TREZEVANT, Tenn. (June 9, 2026) — The Town of Trezevant’s newly constituted Industrial Development Board is open for business, except it can’t write checks.
A dispute over the IDB’s bank account surfaced at Tuesday’s regular board meeting, with city attorney Charles Trotter and Alderman Don Barger clashing over who has authority over the board’s funds and when the checkbook should change hands.
Barger, who served as the IDB’s point of contact before the board was reconstituted in May, said he is holding the checkbook and will not relinquish it until new board members are formally authorized as signatories at the bank.
“Until I have been informed that there are new authorized persons on that checking account, I will not relinquish that checkbook,” Barger said. “It has to go through the normal channels of the banking industry.”
Trotter didn’t see it that way.
“This is public money,” Trotter said. “It belongs to the town, and whoever’s got it ought to turn over the books and records to the current members of the board.”
“Those funds need to be in the possession of the certified municipal financial officer of the town of Trezevant,” Trotter added, saying that the IDB is supposed to be a quasi-governmental public agency.
Barger said he had already contacted the bank to request his name be removed from the account, and was told the change has to go through proper banking procedures.
“Once you do your part, I will relinquish the checkbook,” he said. “It’s real simple.”
Trotter said he would call the bank Wednesday morning to find out exactly what is required. He also put the alternative on the table.
“There could be a freedom of information request,” Trotter said. “I’ll get the records and we’ll do it that way if we have to.”
“You can do a FOIA act anytime you want to Mr. Trotter,” Barger replied.
“We may find out then,” Trotter said.
IDB member Eddie Granger noted the board is already responsible for at least one town-owned building and needs access to funds for maintenance and emergencies.
“If the air conditioner goes out, whatever, we are responsible,” Granger said. “We need to know that the money will be there to write the checks.”
