Franklin Co. Register of Deeds Files Petition against her County

The register of deeds in Franklin County says the county finance committee ignored multiple requests for staff salary increases, undermining her ability to run the county office with competent employees.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that Lydia Curtis Johnson filed a Chancery Court petition July 7, asking the court for an order authorizing increased salaries for four positions. The four positions are administrative supervisor II, administrative supervisor I, and two administrative clerks.
Johnson says the finance committee and county mayor violated state law, under which Johnson can set the salaries of her office.
County Mayor Richard Stewart says Johnson never brought the salary issues up in finance committee discussions as far as he knew. Stewart says he expects to “contest” Johnson’s filing.