Glendive council approves $851,810.67 in claims and $424,264.22 payroll after mayor addresses erroneous Amazon charge

The Glendive City Council approved payment of the claims list totaling $851,810.67 and separately approved December payroll of $424,264.22 at the meeting. Mayor Diane addressed recent social media chatter about an apparent Amazon charge, explaining an employee had accidentally charged personal purchases to the wrong account and had reimbursed the city.

"This was not any illegal thing. It was a simple mistake which happens," Mayor Diane said, emphasizing transparency and that the city posts the full claims list on its website. The mayor identified the reimbursed item in the packet as being associated with an employee (listed as Frank Greenberg on the claims page) and said the city had a reimbursement check in the claims to correct that charge.

Council members discussed the claims and payroll items; the mayor and finance representatives explained that some large year-end items (engineering fees, BEK work) and once-a-year payments to volunteer fire personnel contributed to a larger claims and payroll total. The council approved the claims and payroll after a brief discussion and recorded 'ayes' on the motions.

The council noted it keeps the claims list publicly available and that routine accounting for fund allocations can make single claims appear multiple times across funds for the same vendor. The mayor urged residents to call the city when they have questions rather than circulate incorrect allegations on social media.