Audit: Supervisor ran for-profit business out of city-owned building

By Chris Butler | Tennessee Watchdog

NASHVILLE — A Montgomery County official operated a for-profit business out of a county-owned building for nearly three months without paying $3,300 in rent, says a new audit report from state Comptroller Justin Wilson.

The audit doesn’t list the employee by name, identifying him as an ambulance service department supervisor. That supervisor has since resigned his position and no longer works for the county, according to the audit.

County spokeswoman Elizabeth Black didn’t speak to Tennessee Watchdog directly, but, through a county employee, she relayed that county officials won’t discuss the audit until a formal committee reviews the findings.

The former supervisor used the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Clarksville, a building normally rented out for meetings, private parties and weddings, the audit said.

“Between March 20, 2013, and June 6, 2013, an Ambulance Service Department supervisor reserved and used the civic hall after his normal work hours at no charge to teach public CPR classes for personal profit,” according to Wilson’s audit.

“The supervisor reserved the room in advance but did not submit a deposit or final fee. The facilities manager advised us that he thought the reservation was for county business; therefore, he did not collect a deposit or final fee.”

In his audit, Wilson blamed county officials for failing to charge rent and for potentially losing money that should have gone to the county.

In their response to the audit, county officials said they will improve procedures.

According to the county’s website, the civic hall can hold up to 300 people.

Contact Christopher Butler at chris@tennesseewatchdog.org. or follow him and submit story ideas on his official Facebook page.