“These ordinances were passed before we got here,” Mayor Jeff Proffitt noted, “and now it’s our jobs to enforce them.” Proffitt addressed the Tompkinsville City Commission during the Thursday, May 31 special called meeting, discussing several ordinances which the city has “on the books” but have never been very firmly enforced.

Kerry “Red” Schabacker came before the commission to discuss the property code enforcement and violations he had been working on. Schabacker noted that while most persons he had spoken with about violations were very nice, others were refusing to make any corrections to their property.

“I’ve been calling the owners first and giving them time to work on the violation but now, with several pieces of property, we’re over 30 days with no action…it’s time to get in their pockets and show them we mean business.”

Schabacker noted that he had been “going after vacant homes first.” It’s an ongoing thing with possible methamphetamine labs in these abandoned properties as well as the mischief that often accompanies homes such as these.

“It won’t be a popular thing. But the ordinance is public record. I’ve invited people down to City Hall to read it themselves but no one has taken me up on that yet,” Schabacker said.

He continued that after a time period of no action, the city can clean up the property itself and place a lien on the property. After a time the property could even be sold at the courthouse door. “These places are a mess, they are rate infested and some are even being used for dumps. It’s got to stop,” he added.

The commission agreed to revise the work order/complaint for anyone wishing to lodge a formal complaint about a property and changed Schabacker’s work schedule to work on the problem full time until he gets caught up on complaints.

Employee issues then dominated the remainder of the meeting as the commission first discussed a notice of violation received from the Division of Water. The violation letter was sent to City Hall and to each individual employee and stated that the “employees had falsified records” regarding the turbidity of the water. The violation, Mayor Proffitt noted, was very serious and the state inspector had commented that every single employee could have their licenses taken away.

Commissioner Jeff Harrison made a motion and it was seconded by Commissioner Scotty Turner, to give each employee in the water plant a written warning and to refer the matter to the ethics board.

Turner also directed City Works Manager Harold Frazier to handle employee issues in a more direct manner. “If they don’t do what you tell them to do, fire them on the spot. I don’t know how much clearer we can be, we’ve told you that before,” Turner stated.

“When I tell you two to do one job and two to do another, then I come back and they’re all back together…” Frazier started.

“Fire them,” City Attorney Reed Moore stated. ‘They just told you to.”

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A lawsuit against County Attorney Wes Stephens, both individually and in his capacity as County Attorney, has been filed in Monroe Circuit Court by plaintiffs Jessie and Michelle Adams.

The lawsuit complaint alleges that the Adams’ were falsely imprisoned by Stephens and Jessie Adams was assaulted by Stephens after they entered the defendant’s law office to discuss the status of a warrant they had previously discussed with Stephens.

While in his office, the Adams couple says Stephens stated he was “not willing to assist the plaintiffs with their allegations.” When Jessie Adams then stated they would “seek assistance from Frankfort or the Kentucky State Police,” the complaint alleges Stephens “became outraged and began yelling at the plaintiffs…shoved the plaintiff, Jessie Adams, several times including shoving him against the wall…”

The complaint also alleges that during this altercation, “the defendant, Wes Stephens, locked the office door and placed his hand over the door knob so that neither party could access the door knob or lock in order to escape. It continues that while Stephens was “intentionally and unlawfully detaining the plaintiffs in his office, he was standing in the plaintiff, Jessie Adams’ face in a manner that he was pinned against the wall and could not escape by any means.”

However, the lawsuit continues, “after several pleas from the plaintiff, Michelle Adams…Stephens finally released the door knob and allowed the plaintiffs to depart from his law office.”

The Adams couple seeks a judgment against Stephens for compensatory damages, punitive damages and a trial by jury for the costs associated with the lawsuit including lawyer fees.

When contacted concerning the suit, Stephens stated that he had no comment due to the pending litigation and referred all questions to his attorney, Nick Carter.