Board briefs on state audit after auditors found records ‘in such disarray’

Board members told residents the township is undergoing additional review after a state auditor visited and concluded the existing records were not auditable. "When she got here she spent two days here and came to the realization that the books were in such disarray she could not even perform the audit," a board member said, describing the state auditor’s findings and the mandate to bring in new accounting software and a professional firm.

The board reported an audit-related invoice for about $1,070 and said an accounting firm engagement is required to recreate the books. Members discussed the timeline and noted that audits for several years (including 2020–2022) were incomplete at the time of the state review.

Concerns surfaced about recurring attorney billing and whether correspondence and legal work are driving monthly invoices; one member cited a recent attorney charge of roughly $393.75 for matters including deed and ordinance work. The board also discussed a previously obtained grant of approximately $94,500 and how outside counsel has been involved in correspondence with the state treasury and accounting firms to get the audit process started.

Several members said multiple accounting firms had hesitated to take the engagement after reviewing public audit history and prior payouts, and one member raised questions about large wage disbursements in prior audit records that could complicate auditors’ work. Board members emphasized the need to get organized, sign into secure file links provided by auditors, and supply requested documents so the state process can proceed.

No formal board action finalizing a long-term accounting vendor was recorded during the meeting; members described next steps as completing paperwork, paying the pending invoice and continuing work with the accounting firm and state reviewers.