GOVERNMENT
How do the ‘charter’ pieces fit together?
DUANE CROSS / MCO
At the heart of Moore County is the courthouse on the Lynchburg Square.
Tennessee is divided into 95 counties. Technically, there are 92 county governments and three counties with a consolidated form of government where the county and city governments have been combined. The other 92 county governments have the same structure, except that two counties have adopted a charter form.
The three consolidated counties are:
- Metropolitan Nashville/Davidson County
- Metropolitan Moore County/Lynchburg
- Hartsville/Trousdale County
These consolidated counties reflect very different demographics. Davidson County is the second largest county by population while Trousdale County and Moore County were ranked 85th and 93rd in population according to the 2020 census.
Local government rests within the heart of Lynchburg. Arguably, it is the most significant level of government we have, serving the public as the liaison between life and law. However, few are privy to what makes Lynchburg’s government so unique.
The charter form of government established in 1988 created Metropolitan Lynchburg, Moore County, and formed an alternative consolidated body with a presiding County Executive and Council. However, a later referendum transitioned the County Executive title into that of Mayor, which is still used today.
Most are familiar with the Mayor’s roles, which include serving as the county’s chief financial officer and property caretaker and appointing boards, commissions, and department heads. However, other equally critical constitutional offices are tasked with perpetuating the success of Moore County’s government. These include the County Clerk, Sheriff, Trustee, and Circuit Court Clerk. While these are familiar terms, you may not know the exact duties of each position.
Although you may know it as the office to buy your car tags or marriage licenses, the charter refers to the County Clerk as the county secretary responsible for preparing council meeting minutes and serving as the custodian of council ordinances and Trustee and mayoral reports.
The Sheriff is allocated duties beyond that of keeping the peace. They are also tasked with providing deputies to the courts, keeping the courthouse grounds in order, transporting prisoners, and controlling metropolitan penal facilities. The council can also expand these assignments.
Not only is the Trustee known as the county tax collector, but they are also responsible for keeping a detailed account of all county funds, including investing and dispersing funds and administering the tax relief program.
Coming Up
In Part 3, senior staff writer Haley Roberts will explore the executive departments and boards that preside over the county’s services.
Finally, the Circuit Court Clerk carries many titles stated in the charter, such as the Clerk of General Sessions Court, Juvenile Court, and other such courts of county jurisdiction.
The Circuit Court is presided over by three judges, all elected to an eight-year term, including the General Sessions judge, Circuit Criminal judge, and Circuit Civil judge. This does not include the Chancery Court, which is manned by the separately appointed Clerk and Master.
The Clerk and Master are the only appointed constitutional office in the courthouse. The position is appointed for a six-year term by the Chancellor, who serves the same eight-year term as the trial court judges. The Chancery Court has concurrent jurisdiction over civil matters with the Circuit Court.
This does not discount the courthouse’s other offices, which are all mentioned in the charter. Article 5 states that all county constitutional offices except that of the County Executive and County Commissioners shall continue as offices of the Metropolitan government and continue to be entitled to fees pertaining to the office, functioning by the laws of Tennessee. These offices are that of Assessor of Property, County Clerk, County Register, Trustee, Sheriff, and Circuit Court Clerk.
