County hires first enforcement officer
Warren County now has its first ever Codes and Environmental officer, with the hiring of longtime Warren County nurseryman Tommy Savage to fill the position.
County Executive John Pelham had announced plans last year to hire an individual to enforce codes and regulations already on the books. The Warren County Commission passed two resolutions in February paving the way for the position ‘ one to establish a job description, operational procedures and penalties to be enforced by the officer, and the second to establish the position itself.
Savage, who was chosen from over 60 applicants, said he is pleased to be selected.
‘There were a lot of really good applicants and I feel honored to be chosen,’ said Savage, noting his goals are the same as the majority of local citizens, to improve the appearance of the county, but to use good judgment in doing so.
‘My goals are to work with people with problems out in the county,’ Savage said. ‘And to always use common sense and hard work and honesty.’
Savage says he became interested in the job because he personally believes in the objectives of the position ‘ to make the county more attractive to potential business and industry.
‘When people come into the county, it’s like somebody driving up to your house,’ Savage said. ‘They get a first opinion. And we want our county to look good when they get that first opinion of our community.’
Savage will begin work May 1.
Despite being approved by the County Commission, the position has not been without controversy, with commissioners questioning costs and the amount of authority and legal jurisdiction to enforce the statutes.
Pelham has indicated the statutes have been on the books for some time, and he feels the courts would uphold them, but admitted that has yet to be tested.
Though Pelham presented Savage to the full commission for its approval, Commissioner Terry Bell asked him if it wasn’t ultimately the county executive’s decision.
‘I asked the county attorney if this was really necessary,’ Pelham said, ‘And his response to me was no. But I’ll tell you why I did this, and I’ll kind of use an analogy here. It’s kind of like calling a preacher at a church. If you’re going to call a preacher and he does not have the support of the majority of the church, or the person we’re hiring does not have the support of the majority of this commission, then they’re doomed to fail from the beginning. And I think that’s something that we need to know right from the beginning. I really wanted the full commission to be a part of this.’
Even with all the discussion, there were still some commissioners with concerns, like David Grissom.
‘I’ve had people ask what his duties are going to be,’ Grissom said. ‘And I wasn’t sure how to explain it to them.’
Pelham said the duties, codes and statutes had been presented in the notebook presented at the February meeting to commissioners.
‘ I realize that,’ Grissom said. ‘But people are being really technical and there are concerns and issues. When you say codes people think it’s going to be foundations, house structures and all that.’
Pelham quickly addressed this concern.
‘No sir. No building codes at all at this point,’ Pelham said, noting the officer will simply be enforcing will be the private acts of the county which are available for the public to view at his office.