Oak Ridge Today

Anderson officials develop plan to hire 15 jailers for jail expansion

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Terry Frank

Terry Frank

CLINTON—For now, Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank has dropped her proposal to cut funding for the county law director, and she has worked with the budget director to put together a plan to hire 15 new jailers for a jail expansion that could open in November.

But it’s less than half the number of new jailers requested by Anderson County Sheriff Paul White for the 212-bed expansion of the Anderson County Detention Facility, which could be completed in November.

“They understand the budget constraints,” Frank said of the Sheriff’s Department. “In this tight economy, we’re doing the best we can.” [Read more…]

Anderson commissioners reject budget change for part-time analyst hired by mayor

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Note: This story was updated at 7:15 p.m.

CLINTON—Some Anderson County commissioners weren’t satisfied with the results they’ve seen—or haven’t seen—from a part-time fiscal analyst hired by the county mayor in December.

Some also weren’t happy about the amount paid to the analyst, Tom Shope, and a request to approve a budget change to pay him after the money has already been spent.

So, during a Monday meeting, they declined to transfer $22,740 from one budget code to another to allow Chris Phillips, Anderson County account and budgets director, to pay Shope from a part-time budget code. [Read more…]

Anderson County Commission gives final approval to ‘In God We Trust’

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Note: This story was updated at 2:49 p.m.

CLINTON—After hours of discussion and five meetings, the Anderson County Commission has agreed to place four black granite signs inscribed with the national motto “In God We Trust” in gold letters above each of the four doors at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.

The signs would be paid for by donations. Commission agreed to accept contributions and donations in the Anderson County Budget Director’s Office.

It’s the third time the signs have been considered by the commission since February. They’ve also been considered twice by the Anderson County Operations Committee. Much of the debate among commissioners and residents has focused on the whether the signs should be posted at all—some opponents would like to keep a strict separation between church and state—and whether other mottos such as “E pluribus unum“ and “Liberty and Justice for All” should also be included. [Read more…]

Guest column: Commissioner proposes ‘In God We Trust’ compromise

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Note: This is a copy of letter Anderson County Commissioner Myron Iwanski sent to the county commission and county mayor on Monday.

As discussed at the March County Commission meeting, I ask that a compromise regarding placement of the “In God We Trust” sign on the courthouse be added to the agenda for the April 8 Operations Committee meeting and the April 15 County Commission meeting.

There are several important issues with the sign as approved at the February meeting: [Read more…]

Judges say resigning jail alternatives director made ‘no real attempt’ to work with them

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Mike Baker

Mike Baker (Photo by D. Ray Smith)

Note: This story was updated March 31 to add a link to the judge’s letter.

Mike Baker, the director of Anderson County’s alternatives to jail program, was critical of the judiciary and the county mayor when he announced his resignation last week, saying he didn’t have their support.

This week, though, three Anderson County judges said Baker, whose last day is April 4, had made “no real attempt” to work with them. When Baker started his job about a year ago, they said, he lacked knowledge of Tennessee laws related to prisoner release programs, and he had no relevant experience in the state or Anderson County. [Read more…]

Commission sends ‘In God We Trust’ back to committee for design work

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Anderson County Commission and In God We Trust

Anderson County Commissioner Jerry Creasey, standing, says a proposal to put the national motto on the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton is dividing commissioners, and the county and Oak Ridge. Also pictured from left are commissioners Whitey Hitchcock, Zach Bates, Tracy Wandell, and John Shuey.

CLINTON—Questions about designs were unresolved Monday, and the Anderson County Commission sent a proposal to put the national motto “In God We Trust” on the county courthouse in Clinton back to a committee that has already considered it once.

The Anderson County Operations Committee recommended last week in a 5-3 vote to install black metal signs with white lettering and the national motto above the courthouse’s four entrances.

But the full 16-member commission discussed putting the national motto in granite lettering during a Monday night meeting, among other things.

[Read more…]

Letter: Anderson County not interested in liberal politics

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To the Editor:

The very fact that Commissioner Myron Iwanski is outraged the county mayor would respond (in public) to defamatory comments, made against her (in public) by another county official, I find rather amusing. And, his further attempts to define the narrative by suggesting the mayor should “learn” that divisive D.C. style politics will only serve to further pit and divide, I think makes perfect sense…

For liberals love to preach about being “open-minded”, but to a liberal, this has nothing to do with seriously considering other people’s ideas. To the contrary, liberals define being “open-minded” as agreeing with them.

[Read more…]

Mayor’s speech had ‘false,’ ‘misleading’ information, commissioner says

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Myron Iwanski

Myron Iwanski

Note: This story was updated at 1:40 p.m. Feb. 27.

Anderson County Commissioner Myron Iwanski said the speech given by Mayor Terry Frank on Monday contained some “false and misleading” information.

Frank held a press conference at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton on Monday, saying she had to respond to accusations that she was taking advantage of taxpayers by using a county car and accepting travel payment.

In her speech during the press conference, Frank said the $400 per month that Anderson County Commission Chairman Chuck Fritts has accused her of receiving is not travel money. Instead, it is a salary supplement that was added to the mayor’s salary back in 1988 when David Bolling was county mayor, Frank said.

[Read more…]

Patrick says ‘no’ to other elected offices, Iwanski to chairmanship

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Myron Iwanski

Myron Iwanski

Buzz Patrick

Buzz Patrick

After losing by a wide margin in the Aug. 2 election, Anderson County Commissioner Buzz Patrick on Monday said he has no plans to run for any other elected office.

And the man who beat him, Anderson County Interim Mayor Myron Iwanski, said he is not interested in becoming Anderson County Commission chairman, a position he has held before.

[Read more…]

Frank, Iwanski, Hope win election in Anderson County, Oak Ridge

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Terry Frank

Terry Frank

Business owner Terry Frank, a Clinton Republican, has defeated attorney Warren Gooch, an Oak Ridge Democrat, in the race for Anderson County mayor.

Frank received 7,074 votes, or 58 percent, while Gooch collected 5,032, or 42 percent, according to unofficial results Thursday night.

She will serve a two-year term, completing the unexpired term of former mayor Rex Lynch, who resigned in January 2011.

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Frank, Iwanski, Hope lead in early election returns

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Terry Frank

Terry Frank

Business owner Terry Frank, a Clinton Republican, has an early voting lead over attorney Warren Gooch, an Oak Ridge Democrat, in the race for Anderson County mayor, according to early results posted Thursday evening on the Anderson County Election Commission website.

Results continue to be tabulated, but Frank has been collecting about 56 or 58 percent of the early, absentee, and election day votes, compared to about 42 to 44 percent for Gooch.

Also taking an early lead was City Council candidate Charles J. “Chuck” Hope Jr., who had about 58 percent of the vote around 8:42 p.m., compared to 42 percent for Trina Baughn.

[Read more…]

Iwanski raises slightly more than Patrick

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Myron Iwanski

Myron Iwanski

Buzz Patrick

Buzz Patrick

CLINTON—Anderson County Interim Mayor Myron Iwanski raised slightly more in campaign contributions in the past four months than County Commissioner Buzz Patrick.

Iwanksi raised $7,075 in campaign contributions from April 1 to July 23, and Patrick collected $6,237, according to campaign financial disclosure reports.

Patrick and his wife Laurel loaned the campaign $2,809, making their total receipts higher than Iwanski’s. Iwanski loaned his campaign $1,000.

[Read more…]