After legal and logistical concerns prompted the Hamilton County Commission on Wednesday to postpone a vote replacing the county attorney until Jan. 8, the commission shifted and moved its decision up by five days.
Commission Chairman Jeff Eversole, R-Ooltewah, said by phone that private practice attorney Janie Varnell, County Mayor Weston Wamp’s pick to succeed longtime county attorney Rheubin Taylor, asked him to reschedule the meeting to avoid a conflict with one of her upcoming court dates. The commission is now scheduled to hold a recessed meeting at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 3.
Eversole said he called a meeting after speaking with Wamp. Commissioners are now set to vote on a proposal that would see Varnell transition into the county attorney role over a months-long period, while Taylor would stay on with the office from June 30, when his contract with the county lapses, until the end of 2025.
The language commissioners would vote on during the Jan. 3 meeting was not yet available, Eversole said Friday afternoon.