In what would be an unprecedented move toward transparency, Wake commissioners this week were briefed on a plan to post all purchasing card spending by county employees in a searchable database on the Web. The move is a reaction to last summer’s scandal involving about $90,000 in improper charges on government credit cards by employees in the county’s Solid Waste Department.

County manager David Cooke said the on-line portal would allow Wake citizens to serve as a posse of watchdogs, with an e-mail address to contact county staff if they spot spending that appears suspect.

Commissioner Paul Coble, a conservative who likes to tout his credentials as a guardian of taxpayer money, expressed concern that allowing unfettered access to the spending data could open a Pandora’s box.

“There are people in this county who will delight in deluging you with questions, taking up staff time,” Coble warned Wake administrators Monday. “They will run you ragged just for fun.”

Take that as a challenge, WakeWatch readers. If all goes as planned, employee spending will start being posted on the county's site this summer.

The Wake affiliate of the N.C. Association of Educators has endorsed Stan Norwalk for county commissioner.

Norwalk, a Democrat, is challenging Republican incumbent Kenn Gardner for a seat on the county board from District 4, which is in southwestern Wake. Gardner has held the seat since 2000.

Wake commissioners run for election county wide, but must live in the district they're running from.

Wake Manager David Cooke needs more time to send documents related to excessive spending and travel by county solid waste employees to District Attorney Colon Willoughby for possible criminal prosecution.

Cooke had pledged to get the materials to Willoughby’s office by Friday, but county spokeswoman Marshall Parrish said the effort has been hampered by staff being out for vacations and other delays.

Parrish said the documents will be sent to the DA by the end of next week.

Former Solid Waste Management Division Director James Reynolds resigned last week in the wake of public outcry over the spending of fired recycling manager Craig Wittig. In the little more than two years he worked for the county, Wittig took at least 50 out-of-town trips — an average of two a month.

He and five subordinates racked up $161,233 in travel costs and other expenses to credit cards issued by Wake County and paid for with public money.

Parrish said Friday that Cooke is still considering personnel action against other employees involved in the scandal.