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Auditor: Bishop settlement should be lesson in better record-keeping

The Perry County Board passed a resolution accepting the annual audit for the fiscal year ending Nov. 30, 2013. The audit is on file at the Government Building for public viewing.

Harold Emling of Emling and Hoffman, P.C. said both the Circuit Clerk and the county received standard clean opinions.

There were a few recommendations for the county to improve financial reporting. Noting the recent lawsuit settlement with former County Engineer Doug Bishop, Emling said Perry County should come up with a better system to keep track of vacation and sick leave. He suggested the board receive monthly reports.

Emling's second suggestion was similar. A better system for payroll is needed. Employees must turn in their time sheets by 11 a.m. on Wednesday of the week they are paid, forcing them to estimate their time for Thursday and Friday. Adjustments are then made. Adding a delay so that employees are reporting whole weeks would simplify the process, Emling said.

He noted that it might not be an easy transition and the county would have to work with various unions to change it.

The board passed a resolution making it mandatory for both the County Treasurer and County Clerk to be sign checks for all general fund accounts. County Clerk Josh Gross said the board passed a similar resolution earlier this year, but it was not specific enough for the bank.

Treasurer Bill Taylor said the board will soon be asked to pass a resolution to change the signatures on an account handled by the delinquent tax agent Joseph Meyers. Meyers died. The company will continue to handle the tax sales, but a new signatory will be needed.

In other business, the board:

• heard from Cecil Schmidt that the roads in his district are in very poor shape. Schmidt said he has complained about the roads for the past 10 years. Commissioner Sam Robb said that a plan is in place to maintain the roads in the county. Obviously, not every road can be done every year. County Engineer Brian Otten said that Perry County will spend about $360,000 to oil and chip roads this year, many of those roads are in the Beaucoup area which Schmidt said needs work.

• approved liquor licenses for Double Eagle Inc. doing business as Red Hawk and W. Equine Escape Ltd., doing business as The W.

• passed a resolution appointing Jeffery Robinson, John 'Andy' Clarke and Robert Kelly to the 2013 Perry County Board of Review.