Winona Sets Policy On Reporting Loss
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
During its meeting Tuesday evening, the Winona Lake Town Council approved a resolution on “Policy on Materiality” (internal control standards).
Town Coordinator Craig Allebach told the council, “Basically, there’s been a lot of problems around the state, and Winona’s not been one of them, dealing with various losses, shortages and thefts that have been occurring from those that hold offices, as well as employees.”
The SBOA and state legislatures enacted a law that covers this issue and “has put policy in place that if there are any losses, and we know about those losses, of course, that we report that and what the reporting requirements are for those losses,” he said.
Along with the resolution is a 77-page booklet that Clerk-Treasurer Kent Adams has been dealing with out of his office.
“So just kind of putting those things in place, knowing what to do, the thresholds for losses and what takes place as far as that goes,” Allebach said.
Adams added, “What had been verbal policy, so to speak, if there was any shortage that people became aware of in a political subdivision, you were to get ahold of the State Board of Accounts and they would come in. They’ve put this in writing and now it’s policy for each political subdivision in the state.”
The responsibility to report a problem now falls on the shoulders of the clerk-treasurer, Adams said.
Allebach then reported on the A & Z Engineering supplemental agreement to the original agreement for construction inspection services of the new portion of the greenway.
During construction of the greenway in the past year bad soils were found where the greenway was to be built. Those bad soils increased the time and costs for the greenway project.
Allebach said the tentative estimate for the increase in the actual construction cost is about $131,000.
“And as part of that then, because we had increased costs related to the construction and the time pushed it out a good four months or so, this is a supplemental agreement for increased costs for that construction inspection,” he said.
The original construction inspection was for $99,512 and the supplemental agreement is for $14,620, which then brings the total cost for construction and inspection to $114,132.
“Construction inspection engineering also is matched by the state on an 80/20 match, so we’ll also be seeking additional monies from the state, and we’re hopeful that they’re be favorable to our request not only for the additional construction cost of the $131,000, but this additional cost of the $14,620,” Allebach said.
He recommended the council approve the supplemental agreement, which it did.
In other business:
• Town attorney Jim Walmer gave the council and Adams the oath of office. The council then elected Bruce Shaffner as its president and Robert Swanson vice president.
• Town engineer Larry Long’s annual agreement with the town was approved unanimously. He is paid $95 per hour and 2016 will be his 35th year with Winona. He started as the town’s engineer May 12, 1981, receiving $30 per hour, Long said.
Walmer’s annual agreement with the town also was approved. Walmer’s fees for 2016 are the same as 2015, according to Shaffner. Walmer said his office charges the council $100 less than his usual fee, and he “started doing this in 1976.”
• Board appointments were approved as presented by Allebach.
The boards and appointments include: Board of Zoning Appeals, Dave Turner; Park Board, Shelby Beam and Kelly Bugg; Redevelopment Commission, Jim Lancaster, Dennis Daniels, John Elliott, Al Disbro, Alan Alderfer; Plan Commission, Shaffner, Swanson, Allebach; Housing Authority, Don Fluke; Economic Development Commission, Disbro; Publicity Commission, Terry White; and Art Commission, Swaim and White.
The Tree Commission is still in the works, and additional members of the Art Commission will be announced by Swaim at the February council meeting.
• Jim LeMasters, former Warsaw Community Schools teacher, thanked the Winona Lake Fire Department on behalf of the WCS for its help with the fire earlier this month that destroyed the school corporation’s bus garage.
• Allebach announced upcoming events in Winona included the Harlem Globetrotters will be at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center today at 7 p.m.; the Lyceum Series on Faith and the Academy will have a speaker at Westminster Thursday at 7 p.m.; the Pajama Party Sale in the Village At Winona is Jan. 30 from 7 to 10 a.m.; and on Feb. 10 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Baker Youth Club, the former YMCA building, the Winona Lake firefighters will play the Hoopsters for Riley Hospital for Children.[[In-content Ad]]
Latest News
E-Editions
During its meeting Tuesday evening, the Winona Lake Town Council approved a resolution on “Policy on Materiality” (internal control standards).
Town Coordinator Craig Allebach told the council, “Basically, there’s been a lot of problems around the state, and Winona’s not been one of them, dealing with various losses, shortages and thefts that have been occurring from those that hold offices, as well as employees.”
The SBOA and state legislatures enacted a law that covers this issue and “has put policy in place that if there are any losses, and we know about those losses, of course, that we report that and what the reporting requirements are for those losses,” he said.
Along with the resolution is a 77-page booklet that Clerk-Treasurer Kent Adams has been dealing with out of his office.
“So just kind of putting those things in place, knowing what to do, the thresholds for losses and what takes place as far as that goes,” Allebach said.
Adams added, “What had been verbal policy, so to speak, if there was any shortage that people became aware of in a political subdivision, you were to get ahold of the State Board of Accounts and they would come in. They’ve put this in writing and now it’s policy for each political subdivision in the state.”
The responsibility to report a problem now falls on the shoulders of the clerk-treasurer, Adams said.
Allebach then reported on the A & Z Engineering supplemental agreement to the original agreement for construction inspection services of the new portion of the greenway.
During construction of the greenway in the past year bad soils were found where the greenway was to be built. Those bad soils increased the time and costs for the greenway project.
Allebach said the tentative estimate for the increase in the actual construction cost is about $131,000.
“And as part of that then, because we had increased costs related to the construction and the time pushed it out a good four months or so, this is a supplemental agreement for increased costs for that construction inspection,” he said.
The original construction inspection was for $99,512 and the supplemental agreement is for $14,620, which then brings the total cost for construction and inspection to $114,132.
“Construction inspection engineering also is matched by the state on an 80/20 match, so we’ll also be seeking additional monies from the state, and we’re hopeful that they’re be favorable to our request not only for the additional construction cost of the $131,000, but this additional cost of the $14,620,” Allebach said.
He recommended the council approve the supplemental agreement, which it did.
In other business:
• Town attorney Jim Walmer gave the council and Adams the oath of office. The council then elected Bruce Shaffner as its president and Robert Swanson vice president.
• Town engineer Larry Long’s annual agreement with the town was approved unanimously. He is paid $95 per hour and 2016 will be his 35th year with Winona. He started as the town’s engineer May 12, 1981, receiving $30 per hour, Long said.
Walmer’s annual agreement with the town also was approved. Walmer’s fees for 2016 are the same as 2015, according to Shaffner. Walmer said his office charges the council $100 less than his usual fee, and he “started doing this in 1976.”
• Board appointments were approved as presented by Allebach.
The boards and appointments include: Board of Zoning Appeals, Dave Turner; Park Board, Shelby Beam and Kelly Bugg; Redevelopment Commission, Jim Lancaster, Dennis Daniels, John Elliott, Al Disbro, Alan Alderfer; Plan Commission, Shaffner, Swanson, Allebach; Housing Authority, Don Fluke; Economic Development Commission, Disbro; Publicity Commission, Terry White; and Art Commission, Swaim and White.
The Tree Commission is still in the works, and additional members of the Art Commission will be announced by Swaim at the February council meeting.
• Jim LeMasters, former Warsaw Community Schools teacher, thanked the Winona Lake Fire Department on behalf of the WCS for its help with the fire earlier this month that destroyed the school corporation’s bus garage.
• Allebach announced upcoming events in Winona included the Harlem Globetrotters will be at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center today at 7 p.m.; the Lyceum Series on Faith and the Academy will have a speaker at Westminster Thursday at 7 p.m.; the Pajama Party Sale in the Village At Winona is Jan. 30 from 7 to 10 a.m.; and on Feb. 10 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Baker Youth Club, the former YMCA building, the Winona Lake firefighters will play the Hoopsters for Riley Hospital for Children.[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092