Weakness in Courthouse Management

The 2007 Lawrence County financial audit contained no surprises or findings for recovery, but a separate management letter also issued by the Ohio Auditor’s Office took aim at some weaknesses in courthouse management and discussed the money paid to former board of elections director Mary Wipert.

The letter, prepared by the Balestra, Harr and Scherer, certified public accounting firm of Piketon, lists issues with which the accountants had concerns.

Some issues include:

* the payments of salary and benefits to former board of election director Mary Wipert, who was fired in a 3-1 vote by the elections board in February 2007

* the handling of county money

* interest earned on The Office of Housing and Community Partnership (OHCP) grants

* transferring monies from one account to another at the end of the year to cover projected deficits

* county commission creating accounts not approved by the state auditor before hand

* checks that were older than six months and still outstanding

It also includes suggestions for resolving these issues.

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Auditors criticize county management