After gaining all approvals for the apartments, with the intent to build, Mr. Martin listed the property for sale with the advertisement that the property is "approved 5 unit apartment building" but could be a single family home also. He was asking $44,900.00 for the property. In August 2021, Martin paid $22,000.00 for the property.

In September last year, Martin did in fact sell the property for $44,900.00 to Ronald Barczak.

To be absolutely clear, there's not a thing wrong with someone making money on a property transaction. But there seems to be a reoccurring theme here.

Mr. Martin, LCUB employee/realtor and vice chairman of the Lenoir City Planning Commission, buys the property, gets all the necessary approvals for the property to be apartments, then sells the property for a nice profit.

Last year, LCUB general manager, Shannon Littleton buys, for $160,000.00, and gets quit claimed to him, two lots behind Hardies. He gets the property annexed into the city, gets all the necessary approvals, then sells the properties for $525,000.00. That's where the 34 new apartments are.

Lenoir City mayor, Tony Aikens buys a five acre parcel of property for $125,000.00. Gets all the approvals for the property to be 80 apartments, plus a 10 year PILOT, tax break, then later gives/quit claims the property to a developer friend. Then the property ultimately sells for $550,000.00.   

Wonder if the city/LCUB offers property investment classes or something?