What was initially a routine audit of the Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District has grown into a review of some concern.

The audit is being conducted by the State Board of Accounts, according to the Indianapolis office.

"We have people on the audit right now," said Marilyn Rudolph of the Indianapolis State Board of Accounts office. "Usually it is some time before we issue a report, perhaps a few months.

"Generally the reviews are done at the site, again by an independent panel, and several reviews are held in our office before a final report is made. That report will be made available to the public.

"Of course, reviews which may indicate charges receive priority."

Acting on information received by the district board, the routine financial review by the state board is being given close scrutiny.

Some funds, perhaps as much as $15,000, may have been misappropriated, according to the chairman of the Solid Waste District board.

Joe Thallemer, O.D., chairman , said he contacted the State Board of Accounts' South Bend office during the routine audit.

"The State Board of Accounts review happens every two years," Thallemer said. "We asked them to look for any irregularity and asked them to accelerate the pace of their final report because of information we received."

In March Sue Studebaker was named executive director of the Solid Waste Management District, taking the place of Marsha Eikenberry, who left for other employment.

Studebaker held the education coordinator position for the district for about a year and was named interim director in February.

A financial controller, Certified Public Accountant Kevin Ousley, was hired in April.

"With the change in directors, and all this, we've had a kind of rocky first quarter," Thallemer said.

A preliminary report of findings is expected soon.

The KCSWMD board of directors are Dr. Joe Thallemer, Avis Gunter, Brad Jackson, Ron Truex, Maurice Beer, Rolly Ortega and Warsaw mayor Ernest Wiggins. [[In-content Ad]]