Lawsuit charges commissioner with violating Open Records Act
Walker County and its sole commissioner are being sued for not producing an email that warns against potential allegations of sexbased discrimination within the county government and showing favoritism in promoting a personal friend as the transit manager.
Elliot Pierce filed the lawsuit March 12 after the county did not provide an email dated
Jan. 16 from Human Resources Director Sharleen Robinson to Whitfield in response to Pierce’s Open Records Act request earlier this month for all emails during the period Jan. 1-31, 2020, and containing the exact phrase “payroll records.” According to the lawsuit, the county’s response on March 9 omitted that email and did not cite privilege or any other reason for doing so.
“The e-mail in question was withheld because it is protected information and inappropriate to share personnel matters publicly,” said Joe Legge, Walker County public relations director.
“We want to understand how an internal document that was clearly marked as ‘privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure’ was obtained by someone not directly involved in Human Resources decisions.
”We take guarding our team’s personal information seriously and are troubled that someone purposefully compromised that trust,” Legge explained. “We will be reviewing our internal processes to ensure all of our team members understand the role they play in safeguarding personnel matters.”
Walker County Government will respond to this complaint in court in the days to come, but right now, all of the county’s resources are focused on the health and safety of the community as
Courts and libraries
Judge Kristina Cook Graham has declared a judicial emergency. No jurors or grand jurors are to report for duty in Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade or Walker Dade counties for 30 days. No jury trials will be held during that time, he said.
Walker County library branches in Chickamauga, Rossville and LaFayette will close from Monday, March 16, through the end of the month. Citizens can check the li
The Walker County Elections office will be open for early voting for the Presidential Preference Primary on Saturday, March 14, as well as the satellite locations in Rock Spring, Rossville, Chickamauga and Lookout Mountain. All locations will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cities
Rossville has also suspended recreational activities and courts.
LaFayette City Manager David Hamilton said the city will continue to provide essential services, such as utilities, sanitation and public safety. City Hall will remain open.
The city is closing the golf course and recreation facilities and suspending recreation programs through the end of March, he said.
Hamilton urged people to conduct business by phone and mail as much as possible to minimize face-to-face interactions.
Health department
Tracy Peavyhouse, nurse manager of the Walker County Health Department, said there are no cases
of the virus in Walker County and advised residents to follow guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Georgia Department of Public Health online.
She urged those who are sick to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing and to stay home. If someone feels ill enough to seek medical attention, she asks that that person contact the doctor’s office, clinic or hospital before going so that the facility can plan to triage them to limit their contact with other patients.
Residents are urged to avoid social gatherings, church functions and other activities where lots of people come into contact
with each other, said Dr. Rick Smith with the Board of Health. He asked churches to consider suspending services for a few weeks until officials can better determine what is happening with the virus.
He also asked businesses to consider ways to help clients protect themselves from exposure to the virus.
The virus has the potential to be an epidemic similar to the Spanish flu in 1918, which killed 20 million people worldwide.
Officials urged residents not to hug or shake hands, to practice social distancing and to make sure they wash their hands properly.