FRANKLIN — Though a recent hearing found that Simpson County Judge-Executive Mason Barnes acted violated ethics rules after voting on a rezoning ordinance in which he had an interest, Franklin City Manager Kenton Powell is concerned about a complaint against Barnes that was left out of the hearing.

A complaint was sent to the Barren River Area Development District last year that accused Barnes of using his position as judge-executive to acquire personal financial gain through his construction company, Mason Barnes Construction. The complaint also stated that Barnes had “eroded public trust” after what the complaint describes as an “outburst” Barnes allegedly had after a meeting of city and county officials.

In a signed letter included in the complaint, Powell stated that Barnes twice told Franklin Mayor Larry Dixon to “be a man” and at another point told Powell to “wipe that smirk off your face.”

However, none of this came up during Barnes’ hearing, hence Powell’s concern.

“I just feel like we’re missing the fundamentals about leadership,” Powell told the Daily News. “… I think we’re better, as a community, than that … I want to be better than that.”

The incident reportedly happened in a closed session. The letter claims that once the session adjourned, Barnes rose from his seat and had to be restrained by Powell, and Powell described the mood inside the meeting as “contentious.”

The complaint letter states Barnes walked out of the room with Franklin City Commissioner Wendell Stewart, and that someone overheard Barnes say, “I’m not too old to whoop someone’s … ”

“I’ve been in meetings all my life,” Powell said. “I have never ever been in a meeting with name-calling and threatening. I was just shocked.”

In the letter, Powell states that following the meeting he experienced “many sleepless nights” and “brain fog” throughout the day. Powell told the Daily News it took him “weeks” to get past the event.

Jamie Spinks Meredith, assistant Warren County Attorney and the chair of the ethics board that facilitated Barnes’ hearing, told the Daily News that after the complaint was sent to BRADD, a three-person preliminary panel reviewed it.

After reviewing the complaint and supporting documents, the panel issued probable cause findings for things that could have been in volation of ethics rules.

“ … They determined, after reviewing the complaints, two potential violations and those were the only two that the full committee at the adjudicatory hearing were left to consider,” Meredith said.

The incident described in Powell’s letter was reviewed, but no recommendation was made to the board.

Barnes stated via text that “it has become very apparent that there’s a small group of people who may not care for me.”

“All I can say is these people filed a complaint stating their issues, the ethics board reviewed the complaint, … they then rendered their decision,” Barnes stated. “At that point it should be over.

“If (Powell) has an issue with the ethics decision, (he) should take it up with them rather than try to take it out on me,” Barnes stated. “In my opinion this ordeal is over and I’m just going to concentrate on doing the job the people elected me to do.”

The complaint sent to the board alleged that Barnes used his position as judge-executive to “receive preferential treatment” permitting the company to start building a house on property that was zoned for Interstate Interchange Business District.

Following the hearing, Barnes was found to have violated ethics rules when he cast a “yes” vote on the rezoning at a meeting of the Simpson County Fiscal Court. A cease and desist order was issued by the board and Barnes was told to take steps to ensure ethics violations do not arise in the future.