RHEA COUNTY — The Rhea County Commission voted 7-0 on Tuesday to help fund an upcoming BFL Regional Fishing Tournament at the Piney Boat Ramp in Spring City. Commissioners unanimously voted, with commissioners Billy Thedford and Sandy Francisco absent from the meeting, to allocate $7,500 from the county’s hotel/motel tax revenue to help fund the tournament. Hotel/motel tax revenue is earmarked for economic development, and commissioners said that the $7,500 allocated for the tournament serves as 50 percent of the host fees.
In other business on Tuesday, Rhea County Road Supervisor Rick Wilkey submitted the 2024-25 county road list. The road list must be submitted to and approved by the Rhea County Commission each year. The county commission also heard from citizens during the public comments section of the meeting, regarding the recently-released State of Tennessee Comptroller’s report alleging improper activities at the Rhea County Sheriff’s Department.
Local resident Mike Nixon spoke during the public comment section and highlighted some of the findings in the comptroller’s report, including allegations that employees were paid for time they did not work, questionable inmate release, allowing a then-non-certified Rhea County Animal Shelter director to carry a weapon and perform policing actions and other allegations. “These facts prove that this commission and sheriff (Mike) Neal have failed their constituents,” Nixon said. Resident Jeff Tinkham also addressed.