WYSH broke the news yesterday, and the Knoxville News-Sentinel carries a longer story this morning. The Anderson County Probation Department will be dissolved by year’s end, with duties likely transferred to a private company.
County Mayor Lynch’s explanation rings hollow to me, though. While he cites his reasoning (in the KNS article) as the scandal that has plagued the department and it’s director, Alan Beauchamp,
there’s so much negative feedback, it gets to the point that it’s not worth it,” he said.
Rumors and lingering reports of scandal have dogged the department and its high-profile director, Alan Beauchamp, for the past few years.
he also maintains “no evidence” of wrongdoing:
“Everybody has accused these people, but nobody has come forward with evidence,” Lynch said. “It’s best to get it (the probation department) back in the private sector’s hands.”
Somehow, this looks like an opportunity for Beauchamp and his employees to form a private company and do the same thing with less oversight. And, that would remove County officeholders by one step from Beauchamp’s outside activities, like his other two existing businesses — the e-zine and tv show, “Inside Anderson County,” as well as his political consulting business, Energy Media.
Stay tuned. I can’t imagine this saga is finished.
No way, if this thing goes private, another company couldn’t beat Beauchamps bid… and after the grilling the county got over the jail, no wa-hay would they buddy this contract.
No wa-hay.
I think you’ve nailed it Netmom. This is an opportunity for Mr. Beauchmap to form another company and still have daily access to the courthouse to make decisions for Rex. There would then be even less oversight as he is one stepped removed and nothing is public record.