John Coffelt, Editor

A request to add to the October meeting agenda an update on the County Attorney’s investigation into ouster proceedings against a county commissioner was blocked by the County Commission after it failed to garner a majority vote.

An investigative procedure was initiated by the Commission in May against Commissioner Joe Mike Hodge after he was accused of conspiring with the former Administrative Assistant to the Mayor to allegedly remove a box of documents from the Mayor’s Office.

Administrative Assistant Connie Goethe was terminated in April, and then shortly after the Commission moved to investigate Hodge, District Attorney General Craig Northcott went on the record saying that Hodge had not committed any criminal act.    

Following the public release of details related to the situation by the Mayor’s Office in July, no updates have been announced. 

“I’m in the same district as Commissioner Hodge,” Commissioner Tim Brown said during the October meeting. “And I’ve had several phone calls wanting an update on his ouster proceedings.”

Brown’s motion to add the discussion to the agenda failed with eight yes votes and four no votes because it did not receive the 10 votes needed for a majority of the full Commission.

County Mayor Dennis Hunt said that the discussion would require a closed-door executive session with the county attorney.

County Attorney Mark Williams said that there are no ouster proceedings against Hodge, rather the inquiry should be about the investigation.

“There is no proceeding that has been filed against Hodge,” Williams said.

Hunt then directed Williams to refrain from answering Brown’s question into the investigation in the open meeting.

The motion to request an executive session failed with Commissioners Rose Ann Smith, Tim Morris, Sammy Anderson and Tim Stubblefield voting no. Five members were absent: Dowe Jones, Jimmy Hollandsworth, Laura Nettles, Hodge and Frank Watkins. The District 2 seat formerly held by Benton Brown is currently vacant.

The investigation was initiated during the June meeting with 13 yes votes. A motion to remove Hodge from all committees pending the conclusion of the investigation failed.

On June 24, an email was sent by General Northcott to the members of the County Commission requesting that he be added to an upcoming Commission Meeting agenda to discuss the investigation.

In this email, Northcott confirms he was requested by Hunt, Partin and County Attorney Mark Williams to investigate the affair. He said also that his position was completely misrepresented, and he calls into question the motives of those involved.

Tuesday’s meeting was the first meeting of the full legislative body since July.  

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.