Rutherford DSS Faces Security and Staffing Challenges as State Recruits Local Workers

Security concerns and staff turnover dominated the September meeting of the Rutherford County Department of Social Services Board, where Director Dee Hunt said her agency is struggling to keep employees safe — and to keep them from leaving for higher-paying state jobs.

Hunt told the board that Apex Security was hired after repeated safety incidents left workers feeling vulnerable. “For two years we kept a list of all the safety incidents that happened,” Hunt said. “The only thing we could do was call the sheriff’s department, but they’re often out delivering papers.”

The county also pays the Sheriff’s Office for a deputy, Kaley Waters, who serves subpoenas and occasionally provides security. When Waters is unavailable, Apex fills the gap. Employees said the firm’s daily patrols have improved safety, even nicknaming the guards “Batman and Robin.”

Board member Suzanne Porter questioned whether DSS is paying for overlapping services and whether the county can claim state reimbursement for the deputy’s salary if the position isn’t directly supervised by DSS. Hunt acknowledged that the arrangement isn’t ideal — and that the county has yet to fund security cameras for the building.

Meanwhile, Hunt reported that at least four DSS employees recently resigned to join the state’s new Children and Families Specialty Plan, managed by Elevance/Healthy Blue, which offers salaries up to $20,000 higher plus bonuses.

“We’re training good workers, and then the state hires them away,” Hunt said. “You can’t blame them — they’re getting better pay and better hours.”

With safety concerns unresolved and staff leaving for better opportunities, Rutherford DSS continues to face mounting pressure to protect its workforce and maintain critical child welfare services.