Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RICHARD JENKINS
Ironwood Township — The Ironwood Township Board of Trustees authorized a revised contract with the Michigan Department of Treasury Monday, expanding the department’s review of into the township’s finances.
The new agreement will involve the years 2014 through 2016; and expands the investigation to “assist with reconciling accounts in the Trust and Agency fund” and “reconciling accounts in the Tax Collection fund,” according to the agreement.
The agreement also includes a provision that if discrepancies discovered during the investigation impact other township funds, the department will be able to help as needed.
“The Treasury Department is going through the records that caused us problems in recent audits,” Township Supervisor Steve Boyd told the Daily Globe after the meeting. “We just needed more time, and so the contract authorizes the extension of the time for (the additional work).”
In September, the board contracted with the department to investigate discrepancies discovered in the utility fund during the 2015 audit.
The department was originally hired to help the township resolve the discrepancies that were preventing the 2015 audit from being completed, including a discovery — reported at the July board meeting — of approximately $55,000 unaccounted for in the township’s water and utilities funds.
The department is charging an inclusive fee of $115 per hour for 80 hours of work for the expanded contract, the same rate as the September agreement.
In other action:
— The board approved a resolution regarding its Language Access Plan, for those with limited English proficiency, a standard procedure required by law.
— The board discussed a letter from the union representing the township employees requesting that summer employee Robert Segalin be made a permanent part-time employee. It was decided more information was needed before a decision could be made.
— During his report, Boyd asked residents to not place garbage around the township’s locked dumpsters as they were not for public use. Boyd said the township had installed cameras to monitor the dumpsters, as part of an effort to stop the ongoing problem. Animals have gotten into the trash, according to township officials, who said it is considered illegal dumping. The green recycling dumpsters at the township hall are still open to the public.
