KNOXVILLE (WATE) - An email from outgoing Knox County Law Director Joe Jarret to county commissioners lays out what to do if county Trustee John Duncan III were to resign from office.
Duncan's office is under investigation due to bonuses paid for online training classes in the CTAS program. Some of the bonuses were paid before the program was finished. Employees of the office later returned $60,000 they collected in bonus money.
There are allegations that someone in the office may have taken a test for others and then tried to cover it up.
Jarret's email, sent on August 24, tells commissioners there are rumors circulating that claim Duncan is considering turning in his resignation.
In the email, Jarret writes, "Generally we ignore such rumors however, in the last hour the mayor, several reputable media spokespersons and community leaders have called my office relative to this rumor."
Jarret goes on to say his office has no evidence to back up the resignation claims, but commissioners are likely to receive calls about the issue.
Jarret's email cites state law saying the trustee can designate a temporary successor. If he does not, the appointment decision falls to county commission.
Trustee's office spokesman Larry Van Guilder said they are not commenting on the rumors of Duncan's resignation.
Commissioners passed a resolution in August that caps bonuses for the CTAS program and puts it on hold until the trustee's office investigation is complete.
Knox County Trustee John Duncan III
