Recent editorials from Tennessee newspapers:
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Jan. 14
The Johnson City Press on filling out the Census form:
Want to pay more taxes? Here’s a surefire way to inspire a hike - ignore your U.S. Census survey.
As Press Staff Writer David Floyd reported in Monday’s edition, Johnson City Manager Pete Peterson estimates that each Washington County resident brings $1,000 per year in state and federal money to local governments by being counted in the U.S. Census.
That’s $1,000 local governments otherwise must either do without or replace from other sources, usually in the form of taxes and fees.
The U.S. Census Bureau says the average Washington County household has 2.3 people. By our math, that means a household’s form is worth $2,300 on average.
Peterson estimated just 86 percent of people in Washington County wound up in the 2010 Census, which cost local governments about $26 million per year. That’s roughly the price of a new elementary school. Think about what could be done with $260 million over the 10-year period between Census counts.
An under-reported Census also would hurt us politically, which has a financial implication, too. The Census determines our representation in the Tennessee General Assembly by population. Peterson correctly noted that this region’s population growth is stale in comparison to other parts of the state.
The Census Bureau reports that Washington County’s population grew just 4.5% between 2010 and 2018 compared to the state’s overall rate of 6.7%. Even more telling is the comparison to the state’s juggernaut, Nashville-Davidson County, which grew 10.9%. One of Nashville’s suburban neighbors, Williamson County, grew a whopping 26.4%.
So we already have a real risk of losing clout in the legislature. Uncounted residents would compound the problem. Clout equals money when it comes to the distribution of state dollars. Such projects as East Tennessee State University’s proposed humanities building hang in the balance.
And if you are concerned about disclosure, by rule, your personal information stays private for 72 years. The Census Bureau cannot publicly release responses in a way that could identify respondents or their households or share your answers with any other government agency.
So when the Census Bureau contacts you this spring with invitation to fill out your survey online, do your wallet and all of us a favor and act.
Online: https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/
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Jan. 12
The Cookeville Herald-Citizen on keeping road workers safe:
In the middle of unseasonably warmer temperatures hitting the Cookeville area for the first few days of 2020, the city is planning numerous road closures for water and sewer projects.
Motorists driving on one of the city’s most heavily traveled streets, Willow Avenue, can expect temporary road closures as soon as Monday during a six-month project to complete water and sewer work on that road before the state transportation department begins paving this summer.
We’d like to remind our readers about the dangers these workers face when they’re digging into our roads to repair and upgrade the water and sewer services we often take for granted.
We encourage drivers not only to obey the hands-free law that went into effect last year in Tennessee, prohibiting motorists from holding a cell phone while driving, but also to pay close attention to road closure and construction signs and instructions from workers who are holding signs and directing traffic.
It’s not an easy job to stand in the middle of a street that thousands of vehicles travel along each day, and that job is made only more difficult when drivers don’t give their full attention to keeping their eyes on the road and being aware of special circumstances that require them to slow down and move over.
After three TDOT workers were killed by passing motorists in 2016, the Tennessee Highway Patrol partnered with TDOT HELP Operators for Operation SOS - Safety on the Smartway, according to the state transportation department.
Fines are now much higher for those who don’t obey the laws and move over for transportation workers and stopped emergency vehicles.
In addition to encouraging drivers to follow the law and giving their full attention to the vehicles they’re operating, we’d also like to encourage our law enforcement agencies to monitor roads where workers are present and issue citations to those who violate the law.
Having to pay a fine for not following a law that’s designed to keep workers safe is far less expensive than the loss of human life.
Online: https://www.crossville-chronicle.com/
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Jan. 9
The Crossville Chronicle on installing functioning CO detectors:
There are families in our community mourning the loss of three people last weekend who are believed to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
While we can say little to comfort these families on their loss, we urge everyone to be vigilant in monitoring your home for this deadly substance.
Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless. It’s produced when you burn fuel in your vehicle, small engines, lanterns, grills, fireplaces and furnaces. The gas can build up indoors and lead to a variety of symptoms, like dizziness, upset stomach, headaches and confusion.
Everyone is at risk for CO poisoning. The Centers for Disease Control estimates more than 400 Americans died from unintentional CO poisoning each year while symptoms send more than 20,000 people to their local emergency room for treatment.
One of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from CO poisoning is to install a CO detector in your home. Keep the batteries fresh, changing them each fall and spring when the time changes and you change the batteries in your smoke detector.
These alarms should be placed somewhere it will wake you up at night and be replaced every five years.
If this alarm sounds, leave your home and call 9-1-1.
Other recommendations from the CDC include having your heating system, water heater and other appliances that use gas, oil or coal served by a qualified technician every year.
Keep your generator, pressure washer or other gasoline-powered engines away from windows, doors and vents. Don’t use a charcoal grill, camp stove or other gasoline or charcoal-burning device indoors or near a window. Don’t let your car idle in your garage, even if the door is open. Don’t burn anything in a non-vented stove or fireplace. Don’t heat your house with a gas oven.
And if you are having symptoms of CO poisoning, seek medical help immediately.
Online: https://www.crossville-chronicle.com/
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