Merit board approves KCSO job descriptions, adds civilian supervisor and two coordinator roles to merit system

The Knox County Sheriff's Office Merit Board approved several personnel actions after presentations from KCSO staff.

Captain Steve Webb presented a written position description for a law enforcement fire-investigation detective transferred into the sheriff's office from the Fire Bureau and described duties including liaison work and investigations of fires and hazardous-materials calls; he said two full-time investigators currently hold the classification and that the document on the table listed a "date of last revision was July 2026." When asked about grade and progression, Webb said the position is a detective-grade role that would be bid and filled when eligible employees or external candidates meet requirements. The board moved, seconded, and approved the position by voice vote.

Captain Debbie Rogers asked the board to create a new civilian supervisory position in the civil warrants division to promote one of seven clerks. Rogers said the civil warrants office brings in approximately $2,000,000 a year and needs supervisory capacity. She stated the supervisor would remain a civilian position; the board approved the request by voice vote.

William Purvis, chief of corrections, requested that two existing positions — a substance abuse coordinator and a reentry coordinator — that originated as grant-funded roles be placed under the merit system now that the positions are budgeted. Purvis said one of the two positions is currently filled and both are funded in the budget; the board approved adding them to the merit system by voice vote.

All approvals in the meeting were recorded as voice votes with "aye" responses; specific vote tallies and recorded roll-call votes were not provided in the transcript. After approvals, the chair made brief closing remarks, thanked staff and members, and adjourned the meeting.