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West Memphis legislative audit draws prosecutors warning

City cautioned to keep better track of expenses, payments

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City cautioned to keep better track of expenses, payments

By JOHN RECH

news@theeveningtimes.com

West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon stood at a podium during a remote city council meeting last Thursday to formally report on the city’s legislative audit findings.

Sloppy paperwork for purchases and meals out on the city drew a warning from Prosecuting Attorney for the Second Judicial District Scott Ellington to tighten up reporting. City Clerk James Pulliaum offered suggestions to avert repeating the missteps.

The most recent report covered the entire year 2019 though march 2020, McClendon’s first 15 at the city helm. The report picked over a few thousand dollars in the city’s 10 figure budget.

Auditors could not verify the validity of certain purchases because receipts were not on file. Unverifiable expenses for meals, room service, the mayor’s personal vehicle repairs, conference meeting expenses tallied $9,000 without a stated purpose or being added to the income of city employees on the their W-2 forms. Auditors said the mayor reimbursed the city.

Three firefighters charged rooms during training when other overnight accommodations were available. Those fire department personnel reimbursed $1,260 the city when confronted with the audit results.

“The fire department personnel did not reimburse the city until May 2020 when we question the validity of the charges,” state Ellington’s letter. “The mayor charged $3,163 from March to November for personal purchases and subsequently reimbursed the city.”

Another couple of thousand dollars was not properly accounted for door prizes at the city employee health fair, along with chamber dues and minor league baseball tickets given to needy youth.

City council approved the sale of an old Crown Victoria valued at $700 for the late mayor, Bill Johnson for just $200. Auditors said the payment was not made until the following city business year.

The city agreed with auditors to make procedural changes to prevent the missteps again.

Ellington issued a warning

See AUDIT, page A2 AUDIT

From page A1

in a letter to the mayor. instructing him to ‘familiarize himself’ with proper procedures and for city council to exercise proper oversight of spending on its appropriations for equipment and services. Ellington informed the mayor that he considered the matters closed.

McClendon offered his perspective to city council.

“This is not the rst time these things have happened,” said McClendon. “Auditors found similar things in previous years under the previous administration. We will learn from this and move on.”

City Clerk James Pulliaum urged city council members to take formal training with the Municipal League to prevent future problems.

“They offer city nances 101 and 201,” said Pulliaum. “We really need to understand. We can call them and they bean come up here for training. That is a resource and this is what it’s designed for. I would help us. I hope we are open to this.”

“Auditors found similar things in previous years under the previous administration. We will learn from this and move on.”

MARCO McCLENDON

Mayor

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