What could $161,153.40 Do for the Knox County Sheriff’s Office?

This morning is the date that the Knox County Merit System Council had set for the Nathan Cole Grievance Hearing. Of course it has been placed on hold because Tom Spanky Spangler‘s January 26, 2022 case filing in Knox County Chancery Court against the Knox County Merit System Council. 

Original Suit • filed on January 26, 2022

This week I asked Chris Caldwell, finance director for Knox County for the payments to Gary Prince‘s firm, who operates as the outside legal counsel for Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler. The total is $161,153.40 

In the Martha Dooley Grievance Hearing the Knox County Law Department has paid $34,765.20 and Knox County Sheriff’s Office $53,849.50 for a total paid of $88,614.70 so far. The 57 pages of bills do not appear to cover the two days of the grievance hearing on March 1 and 2, 2022. 

“The Finance Department doesn’t hold unpaid bills, so everything listed has been submitted for payment” Caldwell said. 

In the Raymond Scott Moore grievance hearing Prince’s firm has been paid $36,029.70 so far.

In the John Ivan Harmon grievance hearing Prince’s firm has been paid $22,765.00 so far. 

In the Gibson grievance hearing (which was December 2020) and never went to hearing, Prince’s firm was paid $13,079.00 

In Misc. Non Sheriff Cases, Prince’s firm was paid $665.00

For a grand total to the Knox County taxpayers of $161,153.40 

The cost that hasn’t been calculated is the KCSO employees time when Prince is meeting with them preparing them for two days of hearings. The KCSO employees time when he is pulling records and having them research in preparation. The taxpayers are on the hook for a Knox County Law Department of over 20 employees, (9-10 Attorneys), the two Attorneys on staff of KCSO.

So, in addition, to employees that can not get their grievance hearing heard and they are paying for legal counsel. The BIGGEST LOSER is the KNOX COUNTY TAXPAYER!