Dunlap’s married city office manager and city recorder/treasurer underpaid for city utilities, according to a Tennessee comptroller’s investigation.
The state comptroller dinged the city in a report probing an inappropriate supervisory situation in which the couple built a new house inside the city’s gas and water service area.
The issue stemmed from an unwritten policy regarding new construction billing accounts that are delayed while building is under way, according to the investigative report released Tuesday, which covered the period between June 2020 and April 2024.
Yonna Hatfield, the city’s office manager, is married to Norman D. Hatfield, the city’s recorder/treasurer. Both worked for the city for years before they were married, records show. Norman Hatfield also serves as the city’s fire chief. The report said the couple paid about $350 less to the city than others in the same position would.
Mayor Dwain Land said findings were focused on a lack of city policy, and that’s being addressed.