A third lawsuit was filed by a group called Public Spirited Citizens of Sevier County by and through their attorney, Herbert S. Moncier.
The first suit filed August 11, alleged illegal actions were taken by Waters to stiffly citizen’s comments at commission meetings.
Following on lawsuit came on Aug. 29 with complaints that the sunshine law was violated when the meeting date was changed.
The third suit, though, gets at a critical issue for Sevier County.
Moncier told Greg Johnson, a Knoxville News Sentinel reporter, "There is a peculiar provision in Sevier County that allows the county mayor to be elected chairman of County Commission," said. "Is the mayor, who is elected as chairman, a member of County Commission? If he is, he is subject to open meetings guidelines."
According to state law, the county mayor can serve as chairman, but Moncier and the concerned citizens are challenging that law's constitutionality in the most recent suit filed.
"The reason things are the way they are (in Sevier County) is because there is no separation of powers," Peggy Marshall, one of the plaintiffs, told Johnson.
"The lawsuits are frivolous and designed to harass county officials," Waters said in an interview with the Seymour Herald. "Unfortunately, the taxpayers end up footing the bill."
The County Commission, at their next scheduled meeting next Monday, could elect an individual other than Waters as chairman.
Johnson surmises that Sevier County needs checks and balances, and the legislative branch of Sevier County government needs someone other than its chief executive as its chairman. Regardless of how it happens or how much it costs.
Greg Johnson is a Sevier County native and resident. His columns appear in the News Sentinel on Thursdays, Fridays and every other Sunday. E-mail him at jgregjohnson@hotmail.com.

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