CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Hamilton County leadership had a chance to discuss issues this morning with members of the Tennessee General Assembly.
Numerous topics were brought up at the annual Hamilton County legislative breakfast. Among them, include the Education Scholarship Freedom Act and concerns over traffic, especially along I-24.
Hamilton County Commissioner Joe Graham says that it is important TDOT begins construction soon on the expansion of I-24 between downtown Chattanooga and Lookout Valley.
I left my house at 10 before 8 to get here before 8:30, and got here shortly after 9, and it was because there was a five car pileup on the freeway.
He asked state legislators if there was an update on a potential timeline of that project, as jams continue to cause issues.
Graham said, “It’s not just because of the log jam or cars or traffic. It’s emergency situations. If someone had an emergency situation in Lookout Valley or Lookout Mountain on that side of town, you couldn’t get them to the hospital. You can’t get anywhere that you need to go by car. They would need to fly in a helicopter or whatever. So we desperately need those bridges.”
Senator Bo Watson says that TDOT is still working through complications related to a rail line in that area as they attempt to expand the interstate through there.
He said, ” It’s on our list of objectives, there are a large number of objectives all across the state of Tennessee.”
Meanwhile, the topic of the Education Freedom Scholarship, which gave 20,000 students this school year over 7,000 dollars each to attend private schools was back up for discussion.
Hamilton County Commissioner David Sharpe questioned Sen. Watson, “You mentioned Growth in K-12 education, are you talking about public schools or are you referencing the voucher program?”, to which Sen. Watson disputed the term voucher being used, saying it is a “dog whistle”.
Senator Watson says that there will be 5,000 additional scholarships introduced this upcoming school year, and Governor Bill Lee could introduce legislation to introduce more scholarships.
He said, “Its ability to expand is based on our ability to afford it.”
Hamilton County School superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson said that one item on the legislatures’ agenda he is concerned with is the possibility of standards of teachers being lowered to address a teacher shortage.
Dr. Robertson said, “Lowering the standard for a degree and what it takes to become a teacher should not be considered if it does not come without guardrails.
Hamilton County Health Department Director Rebeka Bohannon also pushed for funding to expand the Birchwood Health Department.
That site provides a general practitioner to that community, as she says Birchwood is a health care desert.
Bohannan says that she is waiting to see if the county could use federal grant dollars to help enhance that location.
She said, “That community desperately needs our help. We are functioning in a very small facility with very limited staff, and again trying to navigate a very complex health care system.”
Bohannon says she plans to apply for those grant funds if awarded to the state of Tennessee at the beginning of next year.
Next year’s Tennessee legislative session begins on January 13.
