Russell County magistrates hear strong opposition to sheriff office fee-pooling ordinance

At the Russell County Fiscal Court meeting on Sept. 8, 2025, County Attorney Kevin Shearer read Ordinance 25-08, a proposal to centralize certain sheriff's-office receipts into a county-managed fee pool and to require a purchase-order system for purchases by the sheriff's office. The measure was presented as a first reading and drew immediate opposition from the sheriff and his staff.

Sheriff Randy Polston "expressed his strong opposition" and said he believed the proposal "would be detrimental to his office and the community as a whole," according to the meeting record. Sheriff Office Worker Lisa Whittle also presented a written statement opposing the fee-pooling system.

Magistrate Mickey Garner framed his objections around recent financial reviews. Garner said concerns from a recent fee audit and a COPS grant audit left the sheriff's office in a noncompliance posture and questioned internal spending decisions, pointing to a recent $5-per-hour raise given to road deputies and office staff as an example. Garner and other court members said they would prefer the sheriff manage his own office but argued the sheriff's salary ought to come from the sheriff's budget rather than the county general fund.

The discussion focused on administrative control of fee revenues, audit findings and the limits of county oversight versus the operational independence of the elected sheriff. The ordinance was read for the first time; the record includes discussion and objections but no formal vote on Ordinance 25-08 at the Sept. 8 meeting.

What happens next: Because Ordinance 25-08 was only presented as a first reading, the court did not adopt or reject the measure that day. The proposal may return to a future meeting for additional readings or action.