State investigators look into Perry fairgrounds management

A state investigative agency is looking into the authority that oversees the publicly owned fairgrounds in Perry.

The state Office of the Inspector General has opened an investigation into the Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority, said State Inspector General Deborah Wallace.

She said the investigation is "not of a criminal nature," but any findings will not be publicly available until the investigation is complete. She estimated the work would be completed by about the end of January.

The office investigates allegations of fraud, waste and abuse, but Wallace would not discuss details of what the investigation is trying to determine.

The state-appointed authority is the governing body of the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter. Day-to-day operations of the fairgrounds are handled by professional staff.

Efforts to reach the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter spokeswoman and anyone in its executive office were unsuccessful Friday.

One authority member, John Callaway, said he does not know anything about an investigation.

The investigation comes amid a leadership change at the fairgrounds.

On Dec. 8, fairgrounds Executive Director Randy Moore wrote a letter to Gov. Nathan Deal, saying he would retire at the end of this month.

Moore had publicly announced his departure in November, but at that time he said he planned to stay until March 2016.

The Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter hosts conferences, rodeos, meetings, livestock shows and other events.

To contact writer Maggie Lee, e-mail mlee@macon.com.

This story was originally published December 11, 2015 at 10:11 PM with the headline "State investigators look into Perry fairgrounds management ."