County Commission | The Magazine April 2017 | Page 11

FROM THE COVER town hall meeting may have been what put them over the top. “I really think that was the push to get the tax passed,” Calvert said. Facebook Live is no replacement for face-to-face community meetings, but the two work well together, he said. Overall, feedback was positive – even from opponents. “They still appreciated the fact that we did it,” Marsh said. n To find out more about these Brilliant Ideas at Work in Blount County, contact Commissioner Dean Calvert (205-625-6868 // [email protected]) or Administrator Zac Marsh (205-625-6868 x #3234 // [email protected]). Blount County 7,153 Views 123 Shares Blount County’s Town Hall Meeting on Facebook Live 73 Comments 130 Likes 12 Loves 3 Wows 1 Angry >>>View the Video: www.facebook.com/Moving-Blount-County-Forward Continuing the conversation C ommunication strategy was key to the success of the Moving Blount County Forward referendum, and that has sparked another brilliant idea. Commissioner Dean Calvert had stuck his neck out to rally support for the 1-cent sales tax. On election night, as much as he may have wanted to savor the win, his thoughts turned to next steps. “It hit me,” said Calvert, a second-term Republican. “We’ve got to make this work.” Proponents of the tax increase discussed options to increase transparency and accountability, and the “1-cent working for you” campaign was born. At an estimated $1.5 million annually, county roads and bridges are the biggest beneficiaries of the tax increase, and Calvert said questions started coming in immediately about when work would begin. As the construction season cranks up, a large sign at each job site will inform Blount countians exactly which road improvements are made possible by that new cent. “I want to prove to them they’ve made a decision they can be proud of,” Calvert said. COUNTY COMMISSION | 11