Residents ask commissioners for help securing chairs for benefit show and press for school transparency

Several members of the public addressed the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners on June 8, asking for county help and urging greater transparency in the school system.

Billy Pace, who identified himself as the owner of BPMCW, a local nonprofit wrestling group, said his organization plans a June 19 benefit show to honor homicide awareness and other causes and asked the county to help secure about 350 chairs after the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System declined chair use. "We're asking you all to help us send it in the right direction and make it happen," Pace said.

Thomas West said he resigned as Young Republican chair after what he described as threatening text messages from a school board member and urged public attention to what he called the "Vetter" situation; he offered to show the messages to commissioners. His allegation was recorded in public comment and no response or denial from the school board was made on the record at the meeting.

Adam Ellithorpe urged the Commission to demand transparency, accountability and safety from the school system. "Transparency in budgeting is not optional," Ellithorpe said, adding that parents and taxpayers "deserve to know how the funds are being spent."

Chris Lanier said he contacted the school system and a rental company about the chairs and reported that the school system did not agree to rent the chairs and that the rental vendor lacked capacity for the requested pickup window; he said the school’s name may have been used accidentally in requests for donated chairs.

No formal county action was taken during the public comment period; commissioners heard the concerns and moved on to the regular agenda items.