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Surgoinsville board declines DOT-inspection invoice and hears complaints about maintenance supervision
Summary
After questions about the vendor and staff qualifications, the board voted not to pay a DOT inspection invoice; Alderman Collier also pressed the maintenance supervisor over incomplete work orders, locked doors and smoking in town facilities.
The Surgoinsville Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted unanimously on May 13 not to pay an invoice from MD Road Service & Repair for DOT inspection certification, after members questioned whether services had been provided and whether a statutory certification requirement exists in Tennessee.
Attorney Joe May told the board he had reviewed the cited qualifications (Title 49, Subtitle B, Chapter III, Subchapter B, Part 396) and said he was unable to identify a Tennessee statutory certification that matched the invoice's claim; he noted that online courses exist and said employee Donnie Morrison's 30 years of experience "meets the qualifications." Vice-Mayor Jarnagin moved that the town not render payment because services were not provided; Alderman Hoss seconded the motion and the roll-call vote was unanimous.
Separately during the meeting Alderman Collier questioned Maintenance Supervisor Bobby Hickman about the maintenance department's performance. Collier asked how many work orders had been completed since January; Hickman said none had been completed and said he would start addressing work orders the following day. Collier also asked whether employees used the maintenance garage to work on personal vehicles; Hickman first replied "No," then said his personal truck had been in the garage only during his break. Alderman Sandidge said he had been locked out of the maintenance building earlier. Collier pressed whether any employee smoked in town buildings or vehicles; Hickman admitted he had.
Collier said he had rewatched a prior meeting recording and found contradictions in Hickman's earlier statements, and said he had lost confidence in Hickman's leadership. Mayor Merrell Graham said he would look into the concerns and the board discussed realigning employees.
Maintenance Manager Hickman told the board he had been invited to bring the town's garbage truck to Church Hill Elementary School for a Touch-A-Truck program; board members agreed there were no issues with that request.
The board adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
