People vote at Burk’s United Methodist Church in Hixson.APPLICANTSApplicants for two open Hamilton County magistrate positions:Christy JindraMarion HiltStephen JonesGalen PickardJeffrey DavisJanella McCantsSamuel QuattrochiPhillip StrangLarry AblesBob DavisSource: Hamilton County Commission
During biannual magistrate interviews last week, one Hamilton County commissioner asked whether the county could cut one of the four magistrate positions to save time and money.
Commissioner Fred Skillern posed the question Thursday to four fellow commissioners, saying that, even though there are times when a magistrate will handle multiple bond hearings in the jail during a night shift, mostly there are only one or two people up for bond consideration.
Commissioners Greg Beck, Joe Graham, Marty Haynes and Chester Bankston did not respond, but Skillern finished by saying the current four-magistrate system could be reduced to three if the 12-hour shifts were reduced to 10 hours.
The magistrates set bonds for recently arrested inmates and sign search warrants when Sessions Court judges are not available. The position is a one-year term, appointed by the commission with an annual salary of $58,000.