Commissioners elect Bruce as Chairman, other business

Johnny Bruce is elected to serve as chairman, Rusty Orick as vice-chairman

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- On Monday evening, commissioners elected Johnny Bruce as the chairman of the commission once again. He was the only nomination, and it was approved unanimously. Rusty Orick was elected as vice chairman. He was the only nomination and was approved unanimously as well.

Commissioners also approved a GPS monitoring contract for inmates, along with other business items.

The Tennessee state law changed, requiring certain inmates to be fitted with GPS monitoring systems as part of their bail conditions. The sheriff’s department can’t put GPS monitors on inmates without the county commission approving a contract with companies contracted for the service.

The GPS monitoring contract and systems will not cost the county any money, nor will the county collect or make money off of the process, according to County Attorney Joe Coker.

According to Sheriff Wayne Barton it is something state law requires and is “a bond condition that is set. The state has already put all the criteria in place of what they (GPS companies) are required to do.”

Each company that does this has to be certified by the state.

“It’s just like a bonding company, we have several listed for the inmates to call, we will have several of these listed too,” Barton suggested.

He explained that they could not let inmates out on bond without these GPS monitors if that was ordered as the judge’s condition of release.

In other business, Register of Deeds dilapidated items including four Dell monitors and nine office chairs were approved.

The sanitation department’s excavator that burned up last year was also approved to be declared surplus. The department will take sealed bids on it.

In other business, commissioners approved to move forward. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-09/16/2025-6AM)