Knox News Sentinel has reported online today that Knox County Mayor Elect Glenn Jacobs is retaining Knox County Finance Director Chris Caldwell. An action that is surprising to most in the court house. Because Caldwell is the subject of at least one TN Comptroller complaint and is rumored to be facing a Knox County Ethics Committee complaint.
The Knox News Sentinel has reported about Caldwell falsifying time cards for a friend and Finance employee Ben Bean, from May 2017 until about May 2018. Knox News Editor Jack McElroy had an encounter with Bean in Downtown Knoxville. Bean felt he was being harassed, it can only be assumed (which can be dangerous) that McElroy felt that he was doing investigative background work into alleged allegations.
I have requested the work product of Ben Bean and the Knox County Mayor’s office has not responded. I will open Records Request it again on 9/1/2018, surely the county would NOT destroy records because one Mayor leaves before another takes over.
Stay tuned.
Brad Anders talks with Mayor Burchett, while Knox County Finance Director Chris Caldwell stands off to the side sampling the exceptional food.
On the BrianHornback.Com twitter on the day Bataille, Moran and Ball retired, we reported it. We had heard about Salter and did not feel his departure was news worthy. Dwight Van de Vate will not be in Public Works and Engineering, instead he will be in a Community development role. Rumor is Engineer Jim Snowden will be Director of Public Works and Engineering. That’s a novel idea, an Engineer over Engineering. Good move Glenn Jacobs.
I doubt Caldwell will be there in six months. I think this is a transitional thing.