Overton County leaders personally funded a new public recognition display in the County Services Building to help residents identify their local representatives.
Retired County Commissioner Robbie Melton said the display features photographs of the current commissioners to make them more recognizable to the public. Melton said the project aims to encourage citizens to approach their leaders to discuss topics like tax rates or filling vacant positions.
“Well, I wanted it, I guess I was a little selfish, I wanted it for myself so that my grandchildren will know someday that I was a county commissioner and that I served my county,” Robbie Melton said. “Well, I think they’ll be proud to know that their grandmother cared enough about the county to be a commissioner after she retired from her job.”
The project cost approximately $1,200 to complete. Melton said each participating official contributed $48 to cover the expenses of the display.
“I also think that people that take time to serve their county, their community, need to be recognized for their service because it does take time and not only time for your meetings, but people call you at home and want to discuss different subjects and sometimes they feel differently than you do and you have to talk to them and take the time and be not emotional about different subjects so that you can explain your stance,” Robbie Melton said.
Melton said the display is located in the county building where residents frequently visit to pay taxes or purchase wheel tax stickers. Melton said the visibility of the photos helps bridge the gap between different districts within the county.
“Well, sometimes people know who their district commissioner is, but they may not be familiar with all of the commissioners in all of the different districts,” Robbie Melton said. “And this way when they see a commissioner at church or at a ball game, they’ll be able to recognize them from having seen the display in the county building when they go in to pay their taxes or to get their wheel tax sticker.”
Melton said the commission plans to update the display approximately every two years as new representatives are elected. Melton said the group will continue to use personal contributions rather than county funds for future updates.
“No, except we have a lot of hardworking commissioners,” Robbie Melton said. “They do their best to be informed about the different problems that come up in the county and we do our best to be well-informed about what the problems are and how they can be solved.”
Melton said the building has sufficient space to move older displays to the second floor when new ones are installed.
