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Commissioners approve a single sign-out credit card for sheriff’s office amid accountability concerns
Summary
The board approved adding one sign-out credit card for the sheriff’s office but commissioners expressed concern after staff recounted prior discovery of five unrecorded county credit cards; commissioners directed staff to draft an ordinance to regulate departmental cards.
Henry County commissioners voted to approve a single sign-out credit card for deputies, but several commissioners expressed reservations about historic record-keeping and controls.
During discussion a staff member described a prior internal effort that found five credit cards previously unrecorded in county records, which created substantial follow-up work with law enforcement and state auditors. One official said the county spent months recovering details and coordinating with state police. "When it came down to it, there was 5 credit cards that we had no idea there was even 1 credit card issue," the official said, describing the earlier discovery.
Commissioners said they had no problem with issuing a controlled sign-out card for the sheriff’s office, but emphasized the need to improve accountability. One commissioner moved to approve the single new card and to revisit the status of other departmental cards once an ordinance is drafted by counsel; the board approved the motion by voice vote.
The motion carries with direction that county finance/legal staff return with a draft ordinance and that staff re-evaluate existing card assignments and processes.
