MILLINGTON, TN – A former Millington city employee hopes a TBI investigation into corruption at city hall will include misspent money in the department where she worked.
Rhonda O’Dell used to be the storm water manager for the city. In April 2010, O’Dell says she sent Millington Mayor Richard Hodges and the city's finance director a letter.
“The email I sent," she tells abc24.com, "outlined my concerns about how money was being spent."
In the letter, O’Dell questioned how the city was using money from the storm water account to buy a long list of things, including several pieces of heavy equipment.
Two months after complaining, O’Dell says her position was eliminated.
For the second day in a row, TBI agents were in Millington executing search warrants in connection to an official misconduct investigation.
Vince Higgins, spokesperson for the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, confirmed the searches occurred, but would not disclose the locations on day two of the raid.
One day earlier, on July 27th, investigators with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the DA's office raided city hall, police headquarters, public works, a local transmission shop and the Mayor's home.
“It is a criminal investigation that is widespread across Shelby County, but centered in Millington,” says Higgins. "No arrests have been made at this time, but it is a criminal investigation and charges could be forthcoming.”
The corruption investigation was triggered by a complaint to the DA's office in December 2010.
Millington Alderman Don Lowry says he wants to know what investigators are looking for in his town before passing judgement.
“Anyone can investigate just about anything," he says. "It doesn’t mean charges are going to be filed."
