JASPER, Tenn. – When a representative from the Southeast Human Resource Agency came to the Marion County Commission meeting in November to request the approval of a new court fee to help fund a special advocate program, county leaders tabled the decision to gather more information.
After several meetings on the matter to discuss the details, the matter was considered again at the board’s January meeting.
County Mayor David Jackson said the fee would be $45 added onto cases where a SETHRA court-appointed special advocate, or CASA, was needed.
CASA workers advocate for abused or neglected children within the court system.
Commission Chairman Gene Hargis works for the county sheriff’s department and said it’s something he “deals with a lot.”