BCSO Jail Incidents Net 41% of Insurance Overage

SPORTS: LOCAL NEWS: Mustangs stampede BCHS honors into Region 3-AAA seniors during title game: Page 9 big night: Page 4 163rd YEAR • No. 14 16 PAGES • 50¢ CLEVELAND, TN 37311 THE CITY WITH SPIRIT TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017 Fort Hill private BCSO deputy section owner slams sheriff fined by state in letter read for violations by Dan Rawls By LARRY C. BOWERS [email protected] Adam Beard calls boss The private section of Fort Hill Cemetery, owned by Cleveland’s Joe V. Williams, has ‘dishonest, malicious’ been slapped with a $6,631 civil penalty by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and By BRIAN GRAVES Insurance. [email protected] The violations and action against the A deputy from the Bradley County Cleveland cemetery were listed in a recent Sheriff’s Office, who was fired for insubor- report from TDCI’s Division of Regulatory dination by the previous sheriff, appeared Boards, which recorded actions taken in before the Bradley County Commission April. Monday to air his grievances against Kevin Walters, communications director Sheriff Eric Watson and offer an apology for the department, said the reason this case “on behalf of the sheriff’s office” to came up in April is that it is a continuation Commissioner Dan Rawls for things for a complaint and ruling against Williams Watson said about the commissioner. from more than a year ago. The letter from BCSO Deputy Adam In spring 2016, an order against Williams Beard was read by Rawls at the close of was entered by Joyce Carter-Ball, an admin- Monday’s voting session. istrative law judge with the Tennessee Rawls acknowledged the letter had come Department of State, ruling that Williams did to him from the deputy, noting a previous not fulfill his responsibility to ensure that letter he had presented last year to the the cemetery timely file its registration Commission was anonymous. renewal applications and maintain an unin- “This letter is signed and this deputy is terrupted valid registration status in order to present,” Rawls said. fully operate as a cemetery in accordance Banner photo, BRIAN GRAVES “I want to start off by saying that I sup- with the requirements of the Cemetery Act of ported the elected sheriff of Bradley 2006. BCSO DEPUTY Adam Beard addresses the County Commission following the reading of a letter he wrote alleging Her order also claims Williams did not ful- Sheriff Eric Watson of harassment. See BCSO DEPUTY, Page 13 fill his responsibility in filing an annual report on the cemetery’s Improvement Care Fund, did not ensure timely deposits of all required funds into the trust fund, did not pay all consumer protection fees owed for BCSO jail incidents net 41% of insurance overage pre-need funeral contracts, and did not con- sistently maintain the grounds of the ceme- By BRIAN GRAVES “For the last 10 years, on the Brock noted this was not an insur- is a lower rate with a higher law tery. [email protected] county’s property and casualty and ance policy, as most would recognize enforcement deductible of up to Each of these failures violates the worker’s compensation insurance, it. $10,000. Cemetery Act of 2006. Incidents at the Bradley County has paid into the local government “You are actually members of the “You’ve not had a good year in 10 Following the decision by the administra- Jail over the last decade account for insurance pool $9.1 million and had pool and we ask members to con- years,” Brock said. tive law judge, Williams then appealed direct- 41 percent of the overage paid by the $10.7 million in claims,” Lighter tribute their fair share to the fund,” “Honestly, I think your claims are ly to Tennessee Commissioner of Commerce Local Government Insurance pool, said. “There is a substantial loss Brock said. “Clearly, you guys aren’t normal,” she added. “It’s just that but representatives of the pool said there. On the worker’s comp, it’s 156 doing that.” your contributions are not. Your See FORT HILL, Page 13 the county jail is not alone with its percent loss ratio and on property Brock noted the Sheriff’s Office claims are just historically higher problems. and casualty, it’s a 152 percent com- has 41 percent of all incurred than your contributions. We definite- The Bradley County Commission bined loss ratio.” claims, EMS is at 23 percent, and ly see an increase in jail liability heard a report Monday concerning a Lighter said the option being Fire is at 21 percent in the property claims — that’s across the state. It’s potential rise in its premiums from looked at is a premium increase of and casualty category over the last not just you guys.” Becky Brock and Chris Lighter, who $121,000. Currently, Bradley County 10 years. Commissioners took no action on represent the pool. is paying $1.29 million for coverage. A second option being considered the issue at Monday’s meeting. Commission approves school system budget of $75 million Hawkins Jerger By BRIAN GRAVES of problems.” [email protected] He noted the raises for employees and recognized Cash to speak to the The Bradley County Commission gave Commission. Jerger, Hawkins unanimous approval Monday to the $75 “We appreciate the support of the million budget proposed by the Bradley Commission,” Cash said. “We did have to County School system. look at multiple ways to balance this bond out of jail The budget, with expenditures totaling budget, so we are pleased to present this $73,011,860 versus this past year’s balanced budget.” after local trial $70,963,151, funds 2 per- One of the obstacles cent raises for all salaried “We appreciate the sup- faced by the system this By ALLEN MINCEY Bradley County Schools port of the Commission. We year was a reduction of [email protected] employees, also funds step did have to look at multiple $438,000 in BEP funding raises, and contains more ways to balance this budg- than had been previously Two men who were allegedly conspira- than $1 million worth of et, so we are pleased to anticipated. tors in tampering with evidence and were capital projects. present this balanced budg- Cash explained that major players in the first-degree murder It passed the Bradley et.” amount was taken out of trial of Jody Hughes the last two weeks County Board of Education — Dr. Linda Cash the system’s fund balance saw their first light of day outside the during its regular session to take care of one time county jail last Friday. last week. capital outlay costs which Richard Leroy “R.L.” Jerger and Gus “On behalf of the Education then brought the budget into balance. Roy Hawkins both bonded out on Friday. Committee, I present the education budg- Earlier in the day, the Commission’s ad Each had their bonds reduced to $1,000 et for approval,” said Education hoc committee on rules and procedures which allowed them to post the amounts. Committee Chairman Thomas Crye. “For met to review a policy to retrieve open The duo had been incarcerated at the the second year in a row, [Director of records. Bradley County Justice Center since Banner photo, BRIAN GRAVES Schools Dr. Linda] Cash has presented a The state is requiring public entities to October 2015, following the discovery of balanced budget to the County have a written policy on the books by DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS Dr. Linda Cash reports to the Bradley Commission and, I might add, both years See BOND, Page 13 County Commission on the new budget for the school system. were presented on time which solves a lot See BUDGET, Page 13 AROUND TOWN WEATHER INDEX Courtney Goodwin anxiously Today looks to be sunny, with a high near Classified.....................14-15 Sports............................ 9-11 awaiting the graduation of her 89 degrees. Tonight’s forecast calls for Comics.................................6 daughter Ashlyn Stuman ... Holden Stocks...................................4 mostly clear skies, with a low around 62. Horoscope............................ Rakestraw excited about plans to Wednesday should be sunny, with a high 6 6489076 75112 attend his first NASCAR race ... Obituaries.............................2 TV Schedule.........................7 Curtis Moore still playing a game near 89. Wednesday night should be partly with the power off. cloudy, with a low around 67. Opinion...............................12 Weather................................8 2—Cleveland Daily Banner—Tuesday, May 16, 2017 www.clevelandbanner.com nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Send a message of condo- OBITUARIES lence and view the Pike family (USPS 117-700) guestbook at Periodical Postage Paid at Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 Post Office www.ralphbuckner.com. POSTMASTER: Send Address Changes to: Banner, P.O. Box 3600, Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 Ralph Buckner Funeral Home Published at 1505 25th Street, NW (P.O. Box 3600) To submit an obituary, have the funeral home or cremation and Crematory is in charge of the in Cleveland, TN 37320-3600, daily except Saturday society in charge of arrangements e-mail the information to obitu- arrangements. and Christmas day by Cleveland Newspapers, Inc. [email protected] and fax to 423-614-6529, attention Phone (423) 472-5041. Obits. Ralph Baldwin Joyce Taylor Editor & Publisher General Manager children’s ministry, she worked Member of The Associated Press with The Chesnut Tree and Brenda’s Little Folks Shoppe, two The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for publication of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this newspaper, and also the local news of spontaneous or igin children’s clothing stores.

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