PALESTINE — Anderson County commissioners are expected on Monday to formally accept the resignation of Precinct 3 Commissioner Ronny Smith who stepped down last week as part of a plea bargain relating to a criminal charge.
Smith, the first-term commissioner from Frankston, resigned effective at noon on Sept. 29, just hours before he pled guilty to three misdemeanor counts of abuse of official capacity and was sentenced to a one-year probated jail sentence.
Smith’s resignation is scheduled to be considered during a special meeting set to begin at 8:30 a.m. in the County Courtroom of the Anderson County Courthouse Annex.
Last March, an investigation was launched when the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from a private citizen who indicated he he had observed a precinct 3 road & bridge crew hauling dirt from a work site on CR 314, just outside of Frankston, to Smith’s private property on U.S. 175 inside the Frankston city limits.
Ironically, the three counts pled guilty to by Smith were not related to the initial complaint.
The three counts alleged that Smith misused his official capacity by having a total of $2,644.88 in county property or services come into his possession by virtue of his office or employment.
Those items included a part for Smith’s personal tractor, road material and the cost of the truck utilized to deliver the road material, according to Anderson County District Attorney Doug Lowe.
Smith was defeated in his re-election bid in April, losing to Kenneth Dickson in the Republican Primary runoff.
Dickson will meet Democrat Rush Herrington in the Nov. 4 general election, with the winner beginning his four-year elected term on Jan. 1.
Anderson County Judge Linda Bostick Ray has indicated that she may appoint the November winner to fulfill Smith’s unexpired term shortly after the election.
In other business Monday, the court is expected to:
• CONSIDER budget amendments.
• CONSIDER approving payroll and bills.
• CONSIDER approving utilities crossing county roads.
• DISCUSS operations of precinct 3 road & bridge department, pending appointment of a commissioner for precinct 3, and take action as necessary.
• HEAR from Tax Assessor/Collector Teri Garvey regarding interlocal agreement for joint election with Athens ISD for bond election to be held Nov. 4, 2008 and take action as necessary.
• CONSIDER transfer of proceeds from precinct 3 sale of surplus equipment into road construction fund for precinct 3 and take action as necessary.
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Paul Stone may be contacted via e-mail at pstone@palestineherald.com
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