East Point city manager: credit-card use not under investigation; utility billing probe ongoing

City Manager Mr. Jones clarified to Mayor Holliday Ingram and the East Point City Council on Oct. 6 that the city is not currently under investigation for misuse of city-issued credit cards, though a separate investigation into utility billing remains active.

The clarification came after public commenters raised questions about alleged council misconduct and ethics concerns. “This information is incorrect,” Mr. Jones said in summary of an email he read to council. “While there is an active investigation concerning utility billing matters, there is no investigation related to Citi credit card usage at this time.”

The manager said the city is conducting a proactive policy review of how Citi-issued credit cards are used “as part of a broader effort to strengthen financial controls and operational accountability.” He said the review is administrative — “focused on evaluating existing policies and practices, not investigating misconduct” — and that policy recommendations will be presented to council at its Oct. 13 work session.

During public comment, several residents pressed the council on ethics and transparency. Thomas Wardlow asked whether “more than one” council member was under investigation for improper use of public funds; Teresa Nelson said she planned to file a formal ethics complaint with the city clerk; and Lauren Moret (a Fulton County public-school teacher) urged regular checks on professional integrity and use of public funds.

Council members responded by describing steps already underway: Mayor Ingram and councilors referenced an existing forensic audit and said Regions Bank had provided additional records to the forensic auditor, enabling further examination of credit-card spending within that larger forensic scope. Council members emphasized that the forensic audit, the internal card-policy review and the separate utility-billing investigation are distinct matters that should not be conflated.

Council member Martin Rogers urged that calls for transparency not be selective, and asked that council keep residents informed as audits and policy reviews proceed. The city manager reiterated his offer to provide additional background or a public communication once the internal review and any forensic work generate formal recommendations.

The manager said the council will see policy recommendations on credit-card controls at the Oct. 13 work session and that any formal disciplinary or criminal matters would be handled through the appropriate investigative channels.

Ending — The council did not vote on any action tied directly to the manager’s statement; Mr. Jones’ clarification was entered into the public record and council directed staff to present policy recommendations at the Oct. 13 work session.