| The Clay County Commission is meeting today reportedly seeking a way to remove Clay-Roane PSD Director Melissa Postelwait and deal with re-creating the five-member PSD board, which may now be down to two members.
 Postelwait (pictured left) has been charged with battery and released on $500 bond after striking Roane board member Susan Beard following last Thursday's PSD meeting. (Photo courtesy of Andy Waddell)
Postelwait, on her personal web site www.clayroanepsd.com has advised the county commissioners that they cannot fire her.
Postelwait struck Beard in the face "very hard" after Beard alleged the chairperson received about $425 in over-payments for board attendance.
The Clay Communicator reported Postelwait supporters, several of them members of Postelwait's extended family, said "Hit her again (Beard), I'll pay your bond."
Postelwait called Beard a derogatory name following Beard to the front door where she struck her, sending glasses, handbag, and car keys flying. The confrontation ended up in the street until police arrived.
Roane County commissioner Rodney Cox, whose behavior was described as appropriate, represents Roane County, but is not an official board member. Cox allegedly escaped being slugged by Postelwait supporter Bob Deems, because Cox was apparently supporting Beard's allegations.
"It was atrocious conduct" said Andy Waddell, editor of the Communicator, who attempted to intervene in the dispute.
At the conclusion of the official meeting, The Clay Communicator reported Postelwait announced she wanted her pay check at the end of each and every meeting, even if there wasn't enough money to pay the employees.
Postelwait, who has been known to hire or appoint numerous relatives to the PSD, now says she will bring a suit against Waddell and others who are misrepresenting her.
Postelwait was appointed to the PSD in 2002 by the Clay Commission after she lodged numerous complaints about water service and PSD problems in the county.
Postelwait has announced she will be a candidate for the County Commission in 2006.
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