If it were up to Hamilton County Commissioner David Sharpe, Hamilton County government would go back to the future.
By that, he means he believes the county hasn’t been complying with what he says is the local government’s constitution, its 1941 Private Act. And to do so, he believes a reorganization of government, including moving many functions of county government under a chief of staff employed by the county commission, would be in order.
Sharpe’s proposed organizational chart, which he says is modeled on the 1941 Private Act as modified by statute and subsequent resolutions of Hamilton County government, would give the 11-member, part-time commission most of the power in carrying out the county government’s day-to-day functions. Under the aforementioned chief of staff would be the accounting and purchasing, human resources, health services, highways and public works, and general services departments.
The accounting and purchasing department also would communicate closely with the county’s financial planning and management, which would remain under the county mayor, whose wings would be severely clipped. The mayor’s office, according to the chart, also would retain management of the county’s railroad authority.
The county attorney, the county risk management staff, its appointed boards, its judicial commissioners, its county auditor and recently created audit committee, and legislative staff also would come under the commissioners. County development, equal employment opportunity, soil conservation, the county medical examiner and Read 20 also would come under the chief of staff.