Wasatch County ducked haymakers but absorbed a few jabs in a state audit of its special services districts.
A seven-month evaluation by the Office of the Legislative Auditor General revealed no illegitimate activity. But it did find poor management controls in the Jordanelle and Twin Creeks special service districts and Wasatch County Special Services area No. 1."The fact there was no misappropriation of funds does not mean the county has a clean bill of health," Wayne L. Welsh, legislative auditor general, said Tuesday before the report was received in a meeting of the Audit Subcommittee at the Capitol. "The county needs to spend its money more wisely."
Wasatch officials were pleased because they felt the report exonerated the county of the worst charges.
"We're happy this brings closure to the claims of those who cast aspersions on local government and people serving them," said Derek Pullan, Wasatch County attorney.
"In general, we agree with the audit findings, and, although we already had introduced many controls before it began, we welcome it as a means to help us chart a better course of government."
The audit did not bring total closure, however. The report will go to the Political Subdivision Interim Committee for further review. House Speaker and Audit Subcommittee Chairman Marty Stephens and committee member and Senate President Lane Beattie promised the public could have further input as the report traveled through other committees.
Among the audit's findings:
Poor controls in paying two consultants $900,000 over five years. In 93 percent of 203 checks reviewed, for instance, consultants were one of two required signatories to checks issued to themselves.
No open competition for consultants' positions and poor segregation of duties. One consultant was hired by the Wasatch County Special Services Area board of trustees, of which he was chairman.
Little evidence in meetings of expenditure review and approval by governing boards as required by Utah law.
No double-billing for services by consultants and no cost-plus contracts awarded for architectural designs of the Jordanelle Fire Station.
Charges for employees leased to special service districts were inconsistent. For example in 1999, the county collected $20,190 above estimated costs in some areas and $8,350 below in others.
A past county attorney represented special services district clients in his private practice.
The county has made the county attorney's job full time. Pullan has no private practice.
An audit must be requested by a legislator, and state policy protects his or her privacy. But Dee Olsen, a Canyon Meadows resident of Wasatch County, identified himself as a concerned party.
"The target should be placed on me for causing you great pain. I am not sorry," Olsen told the roomful of officials. "I feel there has been great mismanagement. I think the county is making a desperate effort to clean house because of the agitation we created." "We've been impressed with the county's efforts to correct the problems," Welsh said.
"I think if we hadn't gone into this audit, we'd probably still have no idea how many problems there were. It's been educational," said Mike Kohler, who joined the county commission in 1999.