Bradley Commissioner Mark Hall tells about getting thrown out of the septic line inspector's office
After the manager of the state septic line inspection office in Cleveland ran a Bradley County commissioner out of his office, the county is again looking at taking over the operation.
Commissioner Terry Caywood said he and Commissioner Mark Hall had gone to the office of Hank Thompson to try to intervene in behalf of a constituent when Commissioner Hall was told to get out.
He said Commissioner Hall was on his cell phone texting that he would be late for lunch when Mr. Thompson accused him of recording the meeting.
Commissioner Hall said the inspection official "is a dangerous individual who is manipulative and vindictive." He said he should be stopped from using Bradley County residents "as his personal pinata."
Commissioner Caywood said Mr. Thompson has a practice of putting certain applications on the bottom of his stack. He said if someone calls and asks how it is coming, it automatically moves back to the bottom.
However, several citizens at the meeting took up for Mr. Thompson, including developer Lonnie Hood, who said he is "a little straight-forward" but helps many people. "I ain't never had a problem with him," he said.
Another developer, who also spoke well of Mr. Thompson, said he is in a jam because he has a house that has all the approvals except the sign-off on the septic lines. He said he found out Monday morning that Mr. Thompson will be out for an extended time.
Realtor Cindy Chase said the office is very understaffed. She said the focus should be getting help for Mr. Thompson.
She said the reason that Mr. Thompson will be gone for the next three months is not for a long vacation, but for medical reasons.
An ad hoc committee will again look into whether the county can do it without putting funds in. Finance Chairman Milan Blake said that is the greatest concern for him.
Commissioner Howard Thompson said the state previously tripled the office charges and "no one griped." He said the county could also go up on the fees.
Chairman Louie Alford cautioned that it is a very specialized job. He said, "You can't find somebody on the street to do it."
Commissioner Charlotte Peak, a developer, said she gets along with Mr. Thompson, and she put most of the blame on the state for not giving him help. She did say at one point she wound up having to spend $14,000 unnecessarily on a sewer issue due to the state.
Vice Chairman Jeff Yarber said much money could be saved by getting rid of many of the attorneys in that state department and paying the top officials, including the commissioner and assistant commissioner, less.
Inspectors from nearby counties are to fill in at the Bradley office while Mr. Thompson is out.