Discussions at this morning’s fiscal court meeting turned heated between Russell County Sheriff Derek Polston and 2nd District Magistrate Mickey Garner.
After the first reading of an ordinance that would transition the sheriff’s office to a fee pooling system, Polston read a prepared statement expressing his opposition to the proposed ordinance. Polston called the move an overreach by the fiscal court.
Under a fee pooling system, all revenues generated by the sheriff’s office are turned over to the county treasurer who pays expenses and invoices for the sheriff’s office upon approval by the fiscal court.
Lisa Whittle, a long-time front office employee with the sheriff’s office, also read a statement expressing opposition to the ordinance.
Garner pushed back and said the fee pooling ordinance was about ensuring the county meets its budget if the county opts in to hazardous duty retirement for deputies.
Just a short time later, a heated discussion began between Polston and Garner after Garner questioned Polston about recent raises provided to deputies.
Polston said Adair County and Taylor County have been offering higher salaries, which led to the decision to provide the raises.
At one point, Polston accused Garner of openly campaigning against him for next year’s primary election.
The tense discussions continued for about another 30 minutes, but ultimately, Polston requested that he and the staff of the sheriff’s office meet with Judge Executive Randy Marcum to discuss some alternatives to fee pooling and would result in sheriff’s deputies receiving hazardous duty retirement.
One of those alternatives involved Polston’s salary, which is currently paid by the fiscal court, being transferred to the sheriff’s budget. Polston said he’d like to have a meeting to discuss which arrangement would be better for the office moving forward.
Meetings on the issue are expected to occur in the coming weeks. Barring a special-called meeting being called, the fiscal court will meet again on Monday, October 13.
