Facilities chair proposes paying annual sewer maintenance fee; auditors, staff outline cybersecurity steps after fraud

Facilities chair and the district’s facilities manager reported recurring sewer-line and grease-trap issues affecting Mill Hall and Bald Eagle Township and recommended paying the township’s annual maintenance charge rather than pursuing costly infrastructure construction.

Sam, the district facilities manager, said the township documented extra cleaning during the school year and provided a maintenance-cost estimate; he recommended the district pay the roughly $2,000 annual assessed fee rather than undertake an expensive engineering and construction solution. Board members said Sam will invite township representatives to discuss the issue further.

Separately, board members pressed auditors and staff about a vendor-impersonation fraud incident the district experienced. A board member referenced an $881,000 fraud-related loss during questioning; auditors said the incident was a vendor-impersonation scheme and that staff returned to and implemented recommendations from a 2019 cybersecurity review. The audit team said such schemes remain a continuing threat and emphasized employee training and controls over vendor information as critical safeguards.

District business manager Joni McIntyre and auditors said they re-shared the earlier cybersecurity guidance with the business office and staff and that procedural changes and additional training have been underway. Auditors urged ongoing vigilance and recommended that the board and administration ensure staff assigned to accounts-payable and vendor set-up receive targeted training.

Next steps: facilities staff will seek a township meeting for clarification on charges and maintenance expectations; business office will continue documentation and training to reduce vendor-impersonation exposure.