In another wrinkle in their ongoing feud, Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp’s office is accusing County Attorney Rheubin Taylor of notifying the city of Chattanooga about an unpermitted temporary ramp constructed outside the Hamilton County Courthouse.
“This morning, our office confirmed that Dallas Rucker with the city of Chattanooga was notified by Rheubin Taylor that a ramp was being constructed outside the County Courthouse,” Wamp’s chief of staff, Claire McVay, said in an email to Hamilton County commissioners Tuesday afternoon.
“Mayor Wamp thought it was important for all of you to know about this chain of events because it is indicative of the dysfunctional work environment that the county attorney has created not only for the mayor but for the administrators and directors across county government.”
Wamp attempted to fire Taylor on Oct. 14, but the matter has become embroiled in litigation, with the County Commission standing behind Taylor. The ramp dispute has erupted over a temporary ramp structure built as part of a tree lighting ceremony held Friday.
According to McVay, Public Works Director Todd Leamon and Hamilton County Engineer John Agan could have worked together with Taylor to avoid the city-issued letter that resulted from the ramp construction.
“Unfortunately, the letter issued by the city of Chattanooga at Mr. Taylor’s prompting was also leaked to the media,” McVay’s email said. “I found out about the story late Friday afternoon as we were getting ready for the Christmas tree lighting when Joda Thongnopnua, Mayor Kelly’s chief of staff, reached out to let me know that the city did not release the letter to the press and was not behind the story.”
Reached by phone Tuesday, Taylor had no comment.
From the beginning, McVay said, the ramp was intended to be temporary. She also quoted an email that McVay said was sent to Leamon and Agan from Robert Parks, the vice president of operations with T.U. Parks Construction Co.
“Never in a million years did I think we should apply for a permit with the city for a temporary ramp for a function you were having one evening,” Parks wrote. “If I felt like it was needed, I certainly would have reached out myself or asked you.”
Taylor sent an email to Wamp and commissioners Friday, stating he had received the city letter the day earlier.
“In an effort not to be disruptive of this evening’s planned event, and recognizing that the ramp was built to assist persons with physical difficulties in getting on the south lawn of the Courthouse, if nothing else is done to correct whatever deficiencies the city has observed and noted, I would suggest that said ramp be removed as quickly as possible after tonight’s event,” Taylor wrote, underlining the last seven words.
On Thursday, the city’s director of development review and permitting, Dallas Rucker, had sent a letter to Leamon and Agan, stating it had been brought to his attention that a ramp had been constructed to access the south lawn of the Hamilton County Courthouse. He and Chief Building Inspector Cary Newman visited the site after they received information about the ramp.
“We talked with representatives with T.U. Parks Construction Co.,” the letter states. “They were not aware of the permit situation. We also talked with the city of Chattanooga division of transportation that issued the street closure. They were not aware of the ramp construction and no approval for the ramp was granted by their office.
“This letter shall serve as notice that the wood ramp for access to the courthouse lawn was constructed without a building permit,” Rucker continued. “No inspections have been done and no approvals granted. At this time the development review and permitting division gives notice that the ramp has seven days to come into compliance with the Building and Accessibility Codes adopted by the city of Chattanooga or be removed.”
Contact David Floyd at dfloyd@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249. Follow him on Twitter @flavid_doyd.