The possible loss of jobs at Greene Valley Developmental Center was the the first question -- and the last -- at the Greene County Partnership's annual legislative luncheon.

The event, held at the Comfort Inn and sponsored by Summers Taylor Inc., attracted about 70 people.

Greene County's legislatiors -- state Sen. Steve Southerland, R-1st, of Morristown; and state representatives David Hawk, R-5th, of Greeneville and Eddie Yokley, D-11th, of Greene County, each spoke briefly and then answered questions.

Greene County General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge Ken Bailey Jr. served as moderator.

Judge Bailey, while waiting for the first question, noted that Greene County's unemployment rate, released on Thursday, is 16.6 percent, "so the loss of 300 jobs at Greene Valley would significantly hurt."

Rep. Hawk, in his opening remarks, quickly noted that the state's budget for fiscal 2010-11 will be smaller than last year's because revenues are down, as is federal funding.

But Hawk wasted no time before saying that, "Right now, we're in fight mode to protect the jobs at Greene Valley Developmental Center (GVDC)."

Hawk noted that he was told at a presentation by the Tennessee Division of Intellectual Disabilities some time ago that GVDC is to be "the last remaining facility for residential clients in that division."

The Arlington Developmental Center in West Tennessee has been closed, and the Clover Bottom Developmental Center in metro Nashville "is going to close," Hawk said, but legislators in Middle Tennessee want to give "a soft landing" to Clover Bottom employees who are facing the loss of their jobs.

He said one way to do that would be to keep Clover Bottom open as long as possible, even though its closing is a condition of the terms of a court order ending a federal lawsuit.

If Clover Bottom does not close in a timely manner, Hawk said, "My fear is that will work to the detriment of Greene Valley."

Hawk said budget documents have been "floated" in the legislature, and "several proposals show reductions in staff at GVDC. I'm opposing that."

Hawk emphasized documents that GVDC employees may have seen calling for staff reductions of 300 or more jobs are only proposals at this point.

Hawk added, "I assure you, we're working as a team," to oppose cuts at GVDC.

When Rep. Yokley agreed, saying, "I assure you, this Greene Valley issue is the top thing on our target."

Yokley pointed out that, in a year when the state is looking for ways to operate with $1 billion less revenue, Greene Valley makes financial sense, because it costs $1,250 per day to care for one client at Clover Bottom, compared to $750 per day at GVDC.

After the meeting, Yokley told the Sun that it currently costs about $850 per day to care for a client at GVDC, but the lower figure is to be required in the new budget.

Sen. Southerland also began his remarks by talking about Greene Valley Developmental Center, noting that a panel appointed by the governor determined some time ago that it would be best for the state to close Clover Bottom and bring patients there to GVDC.

But Southerland pointed out that Clover Bottom and its employees are also represented by legislators, and those legislators will be doing all they can to preserve Clover Bottom jobs.

As Yokley had pointed out, Southerland said, "It only makes sense -- common, financial sense," to close Clover Bottom.

Southerland said Greene County's three legislatgors will work as a team to make that case, and protect jobs at Greene Valley.

The last question of the hour asked what citizens in Greeneville and Greene County can do to prevent job cuts at GVDC.

Hawk said GVDC employees "have already done a lot by working their tails off" to provide the high level of care that ultimately allowed GVDC to be removed from the federal lawsuit that triggered the changes.

"The employees have spoken volumes" by continuing to provide a high level of care for GVDC clients, Hawk said.

But he also encouraged employees and citizens to continue to call his office and the offices of the other legislators.

"Forgive us if we don't always call you back personally, but know it's getting noticed," Hawk said.

Hawk also pointed out that Greene County and East Tennessee is fortunate to have Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, the speaker of the Senate, living just an hour away in Blountville.

Ramsey "has considerable influence," Hawk said, and concerned persons can call the lieutenant governor.

Hawk also noted that House Speaker Kent Williams lives in Elizabethton, and encouraged those concerned also to call him.

Rep. Yokley said one of the conditions of the court order that settled issues involving the Arlington Developmental Centers in West Tennessee called for construction of "million-dollar houses to take care of four people each. I have a problem with that," he said.

Most of those houses are "in $100,000 neighborhoods," Yokley said.

Yokley, who is a member of the legislature's fiscal review committee, which oversees all contracts, said he is in the process of investigating to see if money can be saved on the houses that are still to be built.