County Commission debates hiring practices

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Hamilton County Commission had a lengthy debate on hiring practices at their weekly commission meeting.

The debate was spurred by a resolution confirming the appointment of Michael Kirk by Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp to the director of the county’s Property Management Department.

That position was just recently created.

Commission Chairman Jeff Eversole wanted to table the resolution to allow a committee to interview Kirk for that role, but multiple commissioners argued that it would be a waste of time to delay this appointment.

Others said that they wanted the opportunity to learn further about the appointee.

The debate then turned to how the county hiring process should be proceeding as multiple new positions including the Director of Property Management have been recently created.

One commissioner, David Sharpe, argued, “Let’s just face it, the county government has been pretty stingy for a lot of years, and here this past year we have put a lot of money on the top line of our salaries.”

Kirk was confirmed to that role by the Commission.

He has been serving as the Chief Operating Officer at Boyd-Buchanan School.