By MIKE KRAFCIK
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) – Knox County commissioners have asked again for financial records from the Knoxville Chamber.
In July, the chamber released some public records after commissioners had questions about whether county funds were being spent on political campaigns.
Commissioners now want to know how private money is being spent.
The resolution proposed Monday by Commissioner Tony Norman requests all the chamber's financial reports of revenues and expenses, not made available to the public.
Norman also asked for access to chamber records connected to two political campaigns it helped carry out.
Commissioners decided to defer the measure until next Monday's meeting, but commissioners say they plan to take action at that point.
Knoxville Chamber CEO Mike Edwards told commissioners a recent chamber audit was mailed to the commission office last week. Commissioners said they hadn't received the copy of the audit.
Knox County Chief Deputy Law Director David Buuk said commission has the authority to ask the chamber to reveal its records.
Some commissioners want to make sure public money is being commingled for all chamber activities, including political ones.
Edwards told commissioners that releasing records of how public dollars were spent was good enough, since he said the organization is a private entity. "It is not part of the public domain," he said.
Edwards said the chamber will be represented by a lawyer during next Monday's commission meeting.
Commission also passed a measure without recommendation Monday to approve a cap on bonuses for CTAS, an online training program for county officials and employees, at an amount not to exceed $1,000.
The county finance department said the bonuses have to be paid out by October 31.
The next step is a final reading at commission's meeting on August 27.
