Commission amends county attorney private act, approves several budget amendments and a $250,000 sanitation truck purchase

Hamblen County commissioners amended the county’s private act to retain the county attorney through the September election and to continue a $1,200 annual retainer while allowing the attorney to receive additional, itemized compensation for legal services. The commission also approved several budget amendments across departments and authorized a $250,000 purchase of a rear-load garbage truck from sanitation fund balance.

During the finance committee’s public comment period multiple residents urged the commission to reject changes to the private act, citing past payments they termed improper. Speakers asked the commission not to alter the statute to accommodate the county attorney. The amendment language presented to the commission states that the office of county attorney “shall be elected by the Hamblen County Commission annually at the September meeting” (amendment to the 1949 private act) and retains a $1,200 annual retainer while allowing itemized additional compensation and expense reimbursement subject to county financial policies.

Commissioners debated historic context and the real-dollar value of the retainer; supporters noted that the $1,200 retainer in the 1960s would equate to a substantially larger value today. Commissioners voted to adopt section 1 (appointment/election language) and section 3 (retainer and itemized compensation language). The motion carried on voice votes recorded in committee.

The committee also approved a set of budget amendments affecting multiple funds: recognition of reimbursement revenue and corresponding expense lines for courtroom security ($1,390), a $4,050 transfer for the Circuit Court clerk from reserves, $210 for Civil Defense volunteer jacket reimbursements, and several other housekeeping amendments. The commission approved moving $6,955 to other facilities maintenance to cover overtime and a $450 planning budget increase to provide a 3% temporary salary increase for a planning secretary. A sheriff’s department budget amendment recognized a state-issued special salary supplement for SROs and the associated employer taxes and retirement costs.

Public Services Director Mike Richardson and Finance Director Amanda Hale presented a request to purchase one rear-load garbage truck that is currently in dealer stock and usable immediately. Richardson described heavy repair costs and vehicle downtime in the county’s sanitation fleet and recommended the purchase from fund balance. Commissioners approved the $250,000 purchase from Fund 116 sanitation.

Votes recorded in committee and moved to the full body were carried as presented; the private act amendment and the sanitation purchase were among the approved items.