TN Rep. Martin DanielKNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A state lawmaker is calling for a refund of all but $10,000 of the $46,000 paid for development of a new Tennessee state logo, saying the company that developed it was “substantially over-compensated.”
The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that Rep. Martin Daniel made the request in a letter sent last week to executives of GS&F, the Nashville advertising firm that developed the logo, with copies to Gov. Bill Haslam and state General Services Commissioner Bob Oglesby, whose department oversaw the firm’s contract with the state.
In the letter dated July 1, the Knoxville Republican cited his 23 years as the owner and operator of outdoor advertising businesses that have developed hundreds of outdoor advertising designs and numerous logos.
After examining all the documents involved in the contract and conferring with General Services department officials, Daniel said it appears the firm was obliged to produce five “initial concepts” for state review, but actually only produced the one that was finally approved — the square logo featuring the white letters TN on a red field above a blue bar.