Council limits independent audit of highway project to facility inspection after heated debate

Under board comments, Councilmember Mark Abbott moved to limit the scope of the independent audit and inspection of the county highway project to a facility inspection only, arguing it would avoid duplicating the State Board of Accounts review and save taxpayer money.

Abbott said the facility inspection would “ease everyone's mind” and avoid a second financial audit when the State Board of Accounts had already reviewed the records. Several council members supported limiting scope as a cost‑saving measure; one said the county should verify whether “we got what we paid for” by doing a focused physical inspection and moving on if the work matched expectations.

Other members opposed narrowing the scope without legal oversight. Karen Wishmire — who had researched outside attorneys — said the State Board of Accounts can flag noncompliance but not pursue criminal matters in some contexts, and recommended engaging an attorney to advise whether the county should pursue additional outside auditing or legal steps. Council debate included sharply worded exchanges, and several members expressed frustration and calls for more fiscal rigor.

The council voted and the motion to limit the audit scope passed. The chair recorded the vote: Councilmembers Gilbert, Armstrong, Fleming, Davison and Abbott voted in favor; Shell and Wishmire opposed. The motion leaves the county planning a facility inspection rather than a broader second financial audit; council members said they would use appropriated audit funds for that inspection.