Chattanooga Auditor Finds No Criminal Intent in Fleet Garage's $1 Million Overspending
A recent audit of the city of Chattanooga's fleet garage revealed over $1 million in unauthorized spending on automotive parts contracts and widespread pricing discrepancies within the city's procurement process. City auditor Stan Sewell, who presented findings to the city's audit committee, stated his belief that there was no criminal intent behind these actions. The audit indicated that garage management bypassed standard software designed to flag spending approaching approved limits. Sewell suggested that the garage might have become overwhelmed with work, leading to purchases outside of internal controls. As a result of the audit, some employees were placed on administrative leave. The Fleet Management division oversees two garages responsible for maintaining a diverse range of city vehicles, from sedans to fire apparatuses. The audit specifically scrutinized contracts with Lee Smith, operating as Thompson Truck Group, and Ken Smith, operating as Mid America Parts Distributor. 
