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By Charlotte Underwood
JACKSBORO, TN. (WLAF)- The Campbell County Board of Education approved on Monday evening for County Finance Director Eric Pearson to ask the state auditing authority to look into a “he said, she said” issue in relation to the architectural firm and the contractor regarding the Jacksboro Gym project problems that were discussed last month on September 30th.
Board members also approved for Director of Schools Jennifer Fields to reach out to District Attorney General Jared Effler and request a criminal investigation into the issue. These actions came at the recommendation of BOE Attorney Dail Cantrell.
“I got a letter from representatives of the architectural firm as it relates to your all’s gym project and what was discussed at last month’s meeting,” board attorney Dail Cantrell said.
The architectural firm attached an unsigned letter from Goddard, the skilled contractor that had been provided by your general contractor, as one of the reasons why we were having such difficulties with delays on that project. They essentially reached out to Goddard and Goddard said we did not send this letter. So, now, essentially there is a dispute that the contractor says that they got this letter from Goddard, on Goddard stationary, unsigned and forwarded to them as a reason and the architect says no, that is a false reason. You all are not an investigative body, you have no investigatory powers, you have no subpoena powers,” Cantrell told the board.
He recommended Finance Director Eric Pearson ask the state auditing authority so that they can do an audit of this government contract.
“This is a serious thing. If there is in fact a fake document being created to substantiate why a project is not being completed, that’s wrong and you cannot treat that as a governmental entity and Mr. Pearson will refer that to the state auditing authority, they have investigative powers,” Cantrell said. He also recommended it be turned over to local district attorney general Jared Effler.
“I would simultaneously make a recommendation that your director make a forward to your county district attorney Mr. Effler and let him do a criminal investigation simultaneously to the state’s audit … you have two entities that you have no ability to put under oath, you have no ability to question, you have no ability to say who is telling the truth and one of them is not telling the truth, one of them is not telling the truth and I don’t know any other way to resolve that issue, other than to make the recommendation that you let Mr. Pearson, who is a separate entity from you all, to make a referral to the state and let your director make the referral to the attorney general and they can take what, if any, action needs to be appropriate,” Cantrell said.
County Finance Director Eric Pearson agreed with this course of action and said he would refer it to the state comptroller office if board members voted yes.
The motion was unanimously approved.
(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 10/22/2025-6AM)