Accurate Town of Manderson budget ‘impossible’ due to audit findings

Manderson Town Council addressed their FY 2022 audit at Monday’s town council meeting. 

Councilmember Thea Saunders read aloud the communications portions of a report from the Public Funds Division of the State of Wyoming Department of Audit, which found 16 alleged violations of the Constitution or State Statute as well as high possibility of fraud. 

The town is now set to be inspected by the Division of Criminal Investigation. 

“I just want to make sure that we are all aware that the council understands that we have a problem and we are going to be making efforts to correct the problem,” Saunders said. “Yes, it wasn’t this administration, but it’s this administration now. It wasn’t our fault, but it is our problem, so we will be working to get that fixed. It will be slow because it’s a lot, but progress will be made.”

The town has hired S&A Bookkeeping of Worland to keep the town’s current expenditures and revenues as well as correct errors from the 2022 Census. 

The council also faces the challenge of submitting this year’s budget by the end of the month. 

“Since the books weren’t ever kept up right, it’s going to be impossible to get a correct budget,” Mayor Rod Patrick said. “What we’re going to do is, we’re going to get it as close as we can with what we have and we’re going to turn it in. And next year we can have an exact budget because we’ll have all the paperwork.”

Town council accepted the first reading of their budget on Monday, with plans to hold special budget meetings June 20 and 27. 

Mayor Patrick additionally requested that councilmembers not speak to news outlets regarding the audit. 

“For now, please do not give any interviews. It’s something we need to deal with right here; let’s not air it out everywhere,” he said. 

The FY 2022 audit is now available online at audit.wyo.gov/public-funds/audits/towns. 

BURY BACK ON COUNCIL

Following the resignation of councilmember Julie Williams, who reported in a letter to council that she had moved outside of city limits and no longer qualified for her position, former councilmember and runner-up for council Judy Bury was appointed to take her place. Bury was sworn in then and there and joined council for the rest of the meeting. 

SEPTIC LEAKS TO BE FIXED

Councilmember Tim Patrick reported a backhoe attachment has arrived to aid in repairs of two septic tank transmission line leaks on First Street and Second Avenue next week. 

He also announced he has spoken with a DEQ official and Manderson is compliant for water and wastewater requirements. 

“The DEQ highly recommended that we find two people in town to do the test and become a level one [operator] and they suggested doing the water first, and after the water’s done doing the sewer,” Tim Patrick said. 

The council approved the purchase of two $100 books to test for those positions, with Chris Saunders agreeing to take one test and Tim Patrick a possibility for the second.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

The council entered a roughly hour-long executive session related to personnel, bringing in Clerk/Treasurer Michelle Freitas. 

“We had some things that we wanted to cover with Michelle that we got covered, it was good,” Tim Patrick reported after the fact.

The council also offered a $2 an hour raise to Court Clerk Janet Reasoner, which she accepted. 

OTHER BUSINESS:

Tim Patrick is set to order port-a-potties for the boat ramp. 

The council approved the purchase of 55 gallons of malathion for mosquito control, which Tim Patrick quoted between $3,000 and $5,000. A battery for the sprayer, with no set price, was also approved for purchase. Citizens wishing to be exempt from or enroll back in mosquito spraying are asked to submit a form at Town Hall. 

A one-year dispatch contract for $27,356 was approved. 

Council approved a privacy fence for Alex Schwede, contingent on a building diagram submission. 

 A generator at the sewer was reported making a buzzing noise, Tim Patrick said he would have to call in someone from Worland to fix it.

Chris Saunders reported he will start grasshopper spraying after completing a test at the end of this week. 

Police Chief Darold Newman reported increased incidents of speeding as well as texting and driving and cautioned drivers to be careful on the roads. A new citations system is currently being implemented. The highway pickup will need to be rescheduled, with a date to be determined.