A Resolution urging the General Assembly to enact a private act to regulate abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative motor vehicles in Macon County, Tennessee, became a heated discussion among county commissioners and residents of Macon County at the Monday, April 21, meeting of the legislative body.

A resident of the county voiced his concern saying that "you people don't understand that you are here for the people not a personal vote." He also stated that he did not understand why, if he owned his property, someone had the authority to tell him what items could not be placed on his land.

County Executive Glen Donoho said to the resident that this was a place to voice his opinion over the issue, not over the way a commissioner voted.

The resident then responded that he had already spoken to his commissioner and "had gotten no where with him."

Donoho then stated that he did not want to cause anyone any grief over this private act, he just wanted to clean up Macon County.

Donoho then asked Regional Planning Committee Director Hollis McClard to speak on the act. McClard stated that the new zoning laws would be enforced by the planning commission. He also stated that resolution number eleven requested authorization to appoint a board to handle all zoning appeals. According to McClard, this board has three statutory functions: (1) Administrative review of decisions, interpretations and orders of the building inspector or other administrative officer; (2) Decisions on special exceptions defined in the ordinance, interpretation of the zoning map or other "special questions"; (3) Granting of variances pursuant to the statute.

This was also in the form of a resolution to the commissioners. The resolution states that the Macon County Executive and Board of County Commissioners recognizes the state statues allow some flexibility in the administration and enforcement of the zoning regulations through the issuance of variances in cases of exceptional hardship or unusual circumstances. It also states that the Macon County Executive Board of County Commissioners realize that flexibility is achieved by having an ordinance that is well constructed, a professional and cooperative Regional Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals with fair and open minded membership.

Resolution #2, the private act, was adopted by the county commissioners.

The commissioners also heard from County Tax Assessor, Ricky Shoulders. Shoulders proposed what a penny will bring into the county for the 2003-2004 budget year. He said that it would bring approximately $20,600. This would mostly come from personal property taxes due to very little industry having come into the county in 2002. He did report that he felt certain the county would not lose any money from the taxes, however they would not receive more than they received last year.

In committee business before the commissioner they moved to adopt the minutes of the Macon County Joint Economic & Community Development/Industrial Board Committee, Board of Education Building & Overcrowding Committee, Employee Health Insurance Committee, and Salary Study Committee.

Two people were elected as Notaries Publics. They were Januarie Alread and Melanie Tirjan.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Macon County Legislative Body is scheduled for May 5, at 7 p.m.