Board adopts mission statement and asks attorney to review Private Act No. 65

The Rutherford County juvenile oversight board voted to adopt mission‑statement language recommended by the county attorney and asked the county attorney and the detention center director to review Private Act No. 65 for required updates.

Dr. McDonald recommended adopting the attorney‑drafted language as the board’s official mission statement, saying the language had been included in the packet and distributed electronically. A board member seconded the motion; the board then voted in favor.

Board members raised concerns that the copy of the private act posted on the website may not reflect recent changes — including the board’s expansion in membership — and that some location and membership details were outdated. The chair warned that if changes to the private act go beyond “language cleanup,” any substantive amendments would require approval by the Tennessee General Assembly.

“According to Rachel, we just thought that we need to do a little language cleanup,” the chair said, and recommended that the county attorney determine whether the changes are ministerial. Dr. McDonald urged the board to ensure the posted version is a direct representation of current practice before making it public.

A separate motion, moved by a board member, directed the county attorney and the director to review Private Act No. 65 and report back if statutory changes are required. That motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

The board did not make substantive edits during the meeting; members agreed to have staff and legal counsel examine the statute’s language and return with recommendations. The board’s actions mean the mission statement will be adopted as written and the county attorney will advise whether legislative action is necessary to update the private act.