To the Editor:
I was angered when I read in the Friday, January 24, edition of the Star that the County Commission had voted to stop pursuing the recovery of the bonus of over $14,000 paid to Planning Director, Chris Schuettler. A bonus that was never approved by the commissioners. How could this happen? Also, I question just what had Mr. Schuettler done to justify consideration of such a large bonus? His job? What about other underpaid county employees? Should the custodian that does an excellent job in keeping the courthouse tidy and clean be considered for a bonus for doing what he was hired to do? What about the county teachers that struggle to pay their bills? Don’t they deserve a bonus also?
Mr. Schuettler was instructed to return these funds back to the county. A request that Mr. Schuettler apparently ignored. That is a glaring case of insubordination by a county employee. At that point, what should have taken place was a simple ultimatum by the county commission, return the funds or be terminated. That did not happen. It seems obvious that Mr. Schuettler must have friends in county government. Is this yet another example of “G.O.B.” politics in Carter County? All taxpayers should be upset at what has taken place with our tax dollars. Someone needs to be held accountable.

J. King
Elizabethton