2019-06-12 Meeting with the CoronerMeeting with the Coroner
June 12, 2019
11:02 a.m.
Present: Commissioner Jackson, Commissioner Stamper, Commissioner Fund, County Manager Erik
Martin, Warren McLeod, Dawn Harris, Stephen Wilson, Cullen Gatten, Becky Butler, Wayne Whiton
(11:20 a.m.)
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Warren McLeod said he has received a large public records request that will require additional staff
hours. Cullen Gatten explained that the additional staff hours are needed to search the Coroner’s
Office’s paper records. He said the request will include multiple installments over several years.
Dawn Harris said responding to the request would pull her away from her daily work, including
personnel, payroll and meetings with grieving families. She said fulfilling the request by herself, devoting
10 hours per week, would take several years. Dawn said she has enlisted the help of two deputy
coroners to conduct the records search.
Warren McLeod said he is going to track the amount of time and resources devoted to the request. He
said he would be requesting 10 additional working hours for each of the two deputies.
Wayne Whiton joined at 11:20 a.m.
Cullen briefly explained redaction and exemption rules.
Dawn said one deputy makes $15.50 per hour and the other makes $13.50 an hour.
Commissioner Jackson and Erik Martin left at 11:29 a.m.
Dawn discussed the search tools the Coroner’s Office is using to complete the search.
Erik returned at 11:34 a.m.
Becky suggested reaching out to the Auditor’s Office regarding benefits, including retirement. Dawn said
she would do so.
Cullen suggested possibly hiring someone to wade through the paper records specifically.
Warren said he will reach out to WACME to gauge how other counties are responding to the request,
which was filed with all coroner offices across the state.
Meeting ended at 11:48 a.m.