Clerk pays county for tuition

By Anna C. Irwin
of The Daily Times Staff

A personal check for $3,910 from Blount County Circuit Court Clerk Tom Hatcher payable to Blount County was turned over to County Mayor Jerry Cunningham Thursday afternoon.

Cunningham said the check would be deposited to the county's account early today.

Cunningham announced receipt of the check to the Blount County Commission during the commission's meeting Thursday night. The check covers the full amount of tuition paid by the county on Jan. 14, 2005, to Columbus University to cover the cost of a bachelor's degree and master's degree for Hatcher.

In a letter to Cunningham the mayor read to the commission, Hatcher said, "I certainly did not realize the problems existed with Columbus University which have recently come to light. It is obvious to me that serious misrepresentations were made to me by Columbus at the time I enrolled in their program.

"I realize I made an error in judgment in failing to more thoroughly investigate this school before I enrolled," the letter continued.

Hatcher's letter said he has hired local attorney Craig Garrett to investigate and pursue Columbus University in an effort to recover the money paid to the unaccredited school and to "further expose their unfair and deceptive business practices. I have retained Mr. Garrett with my personal funds" rather than asking the county attorney to pursue the matter.

"In as much as I created the circumstances, I certainly feel it is my responsibility to pursue Columbus University and I do not want Blount County burdened with this endeavor," the letter said.

Hatcher also said he would be happy to work with Cunningham, the commission and other office holders to develop a policy that will allow county employees to pursue continuing training and education but avoid "a bad experience similar to mine."

Cunningham said work is already under way to develop an overall policy manual covering things like use of county vehicles, travel, credit card use and tuition for continuing education and training.

"We can impose a policy for some offices but not on elected officials. We would hope they would follow suit," Cunningham said.

He had explained earlier in the week when questions arose regarding the county's payment for Hatcher that elected officials control how the money appropriated to their budgets is spent.

Commissioners encouraged Cunningham to complete the policy manual as soon as possible and asked that other tuition payments made by the county be reviewed to see if there are others situations similar to Hatcher's.