Local News
State auditor questions city procedures
OTTUMWA — The state auditor’s office has sent a letter to Ottumwa city officials expressing concerns on how it has addressed certain fiscal records.
The “reaudit” addressed certain issues identified from July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006, “as well as certain issues applicable to the year ending June 30, 2005 and subsequent periods.”
Deputy State Auditor Warren Jenkins said Tuesday that the biggest issues his office had were:
• Keeping separate the different revenue sources to be used for specific things.
• Using more of the employee benefits tax levy to pay certain expenses.
• And a basic administrative recommendation to approve solid waste fees by ordinance instead of resolution.
Jenkins said an ordinance requires three readings, which offers “more opportunities for public comment.”
While the above items are “the main things,” Jenkins noted there was “a lot of talk about Bridge View Center.”
“I think that’s why [the state auditor] got the request in the first place,” he said. “[City officials] need to consult legal counsel to resolve any remaining issues.”
The state auditor’s office wants to make sure “if there’s money that’s not used properly that it be put back,” according to Jenkins. If too much was transferred from the employees’ levy, then the funds need to be transferred back to the right place.
“City officials aren’t required to respond to us,” Jenkins said. “But, what we have reported will be in the next audit and there will be follow-ups.”
Mayor Dale Uehling said Tuesday he has “no problem with the state auditor’s findings.”
He said they “didn’t find anything really illegal, just some procedures and processes” that need fine-tuned.
“These were things we realized we needed to make changes,” Uehling said. “We got the auditor’s initial findings and we had to add some additional changes. One was doing solid-waste fees by ordinance rather than resolution, which we agreed to do. Overall, I thought [the auditor’s report] was nothing that serious.”
Uehling said the auditor’s recommendations were “important” and even more so because some Ottumwa citizens had requested them.
As for the employee benefit levy, Uehling said it was a case where the city transferred the budget amount, but the procedure will change to transferring the actual amount to pay the benefit.
City Attorney Tom Kintigh is working on the solid-waste recommendation, the mayor added.
City Administrator Joe Helfenberger said the city “has complied with everything” with two exceptions. Kintigh is working on “the ordinance for utility rates and for the refuse.
“The other thing was a question on the maintenance building at the airport being a TIF building and transferring the TIF to a basic TIF project that would be within the guidelines,” he said.
“All the auditors’ suggestions have been implemented and all four responses have been accepted by the state,” Helfenberger said. “There’s nothing earth-shattering here.”
Cindy Toopes can be reached at (641) 683-5376 or via e-mail at cindy@ottumwacourier.com.
- Local News
-
-
Indian Hills enrollment heading for a record
Indian Hills Community College may break its own population record with a second year of double-figure enrollment increases.
-
Residents in area of Birchwood Knoll, Greenbriar Lane file suit against county
Wapello County Supervisors have hired an attorney to defend the county in a class action and equity lawsuit concerning Ackley’s Birchwood First Subdivision, where residents want to be included in the secondary road system.
-
Cargill donation benefits Memorial Park
This week, Cargill Eddyville and Cargill Meat Solutions in Ottumwa announced a $30,000 donation to improve Memorial Park. Employees and city officials met for a check presentation Tuesday the park.
-
Senator surprised by local flooding issues
State Sen. Rob Hogg visited Ottumwa Tuesday to push for flood recovery.
- Breast cancer survivors’ stories wanted
-
Election protection: Poll workers needed so every vote counts
Group seeks to find new poll workers to replace the dropping numbers of older poll workers.
-
Water still on 120th Ave.; residents unhappy
Residents remain unappy about problems along water-logged roads, but county supervisors say delay in checks is an issue of safety. Once the water goes down, they say they will take action.
-
Officials tout computerized precinct atlas
Secretary of state travels to Ottumwa with Cerro Gordo County Auditor to encourage county officials to view the installment of computerized identification system as a long-term investment.
-
High-altitude snapshots: Helium balloon floats 17 miles high and takes pictures of Earth
Ottumwan takes an interest in taking photos from near space and launches balloon equipped with camera just north of Ottumwa. The experiment successfully captures some images from about 17 miles above Earth.
-
High waters hamper rescue efforts
Firefighters and other emergency workers still contend with floodwaters in some of the county's low-lying areas, prompting a rescue by boat along Rabbit Run Road Friday.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Indian Hills enrollment heading for a record
