Union Co. road supt. found working private job in Knox Co.

Union Co. road supt. found working private job in Knox Co.

By DON DARE
6 On Your Side Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- In many Tennessee counties, the road superintendent is a powerful elected office that involves millions of dollars and dozens of workers.

Recently, 6 News found elected Union County Road Superintendent Clayton Helms working in Knox County. Five years ago, we also found him working in another county while he held the same office.

When the weather is good, this is one the busiest times of the year for paving crews. On Thursday, August 27, 6 News watched a road being paved at a mobile home park in Fountain City. The supervisor was Clayton Helms.

He should be working at his office in Maynardville, 20 miles north of Fountain City.

"What's the superintendent of Union County roads doing here in Knox County?" I asked. "I'm paving today, on my day off," Helms said. 

He claimed he was on vacation and working a private job, having signed an $85,000 contract to pave the roads at Northridge Estates Mobile Home Park.

Helms said the paving machine, as well the roller used on the job, are his, not Union County's.

As for the people working for him? "They're your employees? County employees?" I asked. "Yep, two of them are, but one of them ain't," Helms said.

"Two county employees are working out here with you on this private job?" I asked. "Yes," Helms said. He was quick to add that the county employees were working on their days off, too.

Of course, Helms manages their payroll and work hours.

The answers sounded very familiar. In June 2004, 6 News found Helms working a private job in Grainger County on a Wednesday afternoon. We watched as he and his crew paved the street in a subdivision.

At that time, Helms had trouble remembering what he was doing in Grainer County until we showed him the video.

Then caught red handed, he said his private paving days were over, but apparently they're not.

"I thought a couple of years ago you were going to stop doing this," I said. "I was still doing it some. Ain't doing it very much, but still doing it some," Helms said. 

"How much vacation do you get?" I asked. "Two weeks a year, that's all." Helms said, adding that the private job would eat up more than half of his vacation.

"If I called your office today, what would I be told if I wanted to talk to you?" I asked. "I'd say they'd tell you I was on vacation. I don't know," Helms said. 

6 News called Helms' office and a man answered. "Is Mr. Helms in?" I asked. "No, he isn't," the man said.

"Is he out on a job?" I asked. "I don't know, really. I couldn't tell you," the man said.

We wondered what people on the street thought. "Wait a minute. He works for Union County? Doing a private job? He should lose his job," Les Borrego said. 

The Union County Board of Road Commission is the only body that can rein in the road superintendent. For years, members have known about Helms' private contract work, but haven't done anything about it.

"How is this going to look to the people of Union County?" I asked. "I don't know," Helms said.

He added that he'll finish paving the roads at the Fountain City mobile home park later this week.

Northridge Estates told 6 News that Helms bid on the job a few weeks ago and management didn't know about his day job.

Helms has been in office for 25 years. He was last re-elected in 2008.