Bridge Retirement Plan For Sheriff Officers Passes By Slim Margin

The Bridge Plan allowing employees of the sheriff's office to retire earlier with benefits similar to those of Social Security passed in a 5-3 County Commission vote on Wednesday morning.

In favor were Commissioners Sabrena Turner, Warren Mackey, Marty Haynes, Vice Chairman Randy Fairbanks and Chairman Chester Bankston.

Opposed were Commissioners Tim Boyd, Jim Fields and Joe Graham.

Commissioner Greg Beck was absent.

Estimated cost to the county is at least $350,000 per year.

A vote had been scheduled on the measure two weeks earlier, but Sheriff Jim Hammond pulled the item because Chairman Bankston and Commissioner Mackey were absent.

It will allow department personnel to retire at 55 with at least 25 years of service.

Sheriff Jim Hammond said it is difficult for older officers to deal with today's level of violence.

A large number of sheriff employees were at the meeting at the County Courthouse.

Sheriff Hammond said the department has worked for almost five years to get the plan.

It will require the retirement of Chief Deputy Allen Branum, who is 61. He served as sheriff after Billy Long was arrested on federal charges.

During the meeting at the County Courthouse, a large number of sheriff employees occupied the room. Sheriff Jim Hammond said it was difficult for older officers to deal with today's level of violence. He said the department has worked for almost five years to secure the plan.

“Every day when (the officers) come to work, they have to wonder if they will come home to their families,” Sheriff Hammond said.

He acknowledged that though the resolution came with a cost, it allowed officers to receive extra income with dignity.

Commissioner Boyd requested another week to look over the plan. He said it was a “major resolution” that made for a 40-year commitment. He voiced his concern over the fact that it was an unfunded mandate.

“If somebody comes and brings me a cost to the citizens, they need to tell me how they’re going to fund it,” Commissioner Boyd said to Sheriff Hammond. “This is a perk 100 percent funded by the taxpayers…I can’t support the bridge plan.”

Commissioner Mackey rebutted that officers put their lives on the line every day to perform, in his opinion, the most important part of government: protecting the lives of the citizens. He stated he supported the bridge plan.

Commissioner Fields wondered how the county would pay for the bridge plan, saying, “My concern is the funding for this.” He stated he wanted to set up a designated fund, but did not know how. Because he and Commissioner Graham wished the bridge plan to not result in a tax increase for taxpayers, they voted no to the resolution, stating that if a designated fund were created, they would switch their votes to yes.

Before the vote for the plan took place, Commissioner Fields motioned to postpone the resolution until the commission figured out a method for funding. But the motion failed to pass after Commissioner Haynes said the plan would enhance public safety, and Vice Chairman Fairbanks urged, “Today, I beg my commissioners to not put this off any further.”

According to Commissioner Turner, the County Commission would find a way to fund the plan, and so she voted to approve.

Once the resolution passed, the uniformed officers stood and clapped loudly for many seconds before exiting the room. After the cheering subsided, Chief Deputy Branum said the plan aims to retain and attract officers to Hamilton County. He said the Signal Mountain and Soddy Daisy Sheriff’s Departments already have the plan in place, and these are areas the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department competes with for employees.

He said the plan shows support and appreciation for the sheriff’s office deputies.