Officials in Hawkins County, Tennessee are taking action against a collective purchase by their 911 dispatcher staff - a tanning bed currently residing in the central dispatch center.

The Hawkins County 911 Board voted Thursday to remove the offending item, which was purchased by the dispatching team with their own money, according to The Associated Press

The center handles emergency calls for fire and law enforcement departments.

County Commissioner Syble Vaughan-Trent is concerned about taxpayer outrage, saying, "It's the impression it leaves as much as it is the money involved, but I think taxpayers are going to be highly upset to find out their money is paying utility costs for a tanning bed at 911."

Board chairman Chili Sanders, who approved putting the tanning bed on county property, says, "The employees paid for it, and I told them they could put it in there, but they cannot use it while they're on the clock,'' Sanders told his fellow board members.

He adds, "Our employees sit for 12 hours, and they get kind of stiff, so they go in there after clocking out. They say it helps - the heat on their back.''