Published: January 13, 2009 09:05 am      

Audit of Welton city books begins

WELTON — Two men from the Iowa State Auditor’s office arrived in Welton on Monday to begin an audit of the city’s books, which was demanded by a citizen petition last August.

According to City Clerk LeAnn McCallister, the men said they expect their work to take all of this week and possibly part of next week.

Because McCallister has a job in Maquoketa, the Welton council agreed last Tuesday to pay the Charlotte city clerk $12 an hour plus mileage to work with the auditors until McCallister can get there in the afternoon.

The citizens’ petition contained 30 signatures — more than the 15 percent of the local taxpayers that would have been required by state law.

Some of the signers, after learning the audit could cost $6,000 to $12,000, asked to have their names removed, saying they did not understand what they were signing. They said they just wanted to be able to look at the city’s books — not realizing that is guaranteed to them by Iowa’s Open Records Law.

However, there still were enough signatures to proceed with the audit.

It has been estimated the report may not be available for several months.

The petition did not allege any wrongdoing.

The city council, in a budget work session last week, increased a $3,000 item proposed by McCallister for professional fees to $5,000. The current year’s budget for that line item is $1,500, with $2,169 spent to date,



Other council business

In the regular council meeting Jan. 6:

• Project engineer Matt Saur said the municipal water system now under construction is expected to be complete by March 1, weather permitting.

• Mayor Janet Huffman reported the check for $25,000, which was awarded to the city last summer for the treatment plan for the water system has arrived. The grant came from the Clinton County Community Development Association.

• Huffman reported two individuals responded to an ad seeking a licensed water system operator.

However, one applicant was seeking a full-time job, while Welton’s position will be part time, and the other would have been shared with DeWitt, which apparently would have run into overtime.

Councilman Ed Novak said the mayor of Charlotte is studying for the license and might be interested in the Welton position.

• The council discussed the future need for someone to read the household water meters when the system goes into operation. It would be a minimum wage job.

• Ted Nichols of Titan Energy Systems explained details of a five-year plan for maintenance of the city’s new diesel generator. Total cost over the five years would be $8,500.

The council tabled the proposal for more information.

• Huffman introduced the topic of a proposed loan from First National Bank to complete payments on the purchase of a parcel of the fire department’s property and a well on the site.

While the loan would be for “up to $60,500.” Huffman explained how she felt $35,500 could be taken from several city funds, thus reducing the bank loan to $25,000. The council agreed.

• In view of poor street conditions due to the installation of the water system and winter weather, the council agreed to advertise for bids in February, let contracts in March and “get them going right away” in spring.

The regular meeting was then followed by a detailed budget work session, the results of which will be presented at a public hearing Feb. 3.