Commissioner says comptroller investigated satellite office

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A Hamilton County Commissioner says he is under investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office for funds used for a satellite office.

Satellite offices are used by commissioners to conduct business within their own districts.

However, Hamilton County Commissioner Warren Mackey said an issue has come up with his satellite office.

During a vote on a resolution approving new satellite office guidelines, several commissioners appeared concerned over Commissioner Mackey’s revelation that he is being investigated by the state comptroller’s office. 

He explained that somehow, the State Comptroller’s Office had found out his satellite office, which is normally reimbursed by the county, has been only used as a storage space with no running utilities. 

Mackey said, “About two years ago, at the height of the COVID crisis, I stopped hosting meetings, stopped hosting face to face meetings. It was during this period I had the utilities due to a toilet leaking.”

He said due to this, the county’s financial department would not reimburse him for the last four months of his lease agreements.

This had other commissioners on edge. 

“I am a county commissioner, and I want to make sure things are said to me before it gets to Nashville,” Commissioner Greg Beck said. 

Commissioner Steve Highlander added, “If our audit department did not go to the comptroller, how in the heck did they know to go into his office and know the quality of the furniture he had there? It does not make sense.”

However, administrators said they are required to report any discrepancies, including a check that did not verify.

“The county audit department had findings that they were required by law to report to the comptroller, and that is where the investigations began,” Claire McVay, Chief of Staff for Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp, said.

Other commissioners said the staff did the right thing.

Commissioner Joe Graham said, “We’re not spending our money. We’re spending the taxpayer’s money, and it’s good we are having this discussion.”

The commission approved the new satellite office rules with the ability to use them as storage space for important commission documents.

Commissioner Graham was the only one to vote against it.