JOHN COFFELT Staff Writer

The Coffee County government is currently seeking to reintroduce to the state for approval, a resolution that will limit it’s liability in homeowner association fees on unused property in the county.

A similar bill was introduced in the Tennessee General Assembly last year, where if passed the House and failed in the Senate.

Potentially, the county is liable for fees to HOAs for fees on property that the county has seized due to delinquent taxes.

The resolution if enacted by the state and passes the County Commission as it did in November of 2022, would delete the section that provides a provision to allow non-governmental entities a vested right to payments from the county.

According to County Trustee John Marchesoni, the ruling by the Tennessee Court of Appeals in 2010, held the county liable to the Lakewood Park Trustees in excess of $200,000 for property that the county does not use.

“This resolution would act as insurance and reduce liability to the county,” Marchesoni said. “We’re just trying to be good stewards of the county’s money.”

The resolution was approved at the Sept. 25 Legislative Committee meeting and will next go before the full commission.

Employee evaluations take shape

An employee evaluation form is currently being developed by county officials to assist department heads to begin annual employee evaluations.

The short questionnaire ascertains if the employee is at, above or below expectations.

County Commissioner Claude Morse, chairman of the Legislative Committee, said that employees ranked below expectations would be required to attend counseling that would show them how to better meet workplace standards.

Most employees would be expected to fall within the meets expectations, while the justification for rating employees above expectations would be required.

Morse said that the document is not yet in its final form, thought it has been addresses at the Legislative and Policies and Procedures committees.

Coffee County Mayor Judd Matheny is reviewing the form and will request feedback from the various department heads.

“This will help settle a lot of problems down the line,” said Policies and Procedure member, Commissioner Terry Hershman. “If you have an employee you need to get rid of, and you have cause to get rid of, this makes it a whole lot simpler.”

According to an early draft of the form, specific areas to be addressed will be attendance, quality of work and politeness in dealing with the pubic and other county employees. A written record of counseling sessions will be required and retained.