The investigation into Knox County Trustee Justin Biggs’ office has ensnared a top official from another department.
Matt Myers, the county’s procurement director, repeatedly drove county vehicles back to his house during his lunch break, Knox County Human Resources Director Stephanie Candler told county commissioners in an email April 23 obtained by Knox News.
As procurement director, Myers is the county’s chief purchaser and oversees the county’s supply management.
Though not directly connected to the Biggs investigation, Myers’ breach of rules was discovered as county officials assisted the state watchdog agency looking into the trustee’s office, according to Candler’s email.
Myers was suspended without pay for two weeks and given a disciplinary write up. He also was required to sign the County Fleet Safety Program manual, complete the county ethics policy training and submit a Knox County commuting statement form.
“Matt was transparent and remorseful for this oversight in compliance and assured it would not happen again,” Candler said in the email.
Myers declined to comment about his actions when contacted by Knox News.
Myers was subject to punishment that can’t be meted out to an officeholder like Biggs, who operates practically independently as an elected leader of a county office and does not report to the executive branch. Without a boss, it’s a lot easier for an officeholder like Biggs to break the rules (or the law). And if breaches of public trust are noticed, other officeholders can’t remove a violator from office.
In contrast, County Mayor Glenn Jacobs is Myers’ boss.
Why is Knox County Trustee Justin Biggs’ office under investigation?
The comptroller’s investigation into misuse of taxpayer money has centered on Biggs’ office for using taxpayer dollars to pay for upgraded rooms and access at high-end hotels, as well as personal use of county vehicles.
Biggs and his staff incurred $4,716.59 in costs that exceeded the county rate for hotel rooms.
Additionally, the office is paying the leases for six new Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup trucks equipped with four-wheel drive. In the five years of the lease agreement, the trustee’s office will pay $397,968 for the trucks, $200,000 more than taxpayers would have paid for the typical vehicles used by other county offices.
Biggs frequently travels in the trucks, according to GPS data reviewed by Knox News, but he shouldn’t because he receives an annual travel allowance from the county worth $4,999.80.
Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg.
Tyler Whetstone is an investigative reporter focused on accountability journalism. Connect with Tyler by emailing him at tyler.whetstone@knoxnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tyler_whetstone.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Investigation into Trustee Justin Biggs ensnares different top official