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Resident urges audit of charity bingo funds; commissioner says attorney general looked into it
Summary
Gary Knight used his five minutes of privilege of the floor to call for an audit and full transparency of charity bingo finances. A commissioner responded that the matter had been reviewed by the Alabama attorney general’s office and asked that Mr. Knight provide probable cause if he believes illegal activity persists.
Gary Knight, who was granted five minutes of privilege of the floor at the Houston County Commission’s administrative meeting, urged the commission to require openness and accountability in the spending of funds generated by charity bingo activities and asked for a third-party audit.
“What I’m doing is asking that the commission go ahead and abide by act number 569, which is your charity bingo,” Knight told commissioners. He said county rules and reports on bingo spending have been “ignored” and alleged funds were being diverted from charity bingo “into private coffers,” including purchases and transfers he characterized as inappropriate. Knight said he had previously brought documentation to county officials and to federal investigators and that public meetings and clearer reporting were needed.
A commissioner who responded at the meeting said the issue had been examined. “We looked into this. I sent all the paperwork that you had to the attorney general’s office of state of Alabama,” the commissioner said. “It has been looked into. They are the ones who's got the blessing throughout everybody in state of Alabama who's doing things appropriately.” The commissioner added that if Mr. Knight has specific evidence of illegal activity he should present probable cause, and noted an audit would require county funds.
The chairman had introduced the floor request and noted Mr. Knight would have five minutes for his remarks. After the exchange, the administrative meeting concluded and the commission adjourned.
The transcript records Knight’s claims and the commissioner’s response but does not include any formal motion to open a county audit or any commitment by the commission to pursue one; the commissioner said the attorney general’s office had reviewed the matter and that the county would need probable cause or more documentation to justify further action.
