Another positive story on how the mainstream embraces porn. Then, again, the NFL’s Jimmy Johnson might be looking for a stunt double.
FRANKLIN, Tennessee — He got an apology from the city of Franklin and a $2 million settlement.
Now former Solid Waste Department Director Joe Williams wants to work for Franklin once again.
Specifically, Williams has applied for a job as Franklin’s solid waste collection supervisor, making $19.84 an hour.
It might seem odd that he wants to come back to Franklin given that city aldermen voted in January 2008 to approve firing him amid inaccurate allegations that he downloaded pornography to city computers — only to then absolve him a year later of any wrongdoing and pay him $2 million to drop his federal lawsuit against the city.
The settlement was believed to be the largest paid by a municipality to an individual in Tennessee history.
Williams, 47, said his reason for applying for the job is simple: “I’m like 10.7 percent of the rest of Williamson County,” he said, referencing the county’s unemployment rate. “I’m hunting work.”
Williams has kept busy as a solid waste consultant, a race track announcer and TV pitchman, but he has not had a full-time job since January 2008.
This job is technically the No. 3 position in the Solid Waste Department. The department’s assistant director slot is currently unfunded. Becky Caldwell, who worked for Williams when he was director, is now the department director.
Williams said he wants a chance to work in a field he loves and to serve the public.
“I’ve been looking for work since January 24, 2008,” he said. “I found a post . . . that I was qualified for.”
Though Williams was the department’s director for nearly 10 years, Franklin officials maintain he won’t be treated any differently. He also is competing against 99 other applicants for the job.
“He will be considered the same as the 99 other candidates,” said Milissa Reierson, city spokeswoman.
The job’s requirements include having a high school diploma, five to seven years of heavy equipment operation and supervisory experience, as well as related education and training.
