Tensions seem to be on the rise between county commissioners and the Warren County Sheriff’s Department.

During Monday night’s meeting of the full Warren County Commission, no representative from the Sheriff’s Department was in attendance. The meeting was held via Zoom, an online video conferencing service. 

“Is there anyone from the Sheriff’s Department online?” asked Commissioner Gary Prater. 

Commissioner Blaine Wilcher, chairperson over the monthly meetings, advised there was not. 

“There’s no one from the Sheriff’s Department online,” said Prater. “We have our director of schools online, but no one from the Sheriff’s Department.” 

The comments came during departmental reports. A Sheriff’s Department representative was also absent during the last meeting of the county’s Corrections Partnership Committee. At that time, committee members pointed to a likely stance by Sheriff Tommy Myers that he no longer wanted to report to that committee and instead, provide his monthly report to the county’s Safety Committee. 

There is a longstanding dispute between Corrections Partnership and Safety over which committee reviews the jail’s budget. The fact Myers, nor none of this staff, were in attendance at the last meeting of Corrections Partnership was noticed. Due to that absence, members voted for the committee to go dormant until Myers or a future sheriff asks for their assistance.

Commissioner Ste-ven Helton, a Corrections Partner-ship Committee member, asked the commission to give the budgetary reins of the jail under review of Corrections Partnership and therefor prevent the committee from going dormant.

If approved, the Sheriff’s Department would fall under two committees: Safety for administration and Corrections Partnership for the jail. 

“I find it very ironic that we are talking about giving budgetary powers to a committee that voted for itself to go dormant,” said Lee.

It was mentioned the Safety Committee is more hands off when it comes to the jail, while Corrections Partnership Commit-tee members regularly meet at the jail and tour the facility

Sheriff’s Department Major Jason Walker entered the meeting via his cellphone and voiced Sheriff Myers’ desire to stay under one committee and not report to two different committees.

The motion made by Helton failed 12-11. 

Voting against Corrections Partnership assuming the jail’s budgetary reins were Commissioners Michael Bell, Carl. D. Bouldin, Carlene Brown, Randy England, Deborah Evans, Steve Glenn, Robert Hennessee, Ron Lee, Gary Martin, Daniel Owens, Kasey Owens and Christy Ross. 

Voting in favor of the measure were Commissioners Carl E. Bouldin, David Dunlap, Steven Helton, Gary Prater, Scott Rubley, Tommy Savage, Tyrone Sparkman, Joseph Stotts, Phillip Stout, Cole Taylor and Blaine Wilcher.

Brad Hillis was elected Nov. 3 to fill the vacant seat in the 5th District but has yet to be sworn in.