Commissioners welcome judge, borrow $3.5 million

Catoosa County commissioners began their Sept. 6 public meeting by welcoming newly appointed State Court Judge Ron Goulart and Solicitor Doug Woodruff.

Initially set to begin operations in January before being postponed until July, the Catoosa County State Court heard its first cases last month and is in the process of working through cases transferred from the probate and magistrate courts.

Goulart said that while it is “difficult to get started” he hopes to hold court three-days-a-week starting in October. He said the new court “has begun making a dent in the jail population” and its traffic bureau is up and running.

“Our goal is to catch up the backlog of cases and have scheduled 20 court dates through the end of the year,” Woodruff told the commissioners.

Commission chairman Keith Greene asked if state-of-the-court updates could be provided on a regular basis while the court is getting established and so county government can be aware of any assistance the court might require.

 In another court-related matter — but more focused on the courthouse than the courts themselves — the commission approved spending about $60,000 to replace the building’s elevator. Increasing incidents of people being trapped between floors due to malfunction has accentuated the need for its extensive repair or replacement. Otis Elevator of Chattanooga will require about two weeks to install a new elevator.

 An action that sounds more ominous than it is in fact occurred when the commissioners voted to allow the county taking out a $3.5 million loan.

County Attorney Chad Young advised the board that the loan is needed to cover operating expenses through the end of the calendar year and is a tax anticipation note, one that will be repaid when property tax bills are paid.

Chief Financial Officer Carl Henson said the county has advanced $3.5 million to the development authority and for work at the landfill gas electricity generation plant.

County Manager Jim Walker said such loans are common, particularly at this time of year, and that First Tennessee Bank is loaning the money at a total interest charge of about $13,000.