Attorney pay questions hold up commission

Hamilton County Commission proceedings had to pause briefly Wednesday as commissioners waited to find out just how much the county was paying an attorney under contract.

Commissioners voted unanimously to renew a contract with attorney Wadrick A. Hinton, but County Attorney Rheubin Taylor soon pointed out that the annual pay listed in the resolution, $50,000, was incorrect.

“That was what Mr. Hinton received when he was appointed the last time,” Mr. Taylor said. “It really should be more than that now.”

Several commissioners said they wanted to know what that amount was.

Mr. Taylor and County Finance Administrator Louis Wright spent the next several minutes on the phone, finding out the correct amount as commissioners moved on to other business. Commissioner Larry Henry suggested the resolution be tabled until the next week.

Mr. Wright then said the contractual amount of pay was $51,175 and that Mr. Hinton receives no benefits.

Commissioners accepted that amount and moved on.

Also on Wednesday, commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to reappoint Mr. Taylor as county attorney for four years.

“We’re going to have to talk about this one,” Commissioner Curtis Adams joked before the vote.

OUT ON THE TOWN

A debate sparked in the Chattanooga City Council’s Public Works Committee on Tuesday brought Mayor Ron Littlefield into the mix.

Some council members questioned spending more than $100,000 on public relations for the city’s recycling campaign. Defending the program, Mr. Littlefield told council members that the benefits of the program in educating the public included the popular mascot Rocky the Recycling Raccoon, he said.

Mr. Littlefield said the mascot is popular everywhere.

“Rocky the Raccoon is in almost as many places as Manny Rico,” Mr. Littlefield said.

Mr. Rico is the councilman who heads the Public Works Committee.

praying for Rain to boost liquidity

After three years of drought, TVA reservoirs are at or near normal summer levels this month for the first time since 2006.

TVA President Tom Kilgore says he couldn’t be happier with the recent rains. He estimates the extra water in storage in TVA lakes is worth $300 million in future power generation compared to where TVA was a year ago.

“People at my church are tired of me still praying for rain,” Mr. Kilgore joked last week during a board meeting in Young Harris, Ga. “After all the rain we’ve had, they asked me to quit praying for rain. But I say, ‘No.’”

If rainfall remains at current levels, 2009 could shape up to be the first “normal” year for TVA’s hydroelectric power generation since Mr. Kilgore was picked to be chief executive three years ago.

TAKING CHARGE

As the Public Safety Committee started Tuesday, Councilwoman Pam Ladd, who heads the committee, immediately took charge.

Councilman Manny Rico passed her the gavel and stood up. Ms. Ladd immediately called the committee to order.

“This is the start of the Public Safety Committee and what you all are here for,” Ms. Ladd said.

She then reprimanded Mr. Rico. “Manny Rico, please take a seat, you’re out of order,” she said, jokingly.

Mr. Rico immediately slinked back to his seat.

BOYS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Almost 80 high school students packed into the City Council room Tuesday night for a special presentation of the 2009 Together We Can scholarship recipients.

The city provided more than $150,000 in scholarships to students who had a 2.5 grade point average and whose household makes $33,000 or less, officials said.

During the presentation, Councilman Jack Benson remarked that he counted 78 students, but only seven boys. Scholarship officials told him they receive three times as many applications from girls than boys.

When the group started to leave, Mr. Benson told them to come back with some people who have participated.

“Bring back one or two of your graduates,” Mr. Benson said. “Maybe even a boy.”

forrester to speak at local meeting

Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester will speak Tuesday at the monthly meeting of the Greater Chattanooga Democratic Women’s Club.

Mr. Forrester will discuss the state party’s strategy for the 2010 elections, according to a news release.

The gathering will be at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union hall at 3922 Volunteer Drive at 6 p.m.

For more information, contact Ann Pickering at 423-296-8184.

levi named trustee of the year

Tennessee’s trustees have named Hamilton County Trustee Carl Levi as Trustee of the Year, according to a news release from Mr. Levi’s office.

The Tennessee County Trustees Association voted to award Mr. Levi the distinction, and he was presented the award at the association’s annual meeting last month.