JOHN COFFELT Contributor

Coffee County Policies and Procedures Committee discussed a policy during the July 22 meeting addressing the requirements placed on holding the commission’ pro tempore position.

Chairman of Policies and Procedures Terry Hershman said anyone accepting that nomination would, in the event of a catastrophic event, have to immediately take on the role of county mayor, a temporary, but full-time job.

“I feel like they need to know they have to be able to vacate their existing job,” Hershman said.

Hershman suggested that requirement should be explicitly stated for the full commission during appointment process.

Commissioner Tim Morris said the pro tempore would only have to step into the role of mayor in events like sudden death. He said short term absences like a few weeks off for a car crash could likely be dealt with in other ways.

A proposed resolution draft setting out the requirements of the pro tempore initially included a mandate that the commissioner serve at least one term prior to being nominated.

Commissioner Joseph Hodge asked what would happen in the event that an election resulted in a totally new board as has happened in the state. 

“I just don’t want to box ourselves in,” Hodge said.

The matter came to a head following the death of County Mayor Judd Matheny. Interim Mayor Dennis Hunt was commissioner pro tempore. Commissioner Laura Nettles was recently voted to replace the spot vacated by Hunt.

The lack of a line of succession could create a chaotic situation, according to Morris, when the appointment would go before the full commission.

“You can look today at how politics work,” Morris said. “It’s going to be jockeying. Somebody’s going to want it. And they’re going to try to get their buddies to vote for them.”

The matter was returned to Policies and Procedures by the Legislative Committee during a recent meeting. It will then go before the full legislative body.