Hamilton County officially established its own compliance division after nearly a year of back and forth about how the county could tighten up oversight of its adherence to laws and regulations.
The division will be overseen by the county attorney, currently Janie Varnell, and add a compliance officer position, as well as reorganize a couple of existing positions so they work in the division rather than separate roles across other departments.
After an August report by independent law firm Baker Donelson showed areas where the county could improve compliance oversight, Commissioner Jeff Eversole, R-Ooltewah, spearheaded an effort to create some kind of compliance office, board or committee.
Before this resolution, county compliance officers were scattered across different departments, Eversole said.
“It’s pulling it under one umbrella so that way you have one gatekeeper for compliance,” Eversole said.