JAMES WOOD
Staff Writer
During the latest Bedford County Board of Commissioners meeting on Jan. 20, the Rules and Legislative committee met to discuss various topics including appointing a new Property Assessor to fill the vacancy left by Ronda Clanton after her retirement at the end of February.
Three potential interim candidates were present at the committee. Each made a brief introduction about their backgrounds, their role in the Property Assessor’s office and their intentions regarding the August election.
The first to speak was Drew Reed. Starting with the county in 2016, he worked at the 911 Center managing GIS and addressing before moving to the Assessor’s office in 2019. His position currently consists of cadastral mapping, GIS and data management.
He expressed attentiveness to possible changes in the office’s functions with the advent of more automated systems and how the office of Property Assessor will manage that.
“All indications point to more automated processes when it comes to government information,” Reed said.
The next in line was Emily Hodges, a field appraiser at the Assessor’s office. She started in Bedford County government in high school with the Health Department as a public health office assistant before working as a dispatcher at the 911 center and a secretary at the Board of Education.
Hodges expressed the importance of handling the position through the 5-year appraisal process.
“As appraisers, we touch every single property in Bedford County,” Hodges said, “It’s a big process and it’s a very big job.”
Last to speak was Paige Beech. Beech started in Clanton’s office 12 years ago. She emphasized her goal to meet deadlines and keep things running before the new Assessor will be elected later in the year. She also spoke of her connection to the office and her willingness to help with the transitionary process with the new Assessor.
All three candidates are seeking the interim position, but only Reed and Hodges intend to run for election to the position in August.
For more information and the full meeting, livestream footage is available to the public on the Bedford County, TN Government YouTube channel along with the Board of Commissioners page on bedfordcountytn.gov.
Image taken by James Wood.