Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg’s administration will end the longstanding practice of enlisting a city tourism agency to secure hotel rooms for his Kentucky Derby guests.

The Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting earlier this month revealed how city officials used the Louisville Tourism agency to reserve rooms at the 21c Museum Hotel downtown. In doing so, they bypassed Metro Council approval for the nearly $49,000 contract.

Local lawmakers questioned the practice. Metro Council president Brent Ackerson said he’d refer the matter to the council’s Government Oversight, Audit and Appointments Committee for review. City purchasing policy and state law requires Metro Council approval for any noncompetitive purchase over $40,000.

“It needs to be looked into,” Ackerson told KyCIR earl

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