Finance committee approves payment of $34,500 in past airport invoices; will pay audited 2024 amount when available

The Ashland County Finance and Economic Development Committee voted to approve payment of $34,500 in outstanding airport invoices dating back to 2020 and agreed to pay the audited amount for 2024 when that audit is completed.

The committee discussed why the invoices went unpaid. Committee members said the city had sent dollar amounts without line-item detail and county clerks repeatedly asked for clarification. "They never told us what in what they were. They were just dollar amounts," the airport director (unnamed) said during the meeting. Clerk staff member Julie Valancourt reviewed records and identified the $34,500 balance that the committee approved to pay.

Committee members emphasized the need to fix billing and invoicing procedures going forward. "They tell us what the bill is for," one committee member said, describing an expectation that Derek (county staff) would ensure the city provides clearer billing so future amounts can be paid on receipt.

The committee recorded that the 2024 figure is not yet final because that years audit has not been completed; members agreed to pay the finalized audited amount when it becomes available. A motion to approve payment of the outstanding amount and to pay the audited 2024 amount when ready passed on an aye vote.

The decision follows the committee's review of the airport's multi-year operating deficits and a discovery, via the clerk's office review, that some previous years' charges lacked explanatory detail. Committee members noted the county has historically appropriated amounts based on city requests, and that a prior informal arrangement to cover gaps may have contributed to the lapse in itemized billing.

The committee did not take additional formal action in the meeting to change the invoicing process; members said staff (Derek and the clerk) will follow up with the city to standardize billing so future invoices include clear descriptions.