E.W. Scripps employee Sandra Clark covered a forum for the upcoming races out in Halls. I found some interest in what Clark reported concerning the race for County Clerk between Foster Arnett and Mike Padgett.
Clark reported that Arnett cited saving $19,000 a year ($152,000 over an eight-year lease) by closing the Clerkâs office at Knoxville Center Mall and moving into a former jewelry store just west of the mall. âYou really donât have to leave your home to do business with the Clerkâs office,â Arnett said, listing services available online.
Wait! If you don’t have to leave your home to do business with the Clerk’s office. Why did he grow government by expanding the Clerk’s office from a small mall spot to a full serve jewelry store. If there is no reason to leave home to do business with the Clerk’s office, Arnett should be reducing all offices and minimizing operations.
Clark reported about Mike Padgett’s presentation.
Padgett sprang like a tiger. Long lines are âridiculousâ in the Clerkâs offices, he said, promising to keep all offices open until 5:30 p.m. with at least one open until 9.
âThere are limited services online. You canât get a marriage license or a passport. âĤ We need to improve our greatest asset, the morale of the people who work at the Clerkâs office.â
Padgett said when he was Clerk he handled car titles for all 95 counties, bringing revenue and jobs to Knox County that Arnett has lost.
âWhat cost is service?â he asked. âYou canât put a price on it.â He said Arnett has had 30 percent turnover in his four-year term.
Padgettâs pledge: reduce long lines, extend hours of service, improve employee morale, and regain state and federal contracts to generate excess fees.
