Newly appointed Coffee County Planning Commission members Sammy Anderson and Rodney Duncan recently earned their required first-year Planning Certificate.

Planning trainer, Kevin Chastine, AICP, of Murfreesboro’s Griggs and Maloney, Inc., conducted the course, which was also attended by Coffee County Mayor Judd Matheny, who also earned his certification.

The State of Tennessee requires a minimum of four hours of annual certified instruction, which must also include proof of property rights training. As required by law, a Planning

Commission member must have a certificate of their annual training on file with the Secretary of the Planning Commission for public inspection upon request. Mayor Matheny said, “I want to thank Sammy Anderson and Rodney Duncan for taking the time out of their very busy personal schedules to attend this modernized training. These two individuals can now assist the public, as well as the full County Commission, lawfully when analyzing, planning, zoning, and the most sacred of all–private property rights issues. By taking the training myself, I know better how to choose and recommend new Planning Commission members to the full County Commission for approval in the future during our unprecedented growth.”

A Planning Commission has many more responsibilities than simply reacting to a request for zoning variances or approving subdivision plats. In order to fulfill their mission and be in concert with the State of Tennessee’s Planning and Land Use Guidelines, a Planning Commission has a duty to its citizens and government to actively and regularly plan for growth in all aspects of unincorporated areas. Coordinating with Tullahoma, Manchester, the State of Tennessee, and the Federal Government on projects large and small in every phase is critical. Working closely with existing utilities, such as water lines, for their expansion into underserved areas is of the utmost importance. Having the best talent, certified, trained and proactive, from a cross section of Coffee County’s population is a major priority of Mayor Matheny’s administration.