Gov. BIll Haslam, left, leads a discussion in Nashville in this file photo.NASHVILLE - Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's administration has paid out $1 million in secret settlements related to moving state employees around downtown Nashville.
WTVF-TV reports that it obtained the confidential settlement agreements with the owner of an office building and moving service through state open records laws.
The records show that the state agreed to pay the owner of the L&C Tower $900,000 after it canceled a lease there, and $100,000 to Sanders Moving after the state decided to shift work to another moving company.
According to emails obtained by WTVF, state employee Kurt Herron raised concerns that "we've already broken several laws" related to the moving company switch. Haslam administration officials told lawmakers last year the claim was not true.
The agreements were marked "confidential" and barred either side from talking about the deal.