School Board member Rhonda Thurman said she was "shocked" when she said she learned that County Commissioner Randy Fairbanks was trying to take credit for a project she and former Commissioner Fred Skillern carried out - fixing up the Sale Creek football field.
Ms. Thurman said, "I have received numerous calls today concerning the football field at Sale Creek. The callers told me that Commissioner Fairbanks and Commissioner Smedley had posted on their Facebook page that Commissioner Fairbanks had been working 6-8 months to get the work done on the Sale Creek football field. Really? So, I think it is time, as they say, for 'Just the facts, Ma'am.' "
Commissioner Fairbanks said he earlier began working on the project through county Public Works Administrator Todd Leamon because he said Sale Creek Principal Tobin Davidson "is like a son" to former Commissioner Skillern and hasn't gotten over Mr. Fairbanks beating him in the last election. He said Mr. Davidson won't talk to him.
Commissioner Fairbanks also said Ms. Thurman "is still mad because I stomped her in the last election and she is freaking out that she is going to lose this one." Ms. Thurman carried out a late write-in campaign against Mr. Fairbanks after he defeated Mr. Skillern in the Republican primary. The longtime District 1 school board member is opposed in this election by Patti Skates, Soddy Daisy vice mayor.
Ms. Thurman said, "I have been in conversation for some time with Mr. Davidson, principal of Sale Creek Middle/High, about Sale Creek's football team having to rent Finley Stadium to play their home games. Not only is it costing the school money for rent, but they do not get gate money because it is too far for the citizens of Sale Creek to travel. Nor do they get any concession money.
"There is also the issue that the team was having to be transported to every game, even their 'home' games. With all of the money having to be spent on rent and transportation and no money coming in, it is almost impossible to build a football program when you have no funds for equipment or uniforms.
"I told Mr. Davidson that I would talk to Mayor Coppinger to see what, if anything, could be done so Sale Creek could play their home games at home so they could start to build up money for their football team. After several conversations with the mayor, I was told the current practice field could be graded to level it out and prepare it for sod, but that the principal would have to make the request and approve the work. So, I called Mr. Davidson to see if he would call the mayor and get the ball rolling. He did and they made the arrangements for the work to begin.
"I called Mr. Davidson a week or so later to see where we were in the process of getting the field graded. He told me the work was underway. I then asked if he would be able to get the sod needed for the field and he told me 'yes' that Sale Creek had discretionary money Commissioner Skillern had given them and he was going to use it to purchase the sod.
"I later talked to Mr. Davidson and he said the field would be ready for sod in about two weeks and he would need help putting it down. I then went to Facebook and
Chattanoogan.com to alert the Sale Creek community that the Sale Creek football team would need their help putting down sod. I told them to watch the school sign for announcements asking for volunteers. I also thanked Mayor Coppinger for getting the grading work done. I thanked Commissioner Skillern for the discretionary money that was being used to purchase the sod and thanked taxpayers for paying for the entire project.
"So now, can you understand my shock when I heard that Commissioners Fairbanks and Smedley posted that Randy Fairbanks had been working on this project for 6-8 months? At no time in any of the conversations I had did anyone mention that they had been coordinating with Commissioner Fairbanks on the Sale Creek football field project.
"Being confused, I called Mayor Coppinger and asked if he had been working with Randy on the football field. He said Randy had mentioned, in passing, doing something with the field many months ago but had never mentioned the football field again or pursued getting the work started. I then called Mr. Davidson (since no work can be done at any school without knowledge and approval from the principal) to see if Commissioner Fairbanks had contacted him about doing work on the ball field. He said he had never spoken with the commissioner. So now, I am really confused. If Commissioner Fairbanks has been working on the Sale Creek football field project for 6-8 months, who has he been working on it with if the two main people he would have to coordinate with had not had any conversations with him?
"Some questions need to be asked of Commissioner Fairbanks: When did you talk with the mayor to get the process started to grade the field? When did you talk with the principal to coordinate with the mayor for a request and approval of the work and the timeline? When did you find out the work was underway? These questions should be easily answered if you had been working on the project for 6-8 months. Another question, how much of your discretionary money have you given to the Sale Creek School or community? The Hamilton County online report 7/1/15 - 6/3/16 says $0.
"If I am incorrect about any of these facts, let me know and I will stand corrected."
Commissioner Fairbanks said County Mayor Coppinger brought up the project to him after a commission meeting 6-8 months ago. He said after he called Principal Davidson twice and did not get a return call, he began working through Mr. Leamon and Sale Creek football coach Ron Cox.
Commissioner Fairbanks said he has gone to numerous meetings at Sale Creek School, though he said Ms. Thurman doesn't go to the schools. He said, "No one ever sees her at the schools."
He said, " I found out about two weeks ago that the project would be started and that HCDE was going to authorize more than just grading to the field. This came from an HCDE administrator."
He also said, "I would encourage everyone to go onto the county website and see where I spend my discretionary funds. There ares two reasons I haven’t spent any of those funds in Sale Creek. One is when the former commissioner was running against me, he emptied roughly $450,000 out of that fund. If I am correct, over $100,000 of that was given to the fire department. I have tried to help some of the other people that were not so fortunate. The second point is I went to both the football coach and softball coach and told them I would help them with their programs as soon as I got my discretionary money, since the former commissioner left me with none. Then we got the word that we couldn’t spend our money on schools. So, I went back to these coaches, who I had promised these funds to, and told them the situation. I then told them I would personally, not with taxpayers funds, help with any needs they had. Since that time, I have donated my personal funds, not taxpayer funds, to both programs. One thing I find interesting. Why is all this money spent and projects done during election time?
"Now, Ms. Thurman, since we are asking questions, I have a few for you. When the softball and football teams were raising money to go to the TSSAA playoffs, how much did you help? Since I have been in office, I have given a college scholarship to a senior at Sale Creek High School each year. I have given one to a Soddy Daisy High School senior each year after my daughter graduated there in 2008. Again personal funds. How much have you given? I have attended various fundraisers for all my schools the last two years. I never see you there. Why?
"I was told a long time ago, if you want to know where someone’s heart is, look at their checkbook. You see, Ms. Thurman, I have been supporting the schools way before I ran for office. I have attended band concerts, ROTC presentations, Christmas programs and have never seen you there. I have been to middle school and elementary promotions and have never seen you there. Have you ever had a student shadow you at work like I did for a Sale Creek senior? On numerous occasions, I have taken treats to the teachers at my schools just to say I appreciate them. Have you ever even told them you appreciate them?
"Ms. Thurman, you have been in office 12 years and I have been in office only two. I don’t think you want to try to match our records on service to this community. By the way, I’m only speaking publicly about these things because of your attacks. I don’t usually go on Facebook or to the media when I do positive things. The reason is I don’t do them for political gain. I do them because that is why I ran for office. To help the citizens of my district.
"One last question: Are you running for the school board, or are you already running for the County Commission again? I guess that is for the citizens of District 1 to decide?"
Commissioner Sabrena Smedley said she was "a little shocked" when she read the comments by Ms. Thurman.
She said she had seen a Facebook post by Commissioner Fairbanks on progress on the field and "how excited he was" and "shared that I was happy for him and Sale Creek."
Commissioner Smedley said, "I don't talk to Rhonda so I was not aware of her role, but I meant no detriment to her. I just thought we should try to talk about the good things sometimes and not always the bad."
Ms. Thurman also said, "Who gets credit for the football field is not the issue. The truth is the issue. No need to go down pig trails, let's stay on the ball field. Commissioner Fairbanks, when did you work out the logistics with the mayor for the work to been done on Sale Creek's ball field? When did you get permission from the principal to begin work on the football field? How did you secure funding for the sod and sprinkler system for the field? The truth is a powerful thing and that is all I want."