July 23, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
Getting some things off his chest!
During Monday night’s monthly county commission meeting, First District Commissioner Tom Chandler expressed his frustrations in the wake of the successful petition drive which has thwarted, at least for now, the county moving forward on issuing bonds to borrow up to $65 million for a jail/judicial center.
While Chandler said he supports the public having a voice, he believes many of the 2,500 who signed the petition may have been misinformed by some who circulated it and questioned why more of those people, if they have concerns, don’t show up at county commission meetings to express their views and learn more.
“I expected the commission meeting in June to be standing room only. A packed house. It wasn’t. Not even close. When they asked for comments from the public just three people came forward to comment on the tax increase. Yet last month’s commission meeting and budget vote was probably the most important in the last 25 years by far. Those meetings were all publicized. Where were the 2,500 who signed the petition” asked Commissioner Chandler.
Chandler also doesn’t like the way the local media, WJLE and the Smithville Review, covered the story of the petition drive calling it “less than unbiased” and further claimed the press was “crucifying” County Mayor Matt Adcock for being a “messenger” to the county commission on the jail issue. Chandler commended Adcock for his tie breaking votes last month to increase the property tax levy for debt service as well as the bond resolution for the jail/judicial center saying it was the “right thing to do”.
When the petition was turned over to the county clerk earlier this month, the media spoke with and made photos of County Commissioner Beth Pafford and Dennis Stanley, volunteers of the petition drive. Jon Slager, DeKalb County native and Lascassas resident and attorney, who assisted in organizing the petition drive also issued a prepared statement. Chandler criticized WJLE and the Smithville Review for not contacting other county commissioners for comment. WJLE did seek a statement on the petition filing from County Mayor Matt Adcock, who is also chairman of the county commission, but he declined to make a comment at that time.
“The best thing you had in your coverage of the petition drive was a comment from Dennis Stanley that the public should have the right to express its vote on the $65 million bond issue. I pointed that out in our last commission meeting and so did Beth Pafford. However, you also should have noted that the public signatures and votes should be based on logic, facts, and an understanding of the situation DeKalb County and this commission finds itself in and not on emotion, misinformation, intimidation, half-truths, just plain lies, or personalities, all of which I believe were exhibited during the petition drive. Some apparently were told that they would not have to pay the tax increase if they signed the petition, and the bond issue was defeated in November. This is not true. I note that both WJLE and the Smithville Review pointed this out in their articles, “said Chandler.
Commissioner Chandler said he still believes a judicial center is the best option in solving the county’s jail/courtroom issues and further delays may result in the Tennessee Corrections Institute decertifying the remaining 52 beds at the existing jail, putting the county at greater liability risk.
“When we started looking at the big picture it became apparent very quickly that the justice center housing both the jail and the criminal court facilities was the correct and cheapest way to go, and we have reaffirmed that multiple times over the last year. The justice center is still the correct solution and its still our plan,” said Chandler.
“I challenge the public, especially those who promoted and signed the bond petition to come forward with any viable, well thought out and financially sound solutions the county commission has not considered for a justice center and or dealing with the issues in the jail or at the courthouse. Who knows? Maybe we missed something over the last 18 months and countless meetings and discussions we have had on this matter. But please if you are going to do that, do your homework. Bring us something substantial and not band aids and musical chairs,” added Chandler.
Meanwhile Commissioner Pafford said she believes the county should take another look at possibly addressing a jail only model at the existing site without a judicial center, relocating offices currently in use at the courthouse to available space at the county complex, and making better use of the courthouse only for judicial purposes.
Commissioner Tony Luna said while an unfinished room at the complex could be finished to possibly relocate the election commission and veteran’s service offices, there might not be enough adequate space at the county complex for other courthouse offices.
Commissioner Chandler added that relocating offices from the courthouse to the county complex would not solve overcrowding and lack of space issues on court days.
Commissioner Pafford suggested that the judges might be persuaded to work with the county in better scheduling court cases to help address some of those concerns.
Pafford asked County Mayor Adcock what the next step is on the referendum now that the election commission has certified the petition.
Adcock said the county commission at the August 26 meeting will either entertain a resolution calling for a referendum on the November election ballot or let the bond resolution die.
In other business, the commission voted to dissolve the jail committee which was made up of the entire 14 members of the county commission to make recommendations to the full commission on jail/judicial center issues.
Commissioner Tony Luna moved that the seven-member public works committee take over from the jail committee to discuss issues and make recommendations concerning the jail which was already part of its duties anyway.