UPDATE (DECEMEBER 21ST):
Hamilton County Commissioners approved a resolution that confirms that the county attorney can hire outside attorneys and law firms.
With this going into effect, they need to make sure it gets approved through the county attorney's office before they hire an outside attorney.
EARLIER:
Hamilton County's government is tied up in a constant back-and-forth as commissioners are still sparring with the Mayor over his feud with county attorney Rheubin Taylor.
Inside the Hamilton County courthouse Wednesday, a commission meeting turned into a heated debate as some called the investigation into Taylor's legal work a "witch hunt," distracting for government work.
"Maybe if he'd stopped here out around to Chattanooga State and the Board of Regents and everything else and focus on county government, we wouldn't have to deal with this mess!!" says Commissioner Davis Sharpe.
This was just one of several tense moments between Hamilton County commissioners as they begged to get back to doing work for the taxpayers.
"It's, gosh, it's middle school stuff. It's middle school stuff.
"We need to get on to business, and we need to get past this soap opera."
The clash between County Attorney Rheubin Taylor and Mayor Westin Wamp continues, with a new audit finding Taylor didn’t follow the county’s own protocol.
"It's a completely unaccountable, near rogue legal department. And like Ruben Taylor's felt for some time, like he sets all the rules, and nobody would ever hold him accountable," says Wamp.
According to Hamilton County auditor, Jenneth Randall, Taylor didn’t get approval for purchases close to $2 million dollars to hire outside law firms to do county work.
"For 29 years, I have entered into contracts with outside counsel, as my contract with the county allows me to do those outside councils that perform services for Hamilton County," says Taylor.
Wamp responded that just because for 29 years nobody ever insisted that he have to abide by the same rules as every other county employee, doesn't mean things can't change.
"Just because that's been the way that it has been done, doesn't mean we're going to continue," says Wamp.
But this audit is just one of several points of contention between the two, as Taylor’s suit against Wamp continues in court and tensions remain high.
But at what cost, some commissioners want to know.
"I would like to see us try to work together as we are mature adults," said one commissioner.
A court date that was set for Thursday for the Taylor, Wamp lawsuit is now scheduled for January 9th at 11a.m.
This is a developing story and will be updated.