Bill Hullander, who takes over next Wednesday as county trustee, said he has laid off four current staff members - including top assistant Dawn Patton and back tax attorney Terry McGhehey.
Mr. Hullander said, "I've put together a fantastic new team, and we will have savings in salary of at least $100,000."
He said the office will no longer have an assistant trustee. Ms. Patton made over $80,000 in that post - the only one of its kind in the state. Ms. Patton had been named to the newly created position in 2002 by Carl Levi after she first was a trustee candidate and then threw her support to him.
Attorney McGhehey, who was paid on a fee basis, earned over $1 million over the last eight years, including more than $190,000 in 2009.
Mr. Hullander said he has hired a fulltime attorney at a salary of $87,500. He will handle the back tax duties performed by attorney McGhehey and will serve the office on other legal matters.
Mr. Hullander said he has chosen Chattanooga attorney James Davey for the position. He said, "He has a lot of real estate experience. He finished in the top 12 percent of his class at UT. He's very intelligent."
Also dismissed from the staff were Lisa Crain and Julie Hawks.
Mr. Hullander said Susan Bedwell, an employee of about 30 years, will be chief deputy.
He said Lisa Brown is moving over from county payroll and will be involved in accounting in the office.
Jackie Ware, who worked under former Trustee Bill Nobles and later was interim Trustee in Meigs County, will also be joining the Hullander team.
Marlie Jones will be moving from the county clerk's office to the trustee's office.
Mr. Hullander said he will be looking at offering extended hours and also at allowing partial property tax payments.
Mr. Hullander, who served 12 years as the District 9 County Commission member, will be sworn in at the Convention Center.