ÿWPC' >#!tUN• %ã 0 ñéUNÚw@(4h| 05‹ 0DÀ 0  0J 0T[ Ư Nu w  m 0^˜ 0hö 0r^ 0|Ð AQLÆ Bc 0@€ 0DÀ 0† D/Š 0¹ BI D3f 1u™ 0dU>rB)°DCÙ AMU*i°“CJjhúÒv~ÌvÓJ!˜Tech HP4si,ü,,,,,ü0(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX(Ɇ$¡¡Ñ°°ÑѰ°ÑÒ°°ÒÒ°°ÒÓ  ÓÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal[  AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÓÓÔ€X”XXXÔ(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular ´ Dµ ¶ D· ¸ U¹ Uº V» V¼ Ó€½ uYf#$$””3|x¾ (å(3æy$¤¤Ý ƒ†!ÝѰ°ÑѰ°ÑÒ°°ÒÒ°°ÒÓ  ÓÑTR[¨ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÓÓÔ€XCXXXÔÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(å3fÙ$¢¢Ý ƒ†!ÝѰ°ÑѰ°ÑÒ°°ÒÒ°°ÒÓ  ÓÑTR[¨ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÓÓÔ€XCXXXÔÝ  Ý2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô! #$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 d("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô(('÷ÿ dxd2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔüÿP Pd""""'ÿÿdxd%' ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d33337Border 1dd!#4Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial ¦Ý ƒ!ÝÔ€2ÔÓ  ÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ "ÝÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€6ÔÔ€6ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔÓÓFILEDÔ€6XÔÌÌNovemberÏ19,€1997ÌÌCecil€W.ÏÔ_ÔCrowsonÔ_ÔÌAppellateÏCourtÏClerkÔ  Ôó ó ýÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€2ÔÓ  ÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÓÓThe€part„time€deputy€began€employment€a€week€before€the€trial.€€Both€parties€concede€thatÏthe€hiring€of€these€deputies€was€duly€authorized€by€the€Commission,€and,€thus,€the€employment€ofÏthese€employees€is€not€an€issue€in€this€case.Ì Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€2ÔÓ  ÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÓÓAlthough€Easterly€testified€that€approval€by€the€County€Commission€of€the€motor€vehicleÏtitle€print€program€was€evident€in€the€minutes€of€a€County€Commission€meeting,€the€record€doesÏnot€indicate€that€these€particular€minutes€were€admitted€into€evidence.€Ì `Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€2ÔÓ  ÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝAt€the€time€of€the€case,€the€statutory€provision€numbered€as€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€8„2001.Ì ðÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€2ÔÓ  ÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝEasterly€testified€that€County€Executive€Harmon€approved€some€functions.€€ÓÓThe€PlaintiffððsÏreliance€on€approval€from€County€Executive€Harmon€is€misplaced.€€Even€though€Harmon€presidesÏover€the€Commission,€his€vote€is€entitled€to€no€more€weight€than€the€vote€of€any€otherÏcommissioner.€€Thus,€he€alone€cannot€speak€on€behalf€of€the€commission;€there€must€be€action€€byÏthe€majority,€reflected€in€the€minutes.€òòò òSee€Connell€v.€County€Judge€of€Davidsonóóó ó,€39€Tenn.Ï(2€Head)€189€(1858).€€Furthermore,€Easterly€may€not€rely€on€Harmon€in€his€capacity€as€countyÏexecutive.€€The€county€executive€and€county€clerk€are€independent€entities€and€Easterly€is€notÏsubject€to€his€control.€€òòò òSee€Mankin,óóó ó€1989€WL€44924€at€*2.€€ÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHØ(d'`Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  ion-F Geneva ÒÒ  ion-F Geneva ÒÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€2ÔÓ  ÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓÓÝ  ÝÙ€!ÙÓÓò òÔ_ÔßR€574A1-j|` ä `€€@ÿRßÔ_ÔÞ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEó óÌà@ àò òWESTERN€SECTION€AT€NASHVILLEÌà àà àà àòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌÌóóÌÌCONNIE€EASTERLY,€COUNTY€CLERK€à à)à àÌOF€Ô_ÔSEQUATCHIEÔ_Ô€COUNTY,€TENNESSEE,à à)à àÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àó óPlaintiff/Appelleeò òà àà àà à)à àó óÔ_ÔSequatchieÔ_Ô€Chancery€No.€1663€€€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò ò)Ìvs.à àà àà àà àà àà àà à)à à€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌBILL€W.€HARMON,€COUNTY€EXECUTIVE€à à)à àó óAppeal€No.€01A01„9609„CH„00446Ìò òOF€Ô_ÔSEQUATCHIEÔ_Ô€COUNTY,€TENNESSEE,à à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìó óà àà àDefendant/Appellant.à àà àò òà à)à àÌó óòòÌóóò òÌ€€€ÌÌÌà@ àó óAPPEAL€FROM€THE€CHANCERY€COURT€OF€Ô_ÔSEQUATCHIEÔ_Ô€COUNTY€Ìà@ àAT€Ô_ÔDUNLAPÔ_Ô,€TENNESSEEÌÌÌÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€JEFFREY€F.€STEWART,€CHANCELLOR€€€€€ÌòòÌÌÌFor€the€Plaintiff/Appelleeóó:òòà àà àà àFor€the€Defendant/Appellantóó:òòÌóóÌGraham€Ô_ÔSwaffordÔ_Ô€€€€€€€€à àà àà àThomas€A.€Greer,€Jr.ÌJasper,€Tennessee€à àà àà àà àÔ_ÔDunlapÔ_Ô,€Tennessee€ÌÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌÌò òÌà àà àà àà àà à€€€€€€€€€€€€AFFIRMED€IN€PART,€REVERSEDÌà àà àà àà àà àà àIN€PART,€AND€REMANDEDÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àó óHOLLY€KIRBY€Ô_ÔLILLARDÔ_Ô,€JUDGEÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌòòÌóóALAN€E.€Ô_ÔHIGHERSÔ_Ô,€J.€€€€€€€€€€ÌÌÌBEN€H.€Ô_ÔCANTRELLÔ_Ô,€J.€€€€ÌÇØØÙ  ÙÓÓÔ_ÔÑ8€,•XXdðXXdì8ÑÑ  ÑÌà@ àò òOPINIONó óÌÌà àThis€is€a€suit€brought€by€a€county€clerk€against€the€county€executive,€seeking€additionalÏremuneration€for€deputy€clerks€in€the€county€clerkððs€office.€€The€trial€court€found€in€part€for€theÏcounty€clerk,€awarding€some,€but€not€all,€of€the€relief€requested.€€We€affirm€in€part,€reverse€inÏpart,€and€remand.€Ìà àPlaintiff/Appellee€Connie€Easterly€(ð ðEasterlyðð)€€assumed€the€duties€as€Sequatchie€CountyÏClerk€in€1990.€€At€that€time,€the€duties€of€her€office€primarily€involved€such€tasks€as€handlingÏapplications€for€motor€vehicle€titles€and€registration,€collecting€business€taxes€and€issuing€businessÏlicenses,€issuing€marriage€licenses,€collecting€the€beer€tax,€maintaining€records€of€the€juvenile€clerkÏand€utility€districts,€and€serving€as€clerk€of€the€Sequatchie€County€Commission.€€These€duties€areÏenumerated€in€Tennessee€statutes.€€ò òòòSee€óóó óTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€18„1„105€(1994);€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÏ18„6„104€through€„111(1994);€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€55„6„105€(Supp.€1997)ò ò.ó óÌà àWhen€Easterly€initially€took€office,€she€was€assisted€by€one€full„time€deputy€clerk,€whoÏworked€thirty„two€hours€per€week,€and€one€part„time€deputy€clerk,€who€worked€twenty€hours€perÏweek.€€The€parties€dispute€whether€these€deputy€clerks€were€salaried€employees€or€whether€theyÏwere€paid€on€an€hourly€basis.€€When€Easterly€first€commenced€her€duties€as€County€Clerk,€thisÏstaff€was€ð ðadequateðð€to€handle€the€responsibilities€of€the€office.Ìà àGradually€Easterlyððs€office€began€to€assume€duties€that€are€not€mandated€by€statute.€€One€ofÏthese€duties€was€the€issuance€of€hunting€and€fishing€licenses.€€At€the€time€this€duty€was€added,€€ÏEasterly€believed€that€Sequatchie€County€was€the€only€county€that€did€not€issue€such€licenses.€€SheÏclaims€that€Bill€Harmon€(ð ðHarmonðð),€County€Executive€of€Sequatchie€County,€encouraged€her€toÏundertake€the€task.Ìà àAnother€non„statutory€duty€added€by€Easterly€involved€the€issuance€of€driverððs€licenseÏrenewals.€€Like€the€issuance€of€hunting€and€fishing€licenses,€this€is€a€task€that€Easterly€contends€isÏð ðcustomaryðð€to€be€performed€by€county€clerksðð€offices€throughout€the€State.€€According€toÍEasterly,€Harmon€helped€initiate€the€idea€and€was€involved€in€discussions€throughout€the€projectððsÏimplementation.€€Ìà àEasterly€further€contends€that€the€County€Commission€expressly€authorized€her€to€issue€the€Ïdriverððs€license€renewals.€€Easterly€cites€the€minutes€of€a€November€18,€œ1991€meeting›€of€theÏCommission:ÌÓÓà8 àà àThe€Commission€was€informed€that€the€State€was€initiating€a€six„monthÏpilot€project€to€provide€two€computer€terminals€and€two€printers€to€the€SequatchieÏCounty€Clerkððs€office€for€driverððs€license€issuance€at€no€cost€to€the€county.€€AÏmotion€to€participate€in€said€project€was€made€by€Bobby€Turner,€seconded€byÏRandall€Phillips,€and€passed€œby€a›€unanimous€vote€of€the€Commission.ÌÌÓÓAs€part€of€this€pilot€program,€the€state€paid€for€an€œadditional€part„time›€employee€to€work€in€theÏCounty€Clerkððs€office€for€a€short€period€of€time.€€When€the€period€of€time€for€the€pilot€programÏexpired,€Easterly€maintains€that€she€œreceived›€the€approval€of€the€Commissionððs€budget€committeeÏto€hire€the€temporary€part„time€œemployee›€as€œa€permanent›€full„time€employee.€Ìà àA€third€non„statutory€duty€assumed€by€the€County€Clerkððs€office€during€Easterlyððs€tenure€isÏthe€motor€vehicle€ð ðtitle€print€program.ðð€This€program€allows€the€county€to€issue€titles€moreÏquickly.€€When€the€motor€vehicle€title€print€program€was€implemented,€the€only€other€counties€inÏTennessee€that€had€the€capability€of€printing€titles€were€Shelby,€Davidson,€Knox,€and€HamiltonÏCounties,€all€urban€counties.€€Easterly€states€that€the€idea€was€instigated€by€the€TennesseeÏCommissioner€of€Safety,€who€was€seeking€the€participation€of€a€rural€county.€€Easterly€said€thatÏHarmon€implicitly€approved€the€project€by€helping€to€finance€the€purchase€of€a€printer,€and€that€sheÏð ðexplained€itðð€to€the€Commission.€Ìà à€As€a€result€of€these€additional€responsibilities,€the€growth€of€the€county,€and€additionalÏrequirements€imposed€by€the€state€regarding€€mandated€statutory€duties€of€the€County€ClerkððsÏoffice,€the€office€hours€increased,€Easterly€and€her€staff€were€forced€to€devote€more€hours,€andÏmore€deputies€were€needed.€€At€the€time€of€trial€Easterlyððs€staff€consisted€of€three€full„time€deputiesÍand€one€part„time€deputy.œ× ƒ8 ××  ×›€€€The€full„time€employeesðð€hours€had€increased€from€approximatelyÏthirty„two€hours€per€week€to€approximately€forty€hours€per€week.Ìà àEasterly€sought€compensation€from€the€County€Executive,€Harmon,€for€the€additional€laborÏand€other€costs.€€When€Harmon€refused€to€tender€compensation€to€the€deputy€clerks€for€timeÏworked€in€excess€of€thirty„two€hours€per€week€since€July€1,€1995,€Easterly€brought€this€suitÏpursuant€to€œÇTennessee›€Code€œAnnotated›€Sec.€œ8„20„101€(Supp.€1997).›€€€€This€statute€states:ÌÓÓà8 à(a)€Where€any€one€(1)€of€the€clerks€and€masters€of€the€chancery€œcourts,›€the€countyÏclerks€and€the€clerks€of€the€probate,€œcriminal,›€circuit€and€special€courts,€countyÏtrustees,€registers€of€deeds,€and€sheriffs€cannot€properly€and€efficiently€conduct€theÏaffairs€and€transact€the€business€of€such€personððs€office€by€devoting€such€personððsÏentire€working€time€œthereto,›€such€person€may€employ€such€deputies€and€assistantsÏas€may€be€actually€necessary€to€the€proper€conducting€of€such€personððs€office€in€theÏfollowing€manner€and€under€the€following€manner€and€under€the€followingÏconditions,€namely:€.€.€.€ÌÌà8 àà à(3)€The€clerks€and€masters€of€the€chancery€courts,€county€trustees,€countyÏclerks€and€clerks€of€the€probate€courts,€and€registers€of€deeds€may€make€applicationÏto€the€chancellor,€or€to€one€(1)€of€the€chancellors€(if€there€be€more€than€one€(1)),Ïholding€court€in€their€county€by€sworn€petition€as€above€set€forth,€showing€theÏnecessity€for€a€deputy€or€deputies€or€assistants,€the€number€required€and€the€salaryÏeach€should€be€paid.€ÌÌÓÓœTenn.›€Code€œAnn.›€ðð€œ8„20„101(a)€&›€œ(a)(3).€€Easterlyððs›€lawsuit€sought€additional€compensation€forÏpresent€deputies,€as€well€as€court€approval€for€the€hiring€of€additional€part„time€deputies.Ìà àAt€the€trial,€Harmonððs€testimony€suggested€that€he€and€the€County€Commission€were€underÏthe€impression€that€the€non„statutory€duties€assumed€by€Easterly€would€bring€in€enough€revenuesÏto€be€self„sustaining.€€Harmon€indicated,€however,€that€the€revenues€generated€were€insufficient€toÏcover€the€costs€of€both€implementation€and€labor.€€Apart€from€Easterlyððs€testimony€that€sheÏreceived€outright€or€tacit€approval€from€Harmon€or€the€County€Commission€for€the€assumption€ofÏthe€non„statutory€duties,€the€only€documentary€evidence€of€such€approval€submitted€at€trial€wereÏthe€minutes€of€the€November€18,€1991€County€Commission€meeting,€quoted€above,€and€aÏnewspaper€article€regarding€the€motor€vehicle€title€print€œprogram.× ƒ9 ××  ×›€œ€€Harmon›€took€the€position€atÏtrial€that€the€County€œExecutive›€is€not€required€to€fund€the€costs€of€non„statutory€duties.€€HarmonÏalso€maintained€that€full„time€deputies€in€Easterlyððs€office€were€paid€on€a€salary€basis€for€whateverÏhours€they€worked,€and€that€the€County€œExecutive€was›€not€required€to€provide€funds€for€theÏdeputiesðð€increase€in€hours€from€thirty„two€per€week€to€forty€per€week.Ìà àAfter€the€trial,€the€trial€court€issued€a€Memorandum€Opinion.€€The€trial€court€discussed€the€Ïthree€additional€non„statutory€duties€assumed€by€Easterly.€€It€recounted€Easterlyððs€testimony€thatÏHarmon€ð ðasked€her€to€begin€issuing€the€hunting€and€fishing€licenses.€.€.€.ðð€€Before€undertaking€theÏissuance€of€driverððs€license€renewals,€the€trial€court€observed€that€Easterly€ð ðsought€and€received€theÏapprovalðð€of€the€County€Commission.€€As€to€the€motor€vehicle€title€print€program,€the€trial€courtÏstated:ÌÓÓà8 àThe€Plaintiff€presented€this€plan€to€the€County€Commission€before€beginning€theÏprogram.€€The€County€Commission€took€no€official€action€and€did€nothing€toÏdiscourage€the€Plaintiff€from€beginning€this€program.ÌÌÓÓThe€trial€court€noted€Easterlyððs€testimony€that€the€statutory€duties€of€her€office€cannot€be€performedÏin€a€thirty„two€hour€work€week.€€It€stated€that€Easterly€ð ðadmits€the€additional€duties€undertakenÏover€and€above€her€statutory€duties€require€about€25€per€cent€of€her€deputies[ðð]€time€to€complete.ðð€€Ìà àThe€trial€court€recognized€the€argument€that€funds€could€be€required€only€for€theÏperformance€of€statutory€duties,€but€stated:ÌÓÓà8 àIn€this€case€the€County€Commission€was€apprised€by€the€Plaintiff€of€the€plan€to€addÏadditional€services€to€her€office€and€the€relative€cost€and€expense€thereto.€€In€eachÏcase€the€County€Commission€either€gave€its€tacit€or€out€right€[sic]€approval.ÌÌÓÓThe€trial€court€therefore€awarded€Easterly€funding€to€pay€the€deputies€for€forty€œhour€work›€œweeks.›€ÏIt€found€that€the€part„time€employee€added€shortly€before€trial€was€ð ðsufficient€to€meet€the€staffingÏrequirementsðð€and€declined€to€authorize€the€hiring€of€additional€deputies.€€From€this€decision,ÏHarmon€now€appeals.€€Ìà àOn€appeal,€Harmon€argues€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€awarding€the€funding€sought€byÏEasterly.€€Harmon€maintains€that€it€was€improper€to€award€the€funding€based€on€a€finding€that€theÏCounty€Commission€had€ð ðtacitlyðð€or€ð ðimplicitlyðð€approved€the€non„statutory€duties€assumed€byÏEasterly.€€Harmon€also€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€finding€that€the€minutes€of€theÏNovember€18,€1991€meeting€of€the€County€Commission€bound€the€Commission€to€fund€the€costsÏof€issuing€driverððs€license€renewals.€€Ìà àThe€appropriate€standard€of€review€for€a€case€involving€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€œ8„20„101›€is€òòò òde€novoó óóó€ð ðbased€on€findings€of€fact€established€by€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence.ðð€Ïò òòòDulaney€v.€McKameyóóó ó,€856€S.W.2d€144,€146€(Tenn.€App.€1992).€€No€presumption€ofÏcorrectness,€however,€is€afforded€a€question€of€law.€€ò òòòCarvell€v.€Bottoms,óóó ó€900€S.W.2d€23,€26Ï(Tenn.€1995).Ìà àIn€Tennessee,€the€courts€are€ð ðreluctant€arbiters€of€the€budget€disputes€between€certain€localÏofficials€and€their€county€government.ðð€€ò òòòJones€v.€Mankin,ó óóó€No.€88„263„II,€1989€WL€44924€atÏœ*3›€(Tenn.€App.€May€5,€1989)ò ò€ó ó(citing€ò òòòHunter€v.€Conner,óó€ó ó152€Tenn.€258,€278,€277€S.W.€71,Ï76€œ(1925);›€ò òòòHickman€v.€Wright,óóó ó€141€Tenn.€412,€422„23,€210€S.W.€447,€450€œ(1919)).›€€TheÏcounty€budgetary€process€in€particular€is€an€area€better€suited€for€the€political€arena€of€the€countyÏlegislative€body.€€òòò òSee€Mankin,ó óóó€1989€WL€44924,€at€*2„4.€€Therefore,€courts€should€avoidÏð ðinterfer[ing]€with€the€county€legislative€bodyððs€budgetary€decisions€unless€the€legislative€body€isÏunder€some€legal€obligation€to€appropriate€funds.ðð€€ò òòòId.ó óóó€at€*4.€€Ìà àHowever,€the€courts€have€been€ð ðbrought€into€the€budget€frayðð€by€the€TennesseeÏlegislatureððs€enactment€of€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€8„20„101.€€€Under€this€statute,€€a€countyÏclerk€may€petition€a€court€for€approval€of€the€number€of€employees€needed€and€their€pay€if€he€orÏshe€ð ðcannot€properly€and€efficiently€conduct€the€affairs€and€transact€the€business€of€such€personððsÏoffice.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€8„20„101(a).Ìà àIn€cases€involving€county€sheriffs,€Tennessee€courts€have€indicated€that€this€provision€can€Ïonly€be€utilized€to€obtain€funds€for€duties€that€are€statutorily€mandated.€€€In€ò òòòSmith€v.€Plummeróóó ó,Ï834€S.W.2d€311€(Tenn.€App.€1992),€a€county€sheriff€brought€suit€against€the€county€executiveÏpursuant€œto€ðð›€8„20„101,€in€order€to€receive€authorization€to€hire€additional€personnel.€€ReversingÏthe€trial€courtððs€œapproval›€for€the€additional€personnel,€this€Court€held:ÌÓÓà8 àThe€authority€of€the€courts€to€authorize€expense€of€œconducting€the›€conduct€of€aÏsheriffððs€office€is€limited€to€those€activities€related€to€the€performance€of€òòstatutoryÏdutiesóó€for€which€the€collection€of€a€fee€is€authorized.€€That€is€to€say,€the€courts€haveÏpower€to€authorize€the€sheriffs€to€spend€monies€collected€in€fees€for€performingÏstatutory€duties€for€the€expenses,€including€personnel,€necessary€for€theÏperformance€of€such€duties.ÌÌÓÓò òòòId.óó€ó óat€314€(emphasis€added).Ìà àA€similar€action€was€brought€by€a€county€sheriff€in€ò òòòCunningham€v.€Moore€County,ó óóóÏ604€S.W.2d€866€(Tenn.€App.€1980).€€In€ò òòòCunninghamó óóó,€non„mandated€duties€undertaken€by€theÏsheriffððs€office€included€escorting€funerals€and€a€dispatcher€service.€€ò òòòId.óóó ó€at€868.€€The€Court€notedÏthat,€in€order€€to€fulfill€the€statutory€requirements€set€forth€in€Sec.€8„20„101,œ× ƒ: ××  ×›€the€plaintiff€must:ÌÓÓà8 àprove€in€numerical€quantity€the€number€of€times€per€day,€week,€month€or€year€theÏSheriff€is€called€upon€to€perform€the€òòstatutoryóó€òòduties€óóof€his€office,€that€he€and€hisÏpreviously€authorized€employees€have€devoted€their€full€working€time€to€theÏperformance€of€such€duties€and€that€their€combined€efforts€have€not€been€sufficientÏto€perform€all€such€duties,€some€of€which€have€not€been€performed€for€this€reason.€€ÌÓÓò òòòId.€€ó óóó(emphasis€added).€€Finding€ð ðno€statutory€requirementðð€for€the€additional€responsibilitiesÏundertaken€by€the€sheriff,€the€Court€affirmed€the€trial€courtððs€denial€of€relief.€€ò òòòId.ó óóó€at€868„69;€ò òòòcf.óóÏòòRoberts€v.€Lowe,€ó óóóNo.€03A01„9610„CC„00333,€1997€WL€189345€(Tenn.€App.€Apr.€16,€1997)€œÇ(applying›€the€standard€set€forth€in€ò òòòCunninghamó óóó€and€finding€that€the€plaintiff€had€providedÏsufficient€evidence€to€show€that€it€could€not€fulfill€its€ð ðstatutory€œdutiesðð).òò›€óóÌà àò òòòMankinó óóó€also€involved€an€action€pursuant€to€ðð€8„20„101€filed€by€a€county€sheriff.€Ïò òòòMankin,ó óóó€1989€WL€44924.€€Consistent€with€ò òòòSmith€v.€Plummeró óóó€andò ò€òòCunninghamó óóó,€this€CourtÏstated:ÌÓÓà8 àLike€other€local€officials,€sheriffs€do€not€have€the€right€to€insist€upon€funds€forÏadditional€personnel€until€a€court€has€determined€that€the€personnel€are€necessaryÏfor€the€discharge€of€the€sheriffððs€òòstatutory€œdutiesóó.€.€.€.Thus,›€in€considering€a€Tenn.ÏCode€œAnn.€ðð›€8„20„101(2)€application€for€increased€personnel„related€expenditures,Ïthe€courts€may€consider€only€those€requests€that€are€related€to€òòstatutory€dutiesóó€forÏwhich€the€sheriff€collects€a€fee.ÌÌò òòòId.ó óóó€at€*4„5€(emphasis€added).€€ÌÌÓÓà àThe€trial€court€in€œthe€instant€case›€recognized€ò òòòSmith€v.€Plummer€ó óóófor€the€proposition€thatÏEasterly€cannot€seek€authority€from€the€courts€for€funds€for€duties€that€are€not€statutorily€mandated.€ÏHowever,€it€distinguished€ò òòòPlummeróóó ó€based€on€the€trial€courtððs€finding€in€this€case€that€the€CountyÏCommission€ð ðeither€gave€itsðð€tacit€or€out€right€[sic]€approvalðð€for€the€non„statutory€duties.Ìà àAn€act€by€a€county€commission€is€ð ðnot€complete€or€effective€to€bind€the€county€for€anyÏpurpose€until€the€record€evidencing€action€by€the€[commission]€has€been€made.ðð€€ò òòòEpps.€v.ÏWashington€Countyóó,€ó ó173€Tenn.€373,€375„76,€117€S.W.2d€749,€750€œ(1938).›€€The€minutes€ofÏthe€commission€are€the€ð ðsole€witnessðð€and€parol€testimony€is€inadmissible.€€òòò òId.ó óóó,€173€Tenn.€at€376,Ï117€S.W.2d€at€750òòò ò;€Bozeman€v.€State€ex€rel.€Andersonóóó ó,€206€Tenn.€23,€26,€330€S.W.2dÏ553,€554€œ(1959);›€ò òòòState€ex€rel.€Wolfe€v.€Henegar,óóó ó€180€Tenn.€425,€432,€175€S.W.2d€553,Ï555€œ(1943).›€€Therefore,€ð ðtacitðð€approval€by€the€County€Commission€is€insufficient€to€bind€theÏCommission;€express€approval€in€the€minutes€is€essential.œ× ƒ; ××  ×›Ìà àIn€this€case,€Easterly€sought€funding€for€three€non„statutory€duties:€(1)€issuing€hunting€andÏfishing€licenses,€(2)€the€motor€vehicle€title€print€program,€and€(3)€issuing€driverððs€license€renewals.€Ìà àAs€to€the€issuance€of€hunting€and€fishing€licenses,€Easterly€testified€that€Sequatchie€CountyÏwas€the€only€county€that€did€not€issue€such€licenses,€and€that€Harmon€encouraged€her€to€assumeÏthis€duty.€€Likewise,€with€the€motor€vehicle€title€print€program,€Easterly€stated€that€adoption€of€thisÏprogram€was€initiated€by€the€Tennessee€Commission€of€Safety,€that€Harmon€implicitly€approved€itÏby€helping€finance€some€of€the€necessary€equipment,€and€that€œshe›€ð ðexplainedðð€the€program€to€theÏCommission€and€they€failed€to€take€action.€Ìà àAs€set€forth€above,€in€the€absence€of€express€approval€by€the€County€Commission€as€setÏforth€in€its€minutes,€the€evidence€is€insufficient€to€support€the€trial€courtððs€finding€of€CountyÏCommission€approval€for€Easterlyððs€assumption€of€these€duties.€€Ìà àAs€to€the€issuance€of€driverððs€license€renewals,€Easterly€testified€that€this€task€isÏð ðcustomarilyðð€performed€by€county€œclerksðð›€offices€throughout€the€State,€and€that€Harmon€helpedÏinitiate€the€idea€and€was€involved€throughout€its€implementation.€€Easterly€also€œargues›€that€theÏCounty€Commission€expressly€approved€her€assumption€of€this€duty€in€the€minutes€of€itsÏNovember€œ18,›€1991€meeting:€ÌÓÓà8 àà àThe€Commission€was€informed€that€the€State€was€initiating€a€six„monthÏpilot€project€to€provide€two€computer€terminals€and€two€printers€to€the€SequatchieÏCounty€Clerkððs€office€for€driverððs€license€issuance€at€no€cost€to€the€county.€€AÏmotion€to€participate€in€said€project€was€made€by€Bobby€Turner,€seconded€byÏRandall€Phillips,€and€passed€œby€a›€unanimous€vote€of€the€Commission.à àÌÌÓÓAs€noted€above,€the€fact€that€this€duty€is€customary€and€Harmon€encouraged€it€is€insufficient€toÏsupport€a€finding€that€the€County€Commission€approved€Easterlyððs€undertaking€of€this€task.€ÏMoreover,€the€entry€in€the€Commission€minutes€of€its€November€18€meeting€discuss€onlyÏparticipation€in€ð ða€six„month€pilot€projectðð€which€would€be€ð ðat€no€cost€to€the€county.ðð€€This€entryÏin€the€minutes€is€insufficient€to€support€a€finding€that€the€County€Commission€approved€EasterlyððsÍassumption€of€this€duty€beyond€participating€in€the€pilot€program€ð ðat€no€cost€to€the€county.ððÌà àThus,€the€evidence€in€this€case€is€insufficient€to€support€the€trial€courtððs€finding€that€theÏCounty€Commission€approved€Easterlyððs€voluntary€assumption€of€non„statutory€duties.€ÏConsequently,€it€is€unnecessary€for€us€to€address€the€issue€of€whether€this€Court€has€authority€toÏapprove€funding€for€a€county€clerkððs€performance€of€such€duties€if€approval€for€the€duties€isÏreceived€from€the€County€Commission.Ìà àThe€decision€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed€insofar€as€it€approves€additional€funding€toÏsupport€the€performance€of€statutorily„mandated€duties.€€The€decision€is€reversed€insofar€as€itÏapproves€funding€for€the€performance€of€non„statutory€duties.€€Although€the€trial€court€alluded€toÏEasterlyððs€testimony€that€performance€of€the€non„statutory€duties€requires€ð ðabout€25€per€centðð€ofÏher€employeesðð€time,€the€trial€court€made€no€express€finding€regarding€the€amounts€approved€forÏthe€performance€of€statutory€duties€œand€for›€the€performance€of€non„statutory€duties.€€Therefore,€weÏmust€remand€the€case€for€the€trial€court€to€determine€the€appropriate€amount€to€approve€forÏEasterlyððs€performance€of€statutorily€mandated€duties.€€Ìà àThe€decision€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed€in€part,€reversed€in€part,€and€remanded€for€furtherÏproceedings€consistent€with€this€opinion.€€The€costs€on€appeal€are€taxed€equally€to€Appellant€andÏAppellee,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìà àà àà àà àà àò òóóHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€J.ÌÌó óà àò òÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌóóALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€J.ÌÌÌòòÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÌBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€J.€€€€€ó ó