JACKSON, Tenn. (AP) – A Tennessee Comptroller’s Office investigation has found millions of dollars in questionable spending by the city of Jackson, although a grand jury has declined to take action, according to the comptroller.
The payments included reimbursements to the Jackson Generals baseball club and expenses for waste disposal that the city continued to provide despite a contract with Waste Management for those services.
The investigation began after current city officials reported questionable transactions that occurred during the tenure of former Mayor Jerry Gist and his administration, according to the Comptroller.
They include a payment of more than $526,000 for the Jackson Generals baseball club for goods and services the club received through barter transactions.
“Essentially, the club was paid twice: 1) once when the club received a good or service from a vendor during a trade deal; and 2) when the club presented an invoice to the city and received a reimbursement payment,” according to a news release from the Comptroller.