ATHENS, Tenn. — Some City Council members on Monday challenged Councilwoman Shannon Alvey to produce evidence to support allegations of city government corruption she made on Election Day.

Councilwoman Ann Davis, who was elected Nov. 4, read a statement at the council workshop asking Mrs. Alvey to produce “all documentation of facts concerning the corruption and dishonest(y) charges” after investigations into missing police evidence and the city’s ISO rating.

She asked for “specific documentation of state and/or federal laws that have been violated and any violations of the City Charter,” if Mrs. Alvey has such paperwork.

Retiring Mayor John Proffitt, Councilmen Hal Buttram and Bo Perkinson and Mrs. Davis criticized comments Mrs. Alvey made in a radio interview, saying they created concern among voters.

Mrs. Alvey said her comment referred to the ongoing investigation of more than $40,000 missing from the city finance department and drugs and a weapon that were supposed to be in police custody.

A former city detective has admitted taking about $8,000 of the money but a grand jury refused to indict him on theft charges.

“We don’t know that this is just something in (only) the police department,” Mrs. Alvey said. “I hope it was just isolated to the police department.”

Mrs. Alvey has said City Manager Mitchell Moore should be fired over the missing evidence, which she calls a sign of management problems, and for withholding evidence from the council about a downgrading in the city’s fire protection rating.

Mrs. Davis said she has read about both incidents and would like more information if it is available. When Mrs. Alvey asked if she had read the hundreds of pages of the ISO investigation or just the summary. Mrs. Davis replied she read the summary.

“I suggest you read all of the information,” Mrs. Alvey said. “It is very revealing.”

At the end of the 15-minute discussion, Councilman Dick Pelley said, “Everyone has a right to express their opinions. You all have expressed your feelings, and now it’s time to move on.”

For the past four years, Mr. Pelley and Mrs. Alvey have been on the losing side of a 3-2 split on the council. Mrs. Davis has said she will base her decisions on facts, not politics.

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