Champion’s club, a city-owned tennis club off Lupton Drive, is suspected of conducting private business after a city audit uncovered the violations.Chattanooga’s recreation director said today the city is trying to work out a contract in which a professional tennis professional at the Champion’s Club could still receive extra compensation.
“He will be a city employee,” said Greta Hayes.
The Champion’s Club, located in the Lupton City neighborhood, came under fire from a city audit recently that showed the club’s manager – Orlando Lourenco – was using city employees on the property while he ran a private business.
Lourenco gives private tennis lessons and operates private tournaments at the club and has pocketed the money. Parks and Recreation officials said he could because of a contract set up 11 years ago, but the audit found the contract ran out in 2003.
Parks and Recreation officials are now scrambling to find a way to keep Lourenco and compensate him as well.