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Commission transfers oversight of juvenile service center to juvenile court judge, creates advisory board
Summary
On second reading the Knox County Commission voted 10-1 to place the East Tennessee Regional Juvenile Service Center under the juvenile court judge's supervision and to create a five-member advisory board with appointments split among judge, mayor and commission.
The Knox County Commission on March 23 approved ordinance O-26-2-101 on second reading, moving control and supervision of the East Tennessee Regional Juvenile Service Center to the Knox County Juvenile Court judge and establishing a five-member advisory board.
Under the ordinance the advisory board will include members appointed by the juvenile court judge, appointments from the mayor's office and one appointment by the commission. Commissioner Jay and others said the structure provides checks and balance among judicial, executive and legislative branches while preserving citizen and service-provider representation.
Commissioner Russell voted against the ordinance, saying he supported judicial oversight but was concerned the advisory-board selection process gave too much appointment power to a single official. "I just don't feel like the judge should be the person selecting the advisory board," he said, adding that he would have preferred more direct commission involvement in appointments.
Commissioners who backed the ordinance said the advisory board is advisory-only and includes seats tied to health, legal and social-service expertise, plus a commission appointee and mayoral selections. The ordinance passed on a recorded vote of 10 in favor and one opposed.
The new governance structure takes effect as provided in the ordinance; county officials said they would implement the advisory-board selection process and coordinate the transition with court and center staff.
