A proposal to tighten rules for disposing of public property passed the Bradley County Commission on a 9-4 vote Monday.
The restrictions come after some commissioners said Bradley Sheriff Eric Watson’s office kept them in the dark when he sold the county’s surveillance van and sold numerous cars, a computer and other items without commission permission.
Commissioner Dan Rawls said the rules – which require commission permission to dispose of any asset valued over $500 and require any electronic item have its memory wiped before it’s sold, among other revisions – give county government “a better look at what is disposed of and how it’s disposed of.”
It was Rawls who dug into the February sale of the $130,000 surveillance van to a bail bondsman from Nashville and accused Watson of failing to turn over paperwork in violation of the state’s open records law.
Bradley County Commissioner Charlotte Peak, left, listens as Commissioner Howard Thompson expresses opposition to a proposed adoption of new building codes by the county. His opposition was based on negative feedback received from his constituents, not his own feelings, he said.
Bradley County Commissioner Dan Rawls enumerates points of discussion during a conversation concerning state legislation that proposes to allow utility-based broadband providers to offers services beyond their footprint areas.
“Previous policies were not being followed. This policy will give some teeth to that,” Rawls said.
Commissioners Charlotte Peak and Howard Thompson objected, calling the strictures “micromanaging.”
Peak said she spoke to several department heads who told her they hadn’t heard about the proposed revisions.
“My questions have not been answered satisfactorily. I’d just like to get feedback” before the commission voted on the new rules, she said.
Thompson said the vote would mean more work and paperwork for county department heads.
“You can say what you want to, but you’re just trying to tell them what to do,” he said.
Commissioner Milan Blake, chairman of the finance committee, countered that department heads have had plenty of time to learn about the new policy as it has moved through his committee and the full commission.
Rawls added that if departments don’t follow the rules, “maybe they do need a little micromanaging (so we can) put this thing back in order.”
Rawls, Blake, Terry Cawood, Mike Hughes, Johnny Mull, Louie Alford, Jeff Yarber, Mark Hall and Bill Winters voted for the proposal. Peak, Thompson, Bobby Goins and Robert Rominger voted no. Commissioner Thomas Crye was absent.
Also Monday, commissioners voted to grant a contract to Tri-Con Inc. to build a workhouse at the Bradley County Justice Center. The workhouse will allow selected inmates approved by a judge to serve their time in custody at night but go out to work during the day. Commissioners have said this allows people to atone for their mistakes while keeping their lives, jobs and families intact.
The total cost of the building is estimated at $3.1 million. Plans call for inmates to pay a daily rate to cover the cost of operations.
Commissioners received a briefing on a balanced schools budget presented by Dr. Linda Cash, Bradley County Schools superintendent. She said the schools are still waiting to learn some final funding details from the state and federal governments, but she’s expecting about 100 new students to enroll for the coming year.
During the commissioners’ comment period, Winters and Rawls spoke against a guidance letter from President Barack Obama’s administration directing schools to allow transgender students to use restrooms and changing rooms appropriate to their gender identity.
Winters said communities “used to have standards of what’s right and what’s wrong.” He called the federal reminder “unenforceable” and said community leaders need to stand against orders that go against local standards.
Rawls noted the “guidance” letter is “a directive with a threat of removing funding” from schools under Title IX.
“We at some point have to stand up and say no. Let teachers and principals run our schools; let those clowns go back and do the job they don’t seem to be able to do, ” he said.
Contact staff writer Judy Walton at 423-757-6416 or jwalton@timesfreepress.com.