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Clarifications and Amplification

AMPLIFICATION: KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL STORY

Knox County refutes auditor’s charges

Administrator calls allegations of official oppression ‘baseless”

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Amplification: On July 16, 2009, the Knoxville News Sentinel published a story titled "County refutes auditor's charges" over the byline of reporter Rebecca Ferrar.

The story states “Leading up to the charge, the mayor had asked the Audit Committee to contract with an auditor to conduct a peer review of Walls' work, saying he has not followed proper auditing practices.”

The story fails to note that Walls’ complaint against the Mayor and his staff was filed the same day County Commission approved a peer review of Walls’ office. The story also omits the fact that the peer review is required by professional standards every three years. Since the internal audit position was created eight years ago, no peer review has been completed.

The Audit Committee voted unanimously on March 5, 2009, to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the external review of the County’s Office of Internal Audit, as requested by the Mayor’s Office. County Commission approved the contract during its June 22, 2009 meeting.

AMPLIFICATION: KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL STORY

814 people get free City County garage parking

Thursday, July 16, 2009

4th paragraph: In a front page story about the parking study conducted by the County's internal auditor, the KNS states “After receiving the report Wednesday, the county’s Audit Committee unanimously voted to ask the County Commission to establish a policy that is consistent for all departments.”

Amplification: The story omits that this [vote] was based on the recommendation of Chief Financial Officer John Troyer. Troyer suggested developing a countywide policy as an appropriate action for the committee to recommend to County Commission.

The Analysis of Parking Facilities draft report issued by County Auditor Richard Walls was ordered by resolution of County Commission on October 27, 2008. The resolution directed that an analysis of parking in both the City-County Building garage and the Dwight Kessel garage would be completed and submitted to Commission at the December 15, 2008 meeting.

On July 15, 2009, Mr. Walls published a draft report, which contained a single recommendation: “PBA and each department should establish a process to periodically verify the accuracy of keycard lists and employee payroll deductions for parking.” The Audit Committee’s action yesterday was based on Mr. Troyer’s recommendation and was unrelated to the recommendation in the draft report.

AMPLIFICATION: WBIR NEWS STORY

Second Harvest, others hoping to rally against proposed Knox budget

Thursday, April 30, 2009

In the WBIR story regarding Knox County community grants Elaine Streno, the executive director of Second Harvest said they did not receive the notification of the mandatory meeting that was required for all agencies as part of the community grant process. Second Harvest did not attend that meeting, causing their application for funding to be rejected.

Amplification: Item Number 5 under General Information in the 2009-2010 Grant Funding Request Package that Second Harvest and all agencies submitted states:

“EVERY applicant must attend a mandatory technical assistance workshop to be held Tuesday, January 13th, 2:00 p.m. at the John T. O’Connor Senior Center, 611 Winona Street. FAILURE TO ATTEND WILL RESULT IN APPLICATION REJECTION.”

CLARIFICATION: Knoxville News Sentinel Editorial

Lowe decision: Entitlement culture goes on

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

6th paragraph: “If that's the case, Knox County has been mighty generous, paying departing employees for unearned vacation any time they left before the end of the year. Rest assured, that's not the way most private-sector employers handle it, not having the taxpayers' dough to draw upon.”

Clarification: This was based on the policy of the Knox County Trustee’s Office, not the policy of Knox County Government. The Knox County Government policy is found on pages 31-33 of the Knox County Employee Handbook which provides for employees using annual leave only as they accrue it under the guidelines provided.