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Escanaba council approves new auditor engagement with opt-out language to be negotiated
Summary
City Council approved switching auditing services and directed staff to include timing and opt-out language to avoid last-minute audit deliveries that could impede state filings.
Escanaba City Council voted unanimously to approve engaging a new auditor and to authorize staff to negotiate contract terms that include timing requirements and an opt-out provision.
Councilors approved the change after staff said the switch would address recurring delays in receiving completed audits. The move was presented as a three-year contract but council members asked staff to seek a clause allowing the city to end the arrangement if the firm’s performance is unsatisfactory.
The council heard that prior audits from the city’s former auditor, Raymond, were sometimes delivered so late that staff had “one day to submit” the city’s F-65 report to the state Treasury. A staff member told the council, “I will make sure that there is some language in there,” saying the timing language from the Raymond contract would be placed into the new agreement to avoid repeated late deliveries.
Council members also requested a shorter review period: one councilor said they would prefer “a 2 year with a year to decide” option so the city could evaluate the transition before committing to the full three years. Staff replied the bid specifications called for a three-year contract but that they would “work to get an out in there just in case there’s any issues.”
The motion to approve the auditor engagement was moved and seconded during the meeting and passed on a roll call with all members voting yes. The clerk called the roll and recorded affirmative votes from Councilor Moore, Councilor Bullshaw, Councilor DuBord, Councilor Floth and Ira Reynolds.
The council did not specify the auditor by full contract name in the recorded motion; minutes indicate the firm roster mentioned during discussion included Clark, Shaffer and Hackett as candidates. Staff said they will return any finalized contract language to council for review as part of the implementation process.
