OUR COUNTY
D. Gary Davis

Bradley County is very fortunate to have many citizens who dedicate countless hours of time to serve on volunteer boards and committees. Many of you may not realize most county boards are made up of volunteers who receive no compensation for their service.

The Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals are two of those boards. Both meet once a month at a minimum and board members spend time prior to meetings in preparation.

The Planning Commission members are Chairman Tony Young, Vice-Chairman and County Commissioner Mel Griffith, Secretary Lisa Webb, Janie Bishop, Greg Calfee, Tom Crye, Ronald Rogers, Jeanette Schlaeger and Daryl Sneed.

At a recent County Commission meeting I recognized Keith Holloway, who recently stepped down from the Planning Commission, for his 10 years of service. Keith was also an employee of Bradley County and the County Planner for 15 years prior to taking a position with the United States Postal Service. I also recognized County Commissioner Jim Smith for serving eight years on the Planning Commission. Keith and Jim will be missed on the Planning Commission.

The Bradley County Planning Commission has its first meeting on June 2, 1969. The first members were Earl Calfee, Taylor Caywood, Chairman Wayne Feehrer, Marvin Hooper, County Judge Nelom B. Jackson, Dr. Cecil Stanberry and Ralph York. The Planning Commission adopted Bradley County’s first Subdivision Regulation on February 22, 1972. The Planning Commission has been meeting every month since the first meeting in 1969.

The Board of Zoning Appeals members are Chairman Terry McGuire, Paul Banther, Jim Barger, Ray Kerr and Cathy McCracken. The BZA was formed as a result of the County Commission’s adoption of zoning in December of 1998. Terry McGuire and Paul Banther have served since the formation of the board in 1999.

The members of the Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals are appointed by me as the County Mayor and confirmed by the County Commission. In making these appointments, I try to get a cross-section of the citizens of the County. It is important to have professionals who have knowledge to share with other board members, but it is also important to have members with no bias or prior first-hand experience.

I would like to personally thank all of the citizens who serve on boards for the time and effort that they donate to Bradley County. I would also like to encourage anyone who has an interest on serving on a board or committee of the county to please contact my office at 728.7141.