FWM Committee discusses Weakley County Sheriff’s Department

story by Senior Investigative Reporter Shannon Taylor

The Weakley County Finance, Ways and Means Committee met Nov. 17 to discuss multiple resolutions, including drug fund money from the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department, WCSD surplus items and an update on the Weakley County Detention Center.

Resolution 2023-15 referred to additional money from the drug court grant they are receiving and allocating. It was passed unanimously by the board.

Resolution 2023-17, a resolution that refers to money the WCSD already had and its being moved around. Sheriff Terry McDade said that he has a new jail administrator and a new Chief Deputy, and that the Chief Deputy was also still somewhat overseeing the jail, so McDade lessened the amount of money for the jail administrator and took that money and moved it over to the Chief Deputy position. “It was $2,500 that went to the Chief Deputy’s position and $500 I added to the jail accountant’s salary because she is one of the lowest paid people that I have. I used to have two Captains, but I now have a Captain and a Lieutenant and there was $1400 left in between that salary that would be there no more, so I gave my two administrative Captains $500 apiece with that money.” The resolution was passed unanimously.

Resolution 2023-19 was discussed by Weakley County Mayor Jake Bynum who stated that the resolution referred to the former property assessor David Tuck who was supposed to receive a $750 educational incentive, but that Tuck didn’t realize he hadn’t received that incentive but that it was due him, so the board approved appropriating the funds into the property assessor’s budget so that Tuck could be paid.

Resolution 2023-20 was discussed, and McDade explained that the money was drug fund money that would be used for changing the duty weapons. “Normally departments change every five years because of wear and tear on the guns and these are seven and a half years old. We carry the biggest Glock there is, the Glock 41, I got a lot of people that have smaller hands, and it makes them inaccurate. When we purchased this, one person is who wanted them and that’s why we ended up getting them but there’s several issues that are in there.” McDade said the quote they had was for $24,414 and that included everything but the ammunition. The surplus guns the WCSD has were traded in to lessen the cost. McDade said that the cost was originally close to $40,000. The resolution was amended by the board to include ammo and it passed unanimously.

The WCDC update was for informational purposes only, but Bynum said it was moving along, just not as fast as they had hoped, but on schedule. They were billed for 2 million dollars of the project, but they won’t make a final payment until its completion.

Director of Weakley County Schools, Randy Frazier spoke to the board about a CDL testing facility and fingerprint and background check facility stating that the need was there and that it would help the county with bringing in revenue. Frazier stated that Weakley County could be a site to do testing and they need to look at hiring a person that could be in charge of CDL training. “You’re looking at two weeks of training in Nashville and that’s the only cost you’d have to have up front. I think it could be potentially revenue positive or revenue neutral because it’s $200 every time you give a CDL test.”

Weakley County Clerk Marci Floyd also stated that something else the County could add it to it would be a passport facility that could be in the same facility as the CDL and fingerprinting/background checks.

The County Commission will meet Monday, Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. at the Weakley County Courthouse.