conference. The Robertson County Director of Economic Development, Rod Kirk, is assisting with this endeavor.

Improve our Town’s reputation:
During the past four or five years Coopertown became labeled as a “speed trap”. Our town was featured on websites like Smoking Gun and the Drudge Report and in newspapers from the Robertson County Times to the London Times. The conclusion of the media and a majority of Coopertown voters: Funding a Town’s budget with speeding tickets was not the right thing to do.

To change this image and to help get the budget under control, the police department was reduced and two community-oriented committees were formed: the Community Development committee and the Police Advisory Committee. The mission of these committees is to help build community spirit and provide citizen feedback on the operation of the Town’s government.

This past Christmas the Community Development Committee sponsored the Town’s float in the Springfield Christmas Parade and shared its booth with the Coopertown PTO. The committee also sponsored a Free Day for Coopertown citizens at Honeysuckle Hill Farm and a Coopertown Beautification Clean-up day. This committee is planning a bicycle safety rodeo for children this spring and a ‘Trail of Tears’ walk later in the year.

To help make up for the reduction in police officers, the Police Advisory Committee sponsored the establishment of Neighborhood Watch programs in several neighborhoods and continually solicits input on needs for police service in subdivisions and other areas of the Town. The theme for the Town’s police department has become: “every officer, every road, every day”.

The police motto is, “To protect and to serve”. Citizen input to the Police Advisory Committee is a mechanism to make this a reality. A focused response to citizen calls can go a long way toward making up for much of what was lost in the department size reduction. When the budget allows, additional police officers may be added. As always, Coopertown is still served by the Robertson County Sheriff’s Department.

Keep the trash dump out:
The people you elected last November have this promise as their primary mission. We believe that if we govern to the best of our ability and are responsive to the needs of the people, there will not be another attempt to unincorporate the Town.

This administration continues to drive forward in accomplishing all its campaign promises.

Sincerely,
Sam Childs, Mayor

Message to the People of Coopertown:

I would like to assure all the citizens of Coopertown, that the accusations contained in the recently received “Sample” ouster petition, are false. I have tried at all times to follow and uphold the laws of the State and Coopertown. I have never knowingly or willfully violated any law and I will not in the future. I am continuing to plan and work for the future of Coopertown, while remembering my campaign pledges to you.

The citizens of Coopertown have been through many hard times politically, but that is nothing compared to the hard economic times we are now experiencing. The City is attempting to do all it can with the money available, without imposing new taxes. That was a pledge I made in the election, and I am keeping it.

While some may not agree with every decision of the Board, there are better ways to make objections known than to start an ouster petition. Coopertown deserves a government that responds to the needs of the people. I challenge the authors of this petition to come and work with us, not against us, to bring Coopertown a better future.

I invite all citizens to come to the Board meetings and to come see us at City Hall. We welcome your input into our decisions.

Sincerely,

Sam Childs