Franklin BOC Meets Tonight for Unexplained Called Session

Franklin County Commissioners will meet tonight for a special called session.

No agenda was sent to the media on exactly what will be discussed or announced tonight, but sources tell WLHR News the session is likely to either discuss the hiring of a new county clerk or announce one has been chosen.

Current county clerk Laverne Hilley is retiring at the end of June.

At their work session last month, the board decided a special subcommittee would work with the commissioners to interview and hire a new county clerk.

County commission chair Thomas Bridges suggested a two-fold approach that includes a five-member subcommittee working in conjunction with the board.

 “I’m going to recommend the subcommittee consist of five people,” Bridges said. “Their duties would be to go through the list of applications and narrow down the candidates for the board of commissioners to consider and interview and I would also ask the board of commissioners to do the same thing.”

The subcommittee, Bridges said, would be made up of himself, along with county manager Billy Morse, county CPA Joe Kitchens, County Probate Judge Ken Eavenson, and one commissioner.

Bridges noted the clerk will have to be able to work with several departments, especially the county CPA on the annual audit and having a subcommittee would allow those heads input.

He then asked if Harper would be interested in being on the subcommittee and Harper agreed.

Commissioner Jeff Jacques added a salary range should also be established, noting that surrounding counties pay their county clerks less than Franklin County.

Franklin County pays their clerk $45,000 a year and Jacques said the board should consider lowering that.  So far, there’s been no word on whether the board plans to do that.

Tonight’s meeting takes place at 6p at the Justice Center in Carnesville.