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By Robert Sorrell

Star Correspondent

During a meeting packed with resolutions to fund Hurricane Helene disaster recovery efforts, Carter County’s attorney also informed commissioners that he found no cause to seek the mayor’s removal.

In January, county resident James Byrd presented County Attorney Josh Hardin with a petition to remove County Mayor Patty Woodby from office. Woodby has been criticized during the commission’s public comment periods and on social media for her handling of the hurricane response and the recent firing of Billy Harrell, who served as the emergency management director.

Byrd said those who signed the petition had no confidence in Woodby.

Hardin provided an update on Tuesday and said he did not find reasonable cause to initiate an ouster proceeding. The attorney said he explained his reasoning in a letter that he sent to Byrd. He said he would also share the letter with commissioners.

According to state code and the state attorney general’s office, county officials may be ousted for several reasons, including knowing or willful misconduct in office; knowing or willful neglect of duties required by law; voluntary intoxication in a public place; engaging in illegal gambling; or committing any act violating any penal statute involving moral turpitude.

Ouster proceedings may be instituted by the county attorney, either on their own initiative or after a complaint has been made, according to the attorney general’s office.

Earlier in the meeting, as Chairwoman Ginger Holdren sought the approval of the meeting’s minutes, Commissioner Leslie Hughes made a motion to limit public comments to agenda items. After a lengthy discussion on the law and several commissioners saying they wanted to give the public an opportunity to speak, Hughes’ motion failed to pass.

Resident Melissa Street was the first to speak during the public comment session.

“I wasn’t going to get up here and speak, but when y’all try to take that right tonight away, I said, ‘I’m going to be the first one,’” Street said.

She also said if commissioners were to answer phone calls, emails or text messages from citizens, they would not have to speak during public comment.

Another resident, Chris Little, said, “It sickens me to see some of you vote that we cannot speak.”

Several other citizens, including Byrd and Lawrence Street, also shared their concerns about the effort to limit public comments to agenda items. Byrd also shared financial information about Schaus LLC, the consultant firm hired by Carter County to assist with FEMA funding.

A majority of the approximately 40-item agenda was related to hurricane recovery efforts, including a plan to hold an additional meeting on the first Thursday of each month for the consideration of emergency spending. That motion passed.

Commissioners Angie Odom, Gary Kemp and Nick Holder were the only ones to vote against a motion to approve an additional $300,000 from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Helene Emergency Assistance Loan Program. The HEAL program provides funding for debris removal. Tuesday’s motion adds to a loan already approved by the commission.

Another motion passed to approve purchase orders for the Carter County Highway Department for a total of $130,000 to be paid from the Helene Disaster Expense line, according to the agenda. The contractors in the motion include Maymead, Martin Marietta, Ferguson, and Summers & Taylor.

The commission also approved a motion to pay $240,188 to Hinkle Environmental Services LLC for road repairs for Bluegrass Road and Bear Branch Road.

Commissioners approved two motions regarding funding for Schaus LLC, the consultant firm the county hired to assist with FEMA funding. One motion approved $300,000 for ongoing services.

Funding requests for temporary bridges in Poga were also approved. The county will eventually own the bridges.