Rich Kienlen, director of the Bradley County Misdemeanor Probation Department, addresses the Bradley County Commission in this file photo.CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The Bradley County Commission has agreed to return $10,000 from a proposed alternative sentencing workhouse project to the Misdemeanor Probation Department as part of the proposed 2013-14 county budget.
Commissioners voted 9-3 to send back a share of $25,000 the department gave for the proposed workhouse project. Commissioners Mel Griffth and Ed Elkins and Chairman Louie Alford voted no.
Commissioner Jeff Yarber recommended the move after Misdemeanor Probation Director Rich Kienlen asked for $9,300 to fill an officer position in January and give raises to five probation officers.
Those officers hold four-year degrees and earn less than $30,000 a year each after more than seven years of service, Kienlen said.
The $15,000 remaining for the alternative sentencing workhouse is a “good start” for a proposal that likely will cost more than $25,000 in the end, Commissioner Bill Winters said.