Funding requests approved for MCDC and trails group

The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors is splitting funding between the Montgomery County Development Corporation and the Montgomery County Recreational Trails group.
County Auditor Stephanie Burke said in 2021, $20,000 was not submitted to MCDC, as a result of a lack of invoices from MCDC.
“In 2021, we budgeted $30,000 for MCDC, and we only paid $10,000 due to a lack of invoices, which are required by the State Auditor before we can submit payment. It was brought to my attention by MCDC Board chair Ann Carder. The money was budgeted by not paid out. We also budgeted $30,000 for MCDC for this year, and we’ve received one invoice from MCDC for $15,000, which we paid, and hopefully, by July 1, we’ll get another invoice,” Burke explained.
Additionally, Burke said she was looking at the budget funding due to a suggestion to fund the trails request for a study with another source other than the suggested American Rescue Plan Act funding.
“I’m needing guidance for what to put into the budget amendment, and a decision on a funding source for the trails request, and a consensus on whether we’re going to make up the difference to MCDC. If we do both, we’d need a budget amendment totalling $35,000 for both organizations,” commented Burke.
Since the leftover $20,000 was budgeted, but not spent, it remained as part of the county’s ending fund balance. Olson said it appeared the $20,000 wasn’t paid simply because it slipped through the cracks.
Supervisor Donna Robinson speculated that part of the reason the money wasn’t paid out at the time was due to former MCDC director Shawnna Silvius’ resignation, and the interim period before a new director was hired.
“I think when Shawnna was in, we got the invoices in a timely fashion, and when she resigned, they simply didn’t get sent, and while they had an interim director for a time, there was also a period where a salary wasn’t being paid that had been allotted for the past director as well,” said Robinson.
Burke said that the county still had not received an invoice for the leftover $20,000 budgeted from 2021, and reiterated that she couldn’t issue any funds until invoices were received.
Robinson was in favor if paying out the remaining $15,000 budgeted for this year, but that the $20,000 that wasn’t paid in 2021 shouldn’t be amended.
“Since the $20,000 wasn’t spent, and since we have a request for $15,000 from the trails group for a project that will be beneficial county-wide, I would say we go that route and use the $20,000 for that,” commented Robinson.
Supervisor Charla Schmid agreed with the sentiment to a point, but wasn’t sure the money shouldn’t be paid out due to a mistake.
Supervisor Randy Cooper was in favor of Robinson’s suggestion unless the MCDC Board could show there would be a hardship by not receiving that $20,000, since they weren’t paying a salary for a director during that time.
Supervisor Mike Olson said the money was put into the budget and approved, but felt that the county made a pledge to match the city’s funding, and wasn’t sure he would be comfortable going back on that commitment due to this oversight.
Supervisor’s Chair Mark Peterson suggested a compromise approving $15,000 for the trails, and paying $10,000 out to MCDC.
Cooper was in favor of Peterson’s suggestion, and the supervisors approved a budget amendment amount of $25,000, with $10,000 to be paid to MCDC after an invoice was received, and $15,000 to fund the request from Montgomery County Recreational Trails, by a 4-1 vote, with Robinson voting no.
The supervisors also approved the funding request from Montgomery County Recreational Trails.

The Red Oak Express

2012 Commerce Drive
P.O. Box 377
Red Oak, IA 51566
Phone: 712-623-2566 Fax: 712-623-2568

Comment Here