WATE: Mayor gives Pinkston tongue lashing [1]

"I've never been convicted of a crime between the two of us. Only one of us has been convicted of a crime and that's you," the mayor told Pinkston.

The gloves came off during yesterday's special County Commission meeting to review an audit of Knox County p-card expenses. The issue of travel allowances also came up.

Despite Mayor Ragsdale's vigorous defense under oath and Commissioner DeFreese's failed motion calling for Ragsdale's resignation, Commission took harsh action.

From the Knoxville News Sentinel [2]

The Knox County Commission formally censured Mayor Mike Ragsdale on Monday and will force him and his top aides to pay back nearly $40,000 in questionable purchasing-card charges.

Commission also voted to refer the matter of Cynthia Finch's fabricated receipts to District Attorney General Randy Nichols for criminal investigation.

In other action, a proposal to put liquor by the drink up for a vote was withdrawn because Law Director John Owings said County Commission isn't authorized to put it on the ballot. (Does anybody know why that is?) He said citizens would have to petition for a referendum.

Lobster was apparently not served during the marathon meeting, but there was definitely some grilling.