Public officials are trustees of all the people and have no power to waive the statute of limitation. *** As such trustees they have a much higher obligation imposed upon them, in the handling of the business of the county, than they would in handling their own personal affairs. In handling their personal affairs they would have a perfect right to waive the statute of limitation if they so desired but when they come to handling the rights of others and administering their affairs, taxing the people and spending money for others, they have a much higher duty and obligation imposed upon them than they do in handling their private personal matters.
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Public officials are trustees of all the people and have no power to waive the statute of limitation. *** As such trustees they have a much higher obligation imposed upon them, in the handling of the business of the county, than they would in handling their own personal affairs. In handling their personal affairs they would have a perfect right to waive the statute of limitation if they so desired but when they come to handling the rights of others and administering their affairs, taxing the people and spending money for others, they have a much higher duty and obligation imposed upon them than they do in handling their private personal matters.
Hicks v. Fox, 190 Tenn. 82, 87, 228 S.W.2d 68, 69–70 (1950)