In a packed meeting room last night, the Cumberland County Commission passed a resolution for no consent for a refugee settlement in Cumberland County. The resolution stated Cumberland County is opting out of resettlement of refugees because of economic constraints.

Before the commission voted, citizens took around 30 minutes to address the issue with some being for it and some against.

One told the commission the county needs to take care of the community first and reduce the debt before assisting in paying for refugee resettlement costs. In data submitted to the county commission last night, 14.4 percent of Cumberland Countians live in poverty and just over 4,000 kids in the county qualify for free lunch at school and at last count. Another point raised is half of the resettlement refugees are minors and could stress the schools. Other citizens voiced their concerns of the crime rate rising with the refugees if they were allowed to come into the county.

After those points were made, June Zettlemeyer asked where was the data regarding financial strains to support the resolution. Zettlemeyer told the commission “we have refugees living in Cumberland County now” and asked the commission what is their intentions for them after they have lived here for many years. Zettlemeyer also referred the commission to the 1951 Geneva Convention that defines the rights and obligations of refugees and is consistent with international humanitarian law. Article 26 of the Geneva Convention states a host country shall afford refugees the right to choose their place of residence and to move freely within the state. Zettlemeyer ended her statement with if the resolution is passed by the county commission, it could create a legal liability.

However, one that lives in Cumberland County addressed the commission. She knew what it was like to be a refugee and to relocate to a place to have a future.

Svetlana Petrovic was 24 years old when she left war torn Bosnia with her family to come to the United States. They relocated to Pleasant Hill with nothing. They now are citizens of the United States and own a home in the Holiday Hills area of the county. Her and her husband found jobs at plants in the county and have maintained their employment for over 20 years. Their fourteen month old daughter at the time they left Bosnia graduated from Middle Tennessee State University three years ago and their second daughter attends the college now.

After hearing from several citizens, the commission called for a vote on the resolution. It passed 15 to 1 to not consent to a refugee resettlement with Commissioner Deborah Holbrook voting against.