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Clerk explains 2020 audit findings; court rejects full flooring overage then approves $500 payment; EMS hires confirmed
Summary
Spencer County Clerk Lynn Hesselbrock told the court Oct. 18 that two 2020 audit findings were staffing-related oversights; the court voted down a full $1,154.45 flooring overage request but later approved a $500 payment to a contractor. The court also approved three EMS hires.
Spencer County Clerk Lynn Hesselbrock addressed two findings in her office’s 2020 state audit at the Oct. 18 Fiscal Court meeting and answered questions about corrective steps.
Hesselbrock said the audit identified two oversights: untimely payment of ad valorem taxes that resulted in underpayments of $27,615 and late quarterly remittance of Affordable Housing trust fees that led to $12,072 in underpayment. She told the court these were oversights caused by an unexpected bookkeeping vacancy and that both items were corrected immediately upon discovery. Hesselbrock said the findings highlighted the need to separate bookkeeping duties from frontline duties and that recruiting qualified bookkeeping staff had been difficult.
The Clerk also sought approval for $1,154.45 in unanticipated flooring/painting overages for her office (moving furniture $500; quarter‑round molding $411.45; extra paint $243). A motion to approve the full overage (moved by Brett Beaverson, seconded by Tim Brewer) failed on a roll-call vote—everyone present voted “nay” and Magistrate M. Moody was absent. The Clerk then sought payment of $500 to contractor KLS; a subsequent motion (Brewer/Travis) to pay $500 to KLS passed by voice vote (M. Moody absent).
Separately, the court approved reappointments to the Extension Council (Marsha Mudd and Wanda Lawson for three‑year terms) and confirmed EMS hires requested by Director Chris Limpp: full‑time EMTs Mark Thompson and Robert Renner at $12.50 per hour and part‑time EMT Abby Nation at $13.50 per hour. Limpp told the court each new hire had completed pre‑employment drug screening and background checks.
On the audit discussion, Hesselbrock said her office had historically had clean audits and asked for public transparency; she also described staff shortages and that a deputy who had handled bookkeeping left without notice, prompting temporary reassignment of duties. The County Attorney and Judge advised corrections to budgetary forms and procedures as needed.
What’s next: The Clerk said she will continue seeking to hire a dedicated bookkeeper and will implement segregation of duties to prevent future audit findings; county staff will process the $500 payment to KLS and continue processing approved hires and reappointments.
