County Government

Elected Officials

Ambulance Service
Director: John Weaver	Phone:
(731) 658-3200 (business)
Address:735 Naylor St.	(731) 658-6580 (emergency)
Bolivar, TN 38008

In 1989, the ambulance department became part of the Hardeman County government. This service has 13 full-time paramedics, 9 full-time emergency medical technicians, 2 full-time dispatchers, and 19 part-time paramedics and EMTs.

Assessor of Property
Assessor of Property: Norma B. Kirk	Phone: (731) 658-6522
Address:106 Warren St.
Bolivar, TN 38008

This office is responsible for the cataloging and maintenance of 22,200 parcels of property each fiscal year. The primary responsibility is the assessment of all real property including land and building improvements. The office also lists tangible personal property, such as equipment, machinery, furniture, and fixtures belonging to a business.

Chancery Clerk and Master
Clerk and Master: Janice M. Bodiford	Phone: (731) 658-3142
Address:P.O. Box 45
Bolivar, TN 38008

Hardeman County is located in the 25th Judicial District for the State of Tennessee. The remaining counties in this district are Fayette, McNairy, Tipton, and Lauderdale counties. There are two chancellors who serve this area. These chancellors are the Honorable Dewey C. Whitenton of Bolivar and the Honorable Martha B. Brasfield of Covington. Most of the hearings include divorces, commitments, adoptions, worker's compensation, boundary disputes, contracts, partition suits (sales of land) and probate matters. The office also handles orders of reference on land where heirs and property value must be established, applications for passports and court requests for change of name.

County Clerk
County Clerk: Jerry Armstrong	Phone: (731) 658-3541
Address:100 North Main St.
Bolivar, TN 38008

This office handles the registration of all vehicles in Hardeman County. It also collects the annual $30 per vehicle wheel tax and business tax paid by Hardeman County merchants. Marriage licenses are also sold at the county clerk's office.
The clerk's office also keeps records of all county commission meetings, and any record of business conducted by the county. Notary bonds, trustee's reports, and all election returns are filed in this office.

Department of Human Services
Area Director:		Phone: (731) 658-5545
Address:	795 Tennessee Street P.O. Box 247
	Bolivar, TN 38008

The purpose of the department is reflected in its mission statement: "We provide a quality system of human services to meet the changing needs of individuals and families in Tennessee. We protect the vulnerable and enable our customers to achieve self-sufficiency and to improve their quality of life." The various programs to meet this mission are Families First, food stamps, TennCare, and adult protective services.

Election Commission
Director: Amber Moore	Phone: (731) 658-4751
Address:106B South Porter Street
Bolivar, TN 38008

The election commission office is responsible for the registration of Hardeman County citizens to vote. The office also handles all municipal and county elections with Annette Russell serving as deputy register. The members of the election commission are appointed by the Tennessee Election Commission to serve two-year terms. These are Adelle Garrett - Chairman, Christy Craft - Secretary, Johnnie Lake, Mike Jeter, and Mark Anderson. In 2001, there were 16,800 registered voters in Hardeman County.

Emergency Communications District (911)
Director: Barbara Dellinger	Phone: (731) 658-3249
Address:120 North Washington Street
Bolivar, TN 38008

This office officially began on June 1, 1992. The Bolivar Police Department serves as the Public Safety Answering Point for Hardeman County. Presently, the district serves 13,000 phone lines. The 911 District has nine board members: Carl Gibson, Jerry McCord, Tony Kirk, Mark Anderson, Larry Williams, Betty Etheridge, Betty Cooksey, Mary Powell, and Brenda Jackson. Board meetings are held at the business office at 5 p.m. on the fourth Monday every other month.

Farm Service Agency
Director: Mary Van Barkley	Phone: (731) 658-3227
Address:791-A Tennessee St
Bolivar, TN 38008

This agency is responsible for carrying out the duties of the Commodity Credit Corporation and its programs and activities. These programs include commodity loans, price support payments, agricultural marketing transition payments, conservation cost sharing, emergency assistance, Conservation Reserve Program, and farm loans. All of these programs are administered by the Farm Service Agency Committee. The current committee consists of Russell Deberry - Chairman, Bob Powell- Vice Chairman, and Earl Smith. Thomas Bolden is minority advisor.

General Sessions, Circuit Court and Juvenile Court
Director: Linda Fulghum	Phone: (731) 658-6524
Address:Hardeman County Courthouse
100 North Main Street
Bolivar, TN 38008

Serving as General Sessions Judge and Juvenile Court Judge is Steven C. Hornsby. The cases that are heard in General Sessions Court include traffic, emergency commitments, civil, game and fish, Public Service Commission, and Motor Vehicle for the State of Tennessee. Criminal and traffic cases include the municipalities in Hardeman County, county cases, and Tennessee Highway Patrol. This office also handles delinquent and unruly juvenile cases, as well as child support, dependent and neglect cases and is involved in drug and alcohol prevention training in Hardeman County schools. This office also handles all warrants and subpoenas. Circuit court also meets in Hardeman County in January, May, and September. Presiding over these courts are Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood - Somerville and Judge Joe Walker - Ripley.

Health Department
Medical Director: Kevin Morris	Phone: (731) 658-5291
Address: 10825 Old Hwy 64
Bolivar, TN 38008

Services that are provided by the clinic include: WIC (Women/Infant/Children), TennCare Enrollment and education, Crippled Children's Services, Speech and Hearing, Well Child Exams and Immunization, Family Planning, Adult Physical Exams, Prenatal, Vital Records, Tuberculosis Screenings, Communicable Diseases, Environmental, Dental, Tennessee Home Visiting Program, and a Pregnancy Prevention coordinator.

Highway Department
Superintendent:Mr. David Sipes	Phone: (731) 658-5102
Phone: (731) 658-7554
Address:401 Fairgrounds Street
Bolivar, TN 38008
Supervisors of roadsDistrict 1	Mike Mitchell
District 2	Kenny Pulse
District 3	Russell DeBerry

The county is divided into three highway districts with an elected supervisor heading each district. Mike Mitchell is supervisor of District I and chairman of the board, Kenny Pulse - District II, and Russell Deberry - District III. The highway department is responsible for 700 miles of county roads.

Rescue Squad
President:Mr. Richard Schuab	Phone: (731) 658-7778
Vice President:Mr. Billy Ervin
Address:P.O. Box 244 Hope Street
Bolivar, TN 38008

The Hardeman County Rescue Squad works very closely with the ambulance department and county law enforcement. The all volunteer squad has 25 members. The squad is chartered with the State of Tennessee and is a member of the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads (TARS). Members of the squad train monthly and also train with adjoining counties. All volunteers are CPR certified; two are EMTs, two are paramedics and seven are First Responders

Register's Office
Director:Mrs. Lily D. Barnes	Phone: (731) 658-3476
Address:Hardeman County Courthouse
100 North Main
Bolivar, TN 38008

This office records deeds, trust deeds, liens, charters, and military discharges. The office also collects transfer and mortgage taxes. As of January 1, 2000, the office is completely computerized, and now accessible by internet at http://www.ustitlesearch.com

Sheriff's Department
Sheriff:Mr. Delphus Hicks	Phone: (731) 658-3971
Address:315 West Market St.
Bolivar, TN 38008

This department is the principle law enforcement agency in county government. This department also processes all civil warrants, warrants issued out of county, out of state and warrants issued through the county court, general sessions, and circuit courts and chancery court clerks' offices. The duties of the sheriff's department include maintenance of the county jail, which is certified by the State of Tennessee Department of Corrections. The department operates twenty-four hours at seven days a week. The department also operates the Litter Grant Program and the D.A.R.E. program.

Soil Conservation Districts
District Conservationist: Rick Cody	Phone: (731) 658-3631
District Secretary: Cindy Plunk
Address:791-B Tennessee St.
Bolivar, TN 38008

The purpose of this organization is to initiate and carry out an aggressive conservation program in the management of soil, water, and other related natural resources. The district covers the entire 419,000 acres in Hardeman County. The district is guided by five supervisors: Barry Lake - Chairman, Gregg Breeden - Vice Chairman, Allan Ferguson - treasurer, and John V. Anderson and Earl Smith. The board meets the third Tuesday of each month at the NRCS office.

Trustee's Office
County Trustee:	Mrs. Mary W. Powell	Phone: (731) 658-5541
Address:	Hardeman County Courthouse Annex
106 N. Warren Street
P.O. Box 337
Bolivar, TN 38008

This office has four primary responsibilities, which collecting the county's property tax being one of these responsibilities and the county's major source of revenue. This office also accounts for all receipts and disburses county funds, manages the cash flow of the county or the county banks, and invests idle cash funds. The department also disburses sales tax revenues and is responsible for most of the revenue from the state, federal, and local sources.

Taxes are payable on the first day in October of each year and are collected through February 28th without interest and penalty. The property tax rate is $2.15, and is distributed to the following accounts: County General Fund, General Purpose School Fund, and Debt Service Fund. Taxes which have not been paid prior to February 28th become delinquent with interest and penalty accruing each month at 1.5 percent until they are filed on April 1 a year later with the Chancery Court Clerk's office.

Veteran's Service Office
Veteran's Service Officer:	Mr. Roy Farris	Phone: (731) 658-5343
Address:	11185 Highway 64
	P.O. Box 65
	Bolivar, TN 38008

This office is located at the National Guard Armory, and its office is open from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. every Monday and Tuesday. This office assists all veterans, their widows and children in applying for all Veteran's Administration benefits. All paperwork that goes to the Veteran's Administration in Nashville for determination is handled through the Veteran's Service Office.

Zoning Compliance Office
Zoning Compliance Officer:Mr. Paul Ellis	Phone: (731) 658-5412
Address:P.O. Box 594
300 East Jackson
Bolivar, TN 38008

This office established 11 eleven zones throughout Hardeman County, and each zone has certain land uses which are allowed. These zoning regulations have been made to promote the health, safety, morals, and the general welfare of the Hardeman County Planning Region. A permit is required for the construction of any building or addition valued at $5,000 or more. Also, all mobile homes are required to purchase a permit. Secondly, county sub-division regulations were established on January 9, 2001 for safe community development.