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Tarbutton heads off lawsuit with his checkbook

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

In the end, it came down to common sense.

Coweta County Magistrate Judge Jim Stripling made rumblings this week that he was considering suing Coweta County.

At stake: $25.

County administrator Theron Gay said Stripling had gone out of town on a conference and spent $60 for one meal. The county has a per diem policy of $35 for food, so Stripling was above the county’s allowance.

When the county refused to approve the charge, Stripling threatened to sue the county, Gay said.

“I think the whole issue revolved around budgetary issues and he thought he should be able to allocate how his money is spent,” Gay said.

But when the Coweta County Commission got wind of the potential litigation, they decided to settle the issue. Gay said Commissioner Greg Tarbutton wrote Coweta County a check for $25. The county then turned around and wrote Stripling a check for the same amount and effectively put the issue to rest.

But, Gay added, the county may revisit its per diem policy next year and decide whether the amount should be raised.

“This policy has been around for years and I think there’s some sentiment on the commission that it should be raised,” he said.

Stripling could not be reached for comment.