Audit of mayor's office finds garbage workers allowed to pilfer scrap metal

Feb. 10– A state audit of the Hardin County mayor’s office expected to be made public today found that county employees were allowed to pilfer metal intended to be recycled for cash, depriving the county of an undetermined amount of money.

The Courier in December 2010 reported auditors for the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury were digging for dirt in Hardin County’s garbage after a former county employee alerted authorities. The former employee alleged favored workers were allowed to take metal put into recycling bins at county dumps and sell it for their personal gain.

Randy Etheridge, director of the Hardin County Solid Waste Department, acknowledged at the time that metal theft had been a problem, but denied it was officially sanctioned. County Mayor Kevin Davis agreed, saying that "nobody had any blessing to take any kind of scrap metal."

However, according to the audit, "management of the Solid Waste Department had knowledge of this illegal activity" but failed to "take corrective action."

Auditors said employees admitted to taking scrap metal and selling it for their own profit, and learned one employee interviewed even maintains a personal scrap business.

The matter has been reviewed with the district attorney, the audit states.

Davis told auditors that controls have been put in place to monitor scrap metal transactions. He said a "zero tolerance" policy was also implemented regarding the removal of metal belonging to Hardin County by anyone for personal gain.

(Ed. note: For more on this developing story, read the upcoming print edition.)