Questions remain about an action taken by the Johnson County Commission at its September 17 meeting involving former County Commissioner Robert “Jerry” Grindstaff. A poll at the bottom of this article asks Johnson County Residents to weigh in on what best practices should be related to the issues detailed here.
The questions involve three basic issues:
What did the Commission approve? What authority allows it? And what will it cost Johnson County taxpayers?
The Johnson County Line is seeking public records to answer those questions.
What happened September 17?
Information provided to The Johnson County Line indicates that near the end of the September 17 meeting, County Mayor Larry Potter brought before commissioners a proposal involving Grindstaff’s continued work with the Johnson County Planning Commission.
The proposal reportedly included paying Grindstaff $200 per month. Questions have also been raised about whether the arrangement could allow Grindstaff to remain eligible for county health insurance.
Commissioners reportedly approved the proposal unanimously.
However, the September meeting minutes have not yet been posted on the county’s public-records page. The Johnson County Line is seeking the official motion or resolution and minutes so we can determine exactly what commissioners approved. The county’s website does confirm that a County Commission meeting was held September 17 and lists the September agenda packet. (Johnsoncountytn (https://www.johnsoncountytn.gov/current-public-records))
Until the actual resolution or motion is available, we are not reporting that the Commission approved any particular insurance arrangement as an established fact.
The proposal was not specifically listed on the agenda
Another question involves how the matter came before commissioners.
The proposal was reportedly introduced near the end of the meeting rather than being specifically identified on the published agenda.
Johnson County agendas routinely include broad language allowing other matters to come before the Commission. But Tennessee law now requires local government legislative bodies to publish an agenda at least 48 hours before a regular meeting, and that agenda must reasonably describe matters expected to be discussed or acted upon. (Tennessee State Government (https://www.tn.gov/commerce/e911/training-resources/tena/open-meetings.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
State law does allow commissioners to consider something that was not listed on the agenda, but they must follow their bylaws or properly adopted rules and procedures and comply with other applicable state law. The law also prohibits intentionally withholding an item from an agenda to avoid public disclosure. (Tennessee General Assembly (https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=HB2934&ga=113&utm_source=chatgpt.com))
That leaves a simple question:
What Johnson County rule or procedure was followed before commissioners considered and voted on the Grindstaff proposal?
We have been unable to locate the Commission’s current rules of procedure or agenda rules online. We are requesting them.
The public had already had its opportunity to speak
Johnson County provides public comment near the beginning of its County Commission meetings.
If the Grindstaff proposal was not specifically identified beforehand and was introduced near the end of the meeting, citizens would not have known during the earlier public-comment period that commissioners would be considering that particular matter.
That does not, by itself, establish that the Commission violated Tennessee’s Open Meetings Act. It does raise a transparency question about how significant unlisted matters are brought before the Commission.
Who made Grindstaff Planning Commission chairman?
There is another separate issue involving Grindstaff’s role on the Johnson County Planning Commission.
The county’s current committee listing identifies Grindstaff as a member of the Planning Commission. It does not identify him as chairman. (Johnsoncountytn (https://www.johnsoncountytn.gov/county-committees?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Under Tennessee law, the Planning Commission elects its own chair from among its appointed members. The chair serves a one-year term and may be reelected.
That means neither the County Mayor nor County Commission simply selects the Planning Commission chairman.
The Johnson County Line is seeking the minutes showing when Grindstaff was most recently elected chairman, the vote and the dates of that one-year term.
We are also seeking Grindstaff’s current Planning Commission appointment records to determine when he was appointed or reappointed, the length of his current term and the capacity in which he currently serves.
What is the $200 payment for?
We also want a clear answer about the proposed $200 monthly payment.
Is it compensation for Planning Commission service?
Is it payment as a part-time county employee?
Is it reimbursement for travel or mileage?
Or is it something else?
At $200 per month, the payment itself would total $2,400 per year.
But the larger financial question is whether that payment or employment classification is connected in any way to eligibility for county health insurance.
What about the insurance?
The Johnson County Line is seeking the county policy or plan provision that would determine whether Grindstaff is eligible to continue receiving county health-insurance benefits after leaving the County Commission.
We are not seeking Grindstaff’s private medical information.
We are seeking information about the use of public money: the eligibility category, the applicable county policy, and the amount Johnson County taxpayers would pay.
If Grindstaff qualifies as a retired official, grandfathered participant, part-time employee or under some other category, the county should be able to identify the policy or legal authority that establishes that eligibility.
What records are we requesting?
The Johnson County Line is seeking the September 17 motion or resolution and vote; the meeting minutes; Grindstaff’s current Planning Commission appointment and term records; the record of his most recent election as Planning Commission chairman; the Commission’s rules for considering matters not specifically listed on an agenda; documentation explaining the $200 monthly payment; any employment classification or job description associated with the arrangement; the applicable health-insurance eligibility policy; and the county’s cost for any insurance coverage involved.
The county’s public-records page says the County Clerk is responsible for recording County Commission minutes, publishing agendas and providing public notice. (Johnsoncountytn (https://www.johnsoncountytn.gov/current-public-records))
The bottom line
This is not a question about whether Jerry Grindstaff deserves health insurance or whether his years of public service are valued.
It is a question about public process and public money.
What exactly did the Johnson County Commission approve on September 17?
What law or county policy authorizes it?
Was the proper procedure followed when the matter was brought before commissioners?
And if Johnson County taxpayers will pay both compensation and health-insurance costs under the arrangement, what is the total cost?
The Johnson County Line will continue seeking the public records needed to answer those questions and will update this report as those records become available.
Good reporting and in depth information. Well appreciated.
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