Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New Trophy's
New trophy room comments
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Classifieds
Trophy Room
New items
New comments
Latest content
Latest updates
Latest reviews
Author list
Series list
Search showcase
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Tennessee Hunting Forums
Deer Hunting Forum
Cheatham Secondary roads to remain closed!!!
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Woody Armor" data-source="post: 4067639" data-attributes="member: 16646"><p>"The retirement date issue is not as clearcut as you might think. State law requires commissioned officers to be retired at the end of the month after their 60th birthday. I don't know if that is why Randy is retiring, or if his is ahead of that date. Anyway, TWRA does not choose the retirement date for anybody. It is either the employee's choice, or is the mandatory deal".</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #FF0000">Seems like I recall having conversations with Randy in passing that he had roughly a year or two left at his position due to the rule that you described above. More of a forced/mandatory deal as you described. If the department knows (which there is no way it cannot know due to the mandatory date in the future if the retirement does not occur before) that a position with this rank is coming up on retirement than that really kind of makes this situation all the more frustrating. That would allow a year(s) worth of planning which, leaves more than adequate time to pave the way for a smooth and organized transition. Perhaps his retire date is a date of his choosing. Only he knows. But knowing Randy's commitment and dedication thru his term at Cheatham, it would seem out of character for him to choose the kick off of hunting season as a departure timeframe. </span></p><p></p><p>"And, TWRA does not have the option of hiring months in advance due to state DHR rules. Since this has been a commissioned officer position, it may mean that it has to wait until the next round of new officer hires where the person can go through the internal TWRA enforcement training and then attend the Basic Law Enforcement training at TLETA. Perhaps they will luck out and have a current officer that is through the training that will want the position. But, it likely won't be approved to hire until after Randy is gone."</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #FF0000">Here is a prime example of administrative gridlock inefficiencies via hard set black and white rules. It seems there can be no flexibility within the agency to adapt and adjust to meet the challenges of major issues, such as something as important as closing the vast majority of a WMA down right before a major season opens. And wouldn't it make far more sense to allow the new officer that will be filling the post the opportunity to overlap with the current commissioned officer in order to allow the transition to be as smooth and cost effective as possible? This seems to be a far more productive use of limited funds versus having to pick up the pieces cold turkey from any ongoing business or current projects of the outgoing officer. With a position of such stature it would only seem fitting.</span></p><p></p><p>"Randy was the only commissioned officer on the area. Without a commissioned presence, it will be up to wildlife officers in surrounding counties to patrol Cheatham as well as their own counties. Since they already have more than they can do on a daily basis out in the county, it makes a lot of sense to me that they will cut down the patrol area a little by closing the secondary roads. Perhaps when they get another commissioned officer out there, they can look at re-opening them."</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #FF0000">With Randy being a commissioned officer, which seems to carry more significance per your description, goes back to my point above. If it is that critical and important of a position, to wait until the previous officer has left the post and to then be in a position where there is insufficient staff to allow just the most basic functions of an entire park would seem to bring to attention the need for a review of the procedures for critical personnel positions. </span></p><p><span style="color: #FF0000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #FF0000">At the very least, it would not seem unreasonable for us hunters to expect that the department would find some flexibility in finding a solution in allowing a major park, such as a WMA, right at the onset of hunting season to remain open. Whether that would be allowing Randy to stay on thru the next 3 months to get thru the transition or finding an acceptable rotation of surrounding officers. You stated: "that they will cut down on the patrol area a LITTLE by closing the secondary roads. The word LITTLE in relation to the secondary road access running throughout Cheatham I think tends to diminish just how much of the park is actual locked out at the moment. Will it be a tougher season trying to keep up with a larger patrol area if Randy is to leave. Yes it will, but we all have times in our careers where we have to put in the extra effort to get thru the challenging times for the overall benefit of the company and to maintain a high level of customer service.</span></p><p><span style="color: #FF0000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #FF0000">I appreciate you addressing the post and trying to shed some light on the inner workings of the department in the matter.</span></p><p><span style="color: #FF0000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #FF0000">Thanks </span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Woody Armor, post: 4067639, member: 16646"] "The retirement date issue is not as clearcut as you might think. State law requires commissioned officers to be retired at the end of the month after their 60th birthday. I don't know if that is why Randy is retiring, or if his is ahead of that date. Anyway, TWRA does not choose the retirement date for anybody. It is either the employee's choice, or is the mandatory deal". [color=#FF0000]Seems like I recall having conversations with Randy in passing that he had roughly a year or two left at his position due to the rule that you described above. More of a forced/mandatory deal as you described. If the department knows (which there is no way it cannot know due to the mandatory date in the future if the retirement does not occur before) that a position with this rank is coming up on retirement than that really kind of makes this situation all the more frustrating. That would allow a year(s) worth of planning which, leaves more than adequate time to pave the way for a smooth and organized transition. Perhaps his retire date is a date of his choosing. Only he knows. But knowing Randy's commitment and dedication thru his term at Cheatham, it would seem out of character for him to choose the kick off of hunting season as a departure timeframe. [/color] "And, TWRA does not have the option of hiring months in advance due to state DHR rules. Since this has been a commissioned officer position, it may mean that it has to wait until the next round of new officer hires where the person can go through the internal TWRA enforcement training and then attend the Basic Law Enforcement training at TLETA. Perhaps they will luck out and have a current officer that is through the training that will want the position. But, it likely won't be approved to hire until after Randy is gone." [color=#FF0000]Here is a prime example of administrative gridlock inefficiencies via hard set black and white rules. It seems there can be no flexibility within the agency to adapt and adjust to meet the challenges of major issues, such as something as important as closing the vast majority of a WMA down right before a major season opens. And wouldn't it make far more sense to allow the new officer that will be filling the post the opportunity to overlap with the current commissioned officer in order to allow the transition to be as smooth and cost effective as possible? This seems to be a far more productive use of limited funds versus having to pick up the pieces cold turkey from any ongoing business or current projects of the outgoing officer. With a position of such stature it would only seem fitting.[/color] "Randy was the only commissioned officer on the area. Without a commissioned presence, it will be up to wildlife officers in surrounding counties to patrol Cheatham as well as their own counties. Since they already have more than they can do on a daily basis out in the county, it makes a lot of sense to me that they will cut down the patrol area a little by closing the secondary roads. Perhaps when they get another commissioned officer out there, they can look at re-opening them." [color=#FF0000]With Randy being a commissioned officer, which seems to carry more significance per your description, goes back to my point above. If it is that critical and important of a position, to wait until the previous officer has left the post and to then be in a position where there is insufficient staff to allow just the most basic functions of an entire park would seem to bring to attention the need for a review of the procedures for critical personnel positions. At the very least, it would not seem unreasonable for us hunters to expect that the department would find some flexibility in finding a solution in allowing a major park, such as a WMA, right at the onset of hunting season to remain open. Whether that would be allowing Randy to stay on thru the next 3 months to get thru the transition or finding an acceptable rotation of surrounding officers. You stated: "that they will cut down on the patrol area a LITTLE by closing the secondary roads. The word LITTLE in relation to the secondary road access running throughout Cheatham I think tends to diminish just how much of the park is actual locked out at the moment. Will it be a tougher season trying to keep up with a larger patrol area if Randy is to leave. Yes it will, but we all have times in our careers where we have to put in the extra effort to get thru the challenging times for the overall benefit of the company and to maintain a high level of customer service. I appreciate you addressing the post and trying to shed some light on the inner workings of the department in the matter. Thanks [/color] [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Tennessee Hunting Forums
Deer Hunting Forum
Cheatham Secondary roads to remain closed!!!
Top