Concerned Citizen
I have mixed views on the consolidation of all government functions, but I am in favor of consolidating the city schools with the county system, and consolidating the police, fire departments, and EMS services from them into one central department.
I believe that this would create a more equal standard of eduction for all the children and cut repeated taxes for all of these departments.

Am I for a change in Government? Yes. However, I'm afraid that the term "Metro" in this area will be misinterpreted as the larger one consumes the smaller ones. I for one, prefer keeping several things separate, especially under some of the current circumstances. I suppose my question to those that support the Metro movement is what is the motivation? What do we wish to accomplish by doing this? And, who is it that's pushing for a Metro Government? Are they the current County Elected Officials, because they want a larger Kingdom? That's kind of scarey, don't you think? I think there needs to be a lot of checks and balances in place before something like this were to occur. Imagine the elected officials of this county having control over every part of it, both Maryville and Alcoa. To me that sounds like a nightmare!

There are lots of pros and cons.

And TN Democrat, don't forget who we're dealing with here:

Under a metro government we would be able to have a better handle growth, planning, spending, and county services just to name a few.

Just because "we would be able to have a better handle..." doesn't mean we would. It wouldn't serve every decision maker's purpose to have better planning and handled growth, for example.

"I think it would be a good idea."
-Mahatma Gandhi, when asked what he thought of Western civilization

Commissioner Walker:

A "No" vote does not make you un-progressive. I just wanted to get a reaction from the active members of this site.

I do believe that this is an avenue that the people of Blount County need to look at. As we all know, the sales tax dollar is what drives the county; and it is very obvious that the "twin cities" of Blount are attempting to gather up as much of the revenue as possible. Can you blame them?

Under a metro government we would be able to have a better handle growth, planning, spending, and county services just to name a few.

We may not have two Wal-Marts, 5 of each bank in each city, etc. etc. etc. if we were under a metro style government.

Metro government does have there pros and cons; but by limiting the number of "chiefs" in the county would make way for more progressive movements in the Blount cities and the County as a whole.

I could go on about this. But I would urge you to research the possibilities.

I am curious...does a "No" vote go against being progressive? Not necessarily that your for metro government, but to simply be against it without researching the possibilities?

I'd like to see a Blount County Government that caters to big Corporate Interests, scours at any Social Help programs, privatizes ALL of the Schools & Road Construction, preaches fear of Foreigners, and has over 80% of the County's area covered in concrete and asphalt.

Ask me again in 2010. The hope would be voters will finnish what they started in 2006.

I would give my right eye to get the leadership of the county out of power, but I'm not willing to give up the possibilty of having our government work the way it should.