Was county commission oversight committee formed too quickly?

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Was the newly proposed audit committee formed too quickly? That’s one question the Hamilton County Commission is now asking.

This new committee would be in charge of overseeing spending and other actions of the commission.

It would exist independently of existing auditors inside county government.

The committee will be comprised of five members, including sitting Commissioner Chip Baker.

Hamilton County Commission meeting on June 5, 2024

However, some other commissioners say they did not see the resumes of the other members until yesterday. And while commissioners say they support another set of eyes monitoring them, they are concerned how quickly this committee is coming together.

“I love the idea of an audit committee,” Commissioner Joe Graham said. “I love the idea of another set of eyes looking at it, and our audit committee told us they like it too. However, what’s kind of odd here is that we’re trying on the lights, we’re trying to have another set of eyes look at this through an auditing committee, but yet this audit committee was put together in the dark… It’s like this committee was opened up and closed as fast as it opened up, it was like it was precooked.”

Commissioners believe improving the application and interview processes will fix many of these issues.

The commission plans to vote on this at next week’s recessed meeting. They would like to meet the other members that have been currently selected to the committee.