RUTHERFORD COUNTY,  TN - Earlier this month, the Rutherford County Commission voted to censure County Mayor Joe Carr, but it seems some residents have been confused about the action, largely due to misunderstanding the word 'censure.' To 'censor'—spelled C-E-N-S-O-R—means to remove or interfere with communication, which was not the intent of the commissioners. Instead, the vote was to 'censure' the mayor after a contract was signed—spelled C-E-N-S-U-R-E—which means to find fault with or criticize.

On September 12, 2024, Rutherford County Commissioner Pettus Read explained that the proposal to censure the mayor stemmed from Mayor Carr signing a contract with Waste Management without the approval of the purchasing committee… The contract in question was signed in August.

Looking back at the five-year contract signed by the mayor with Waste Management, it was established to transport and dispose of solid waste from the future transfer station being built by the county. The transfer station, located at 6000 Landfill Road in Murfreesboro, is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2025.

Nick Christiansen is the attorney for the county and stated at the meeting… Christiansen further said… The commission has no authority to take any further action against the mayor and the measure to censure is only symbolic in nature.  

During the September 12th meeting, some commissioners were against censuring the mayor… That was Commissioner Steve Pearcy.

Commissioners like Anthony Johnson were in favor of the censure…

The vote that followed the discussion… Eleven commissioners voted to censure the mayor, eight voted against it, and two abstained from voicing their opinion.

In the end, the vote to censure Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr was merely a symbolic gesture, expressing disapproval for signing a contract without prior approval from the purchasing committee or the full commission.

More information about the Transfer Station and the Solid Waste department can be found at https://youtu.be/taIYTjGT_ow