JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
South Pittsburg resident Daniel Hinderliter has expressed his concerns regarding the lack of disclosure about the city’s financial transparency and documentation surrounding the National Cornbread Festival.
During public comments, Hinderliter came forward to the Board of Mayor & Commissioners addressing worries about missing reports from the 2024 annual financial report, including the costs of maintenance as well as pay for city police and employees working throughout Cornbread Festival weekend earlier this year. He continued by adding how on Sunday, May 18 he reached out to the city to request public records of the Festival’s expenditures. However, in response, the city claimed any records of the Festival’s expenditures did not exist at all, all the while ignoring Hinderliter’s additional follow up request the next day.
He also felt because of a lack of financial reports being listed, in addition to the city claiming no involvement with the Cornbread Festival, both actions undermine overall trust towards the Board, while also violating Tennessee code. He further stated due to a lack of response for his request of public records, the city additionally violates the state’s Public Records Act’s seven day rule.
The act was first passed in 1957, which allows full access to public records for all Tennessee residents. If a given government body does not follow through with a resident’s request, the seven day rule requires the government entity to send a response by a seven day time frame.
“I filed Tennessee Office of Open Record Council complaints on June 9 and June 25. The National Cornbread Festival ignored my May 17 request for 990s, violating IRS rules. I sent them a follow-up request on the 25. In addition, I’ve asked for a list of board of directors. This suggests opacity,” explained Hinderliter.
Daniel also shared how $738,925 were shown within the city’s 2024 audit report through delayed record closure and unearned record closure, which he felt exposed accounting weaknesses for the city. He concluded the conversation by stating the Board should not only disclose all Festival expenditures, but also respond in full the aforementioned records request, and address overall conflict of interests generated from the matter at hand moving forward.
